Recreation Residences

What Is A Recreation Residence?

Back in the early 1900's, the Forest Service Recreation Residence program started to give private citizens the opportunity to own a single-family cabin in designated areas on the National Forests. They are commonly called "summer homes" or "recreation cabins".

These privately owned cabins (improvements) are located within formally established "tracts" on "lots" designated for that purpose and are authorized and administered under the terms and conditions of a special use authorization (SUA) called a permit. The individual owns the improvements but not the land. The permittee pays an annual rental fee as directed by the 2014 Cabin Fee Act.

No more than one recreation residence special use permit can be issued to a single family (husband, wife and dependent children).

To review a sample Term Special Use Permit for Recreation Residences.

Additional Information

Sale of Cabin

Permit holders who wish to sell their improvements must contact your district Special Use Administrator.   Form, FS-2700-3a is required to begin the reissuance process. Part I, is the relinquishment and the permit holders signature is required.  Part II, is the application for the purchaser to complete.  It is important that a permit administrator form the forest be involved early on in the process, to ensure all regulations and requirements are met. The Forest Service does not handle the sale of recreation residences, nor does it keep track of those that are for sale.  This information is best obtained from a local real estate office.

Recreation residences must be up to standards and properly maintained before the sale of the cabin. The permit holder can use the Self inspection report and the copy of the Operation and Mainenance plan to verify the cabin is up to standards.

Note: In 2018, the Transfer Fee was $1,232.00 (check with special use administrator for current fee).

 

Maintenance and Repairs

An objective for a recreation residence tract is to give the impression of a forest having a few cabins - rather than a subdivision with a few trees. The dominant character of the tract must therefore be the forest environment, not human improvements. The residences and lots should be cared for to retain the tract's visual and historic character.

Permit holders are required to keep their cabins maintained and be in compliance with the terms and conditions of their permit.

Any changes to the cabin need to be authorized by the Special Use Administrator for that district; including paint color, roof replacements, etc. Unless it is light maintenance; such as, painting or replacing a few boards, the County will most likely require a permit. Keep an up-to-date Operation and Maintenance Plan on file at your local district office.

Remember that the season is usually short for handling repairs. Since your district Special Use Administrator must approve many of the repairs and projects, notify him or her ahead of time.

Typical Maintenance Items: fire clearances need to be maintained, structures kept in good repair with natural looking materials and colors, vehicles parked in appropriate places, no junk left around, etc. A bright colored roof, deck, or exterior paint would not be considered appropriate.

  • TIP: reds, yellows, blues, whites will not be likely candidates for approval. Darker forest type colors like; browns, greens, etc. will work much better.

Information about the terms of use, maintenance, or reconstruction of a cabin may be found in chapter 40 of the Forest Service Handbook​.

 

New Construction or Reconstruction - Plans

Whether you are planning to repair your septic system, re-roof the building, or fix your deck, you need to have a plan and talk to the your Special Use Permit Administrator.

  1. The special use permit requires a permit holder to submit conceptual design and site plans for proposed development or changes to the District Ranger. The conceptual plans should be detailed enough to allow preparation of an analysis, and details shown should include roads, trees, rock outcrops, planned and existing improvement location, structure size, and lot boundary accurately as possible.
  2. The District Ranger will review the proposal for environmental, visual, and historic concerns and, if there are no concerns, give written approval-in-concept.
  3. The permit holder will submit their construction plans to the County Building department for approval, and obtain the required permits.
  4. After the Forest Service receives copies of any necessary permits and gives final written authorization, construction may proceed.

The Forest Service will approve only the conceptual design and site plan for the construction project. The permit holder must obtain required permits or authorization from other agencies (where applicable) before the project can start. This is to ensure health and safety standards, such as snow loading and septic location, are met.

 

Documents needed for repairs, modifications, Amendments, constructions or reconstructions:

  • SF299-20
  • Map design of work 
  • Plan of work including timetable