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Special Use Permits
A Special Use Authorization is a permit that grants rights or privileges of occupancy and use subject to specified terms and conditions on National Forest land. Special uses can include recreation residence (summer homes), recreation events, outfitter guides, utility lines, communication facilities and many other uses.
You need a permit if:
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The activity on NFS land involves 75 or more people including spectators, or
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There is a fee being charged or if income is derived from the use of the land, or
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You will need to occupy, use, or build on NFS land for personal or business purposes, whether the duration is temporary or long term. Personal, unguided recreational use does not need a special use permit but may need a wilderness permit, parking permit or other recreational permit.
Contact the special uses coordinator for the applicable forest in order to obtain the appropriate special uses permit.
Types of Permits
Recreation Special Uses
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Filming & Photography
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Recreation Residences
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Non-Commercial Group Use
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Outfitters & Guides
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Recreation Events
Recreation special uses also include: ski areas, resorts, organizational camps, and concession-operated campgrounds.
Land Special Uses
Lands special uses include: right of ways, communication towers, agricultural uses, water systems, storage yards, service buildings, and hydroelectric uses.
Special Use Permit Forms
| Use Type | Form |
|---|---|
| Application for Special Use Authorization (unless otherwise specified below) | SF-299 |
| Still or motion filming | R3 Still Photography and/or Commercial Filming Request |
| Non-commercial group use | FS-2700-3b |
| Recreation event | FS-2700-3c |
| Outfitting/guiding (temporary use) | FS-2700-3f |
| Purchasing a business or individual residence that has a permit | FS-2700-3a |
| Archaeological investigations | FS-2700-0030 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Your proposal will be screened within 60 days. The processing time after screening varies with the complexity of the proposal and type of use.
This varies depending on the type of use proposed.
This varies depending on the type of use proposed. Some forests have open seasons requiring submittal at certain times. Contact your local National Forest office for additional information
View a list of the Initial and Second Level Screening Criteria (36 CFR 251.54(e)(1)). This is the basic criteria used to review proposals and applies to all proposals except non-commercial group use proposals which have different criteria.
There is no fee to have your proposal go through the first level of screening by the Forest Service. If your proposal is accepted, then processing and monitoring follows the following procedures:
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Processing. All non-recreation proposals have a processing fee once accepted which covers the environmental review and permit preparation. This cost will vary depending on the complexity of the proposal. Recreation uses only have processing fees if the work for the government to process the proposal is 50 hours or more of staff work.
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Monitoring. If a proposal is approved and the project requires government oversight beyond routine permit inspection, such as construction of a new facility, the proponent will be required to pay a monitoring fee. This will vary depending on the complexity of the proposal. Like with processing, recreation uses only have monitoring fees if the work for the government to monitor the project is 50 hours or more of staff work.
There are a few exceptions to these cost recovery fees like non-commercial group use.
You need a permit if:
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The activity on NFS land involves 75 or more people including spectators, or
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There is a fee being charged or if income is derived from the use of the land, or
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You will need to occupy, use, or build on NFS land for personal or business purposes, whether the duration is temporary or long term.
Ask the current permit holder who their Forest Service permit administrator is and contact that person. The process starts by you and the current permit holder completing and submitting a form called “Holder Initiated Revocation of Existing Authorization” which is form number FS-2700-3a found on our (link to Special Use Permit Forms page). You will need to show financial and technical ability to operate the business. You would also need to provide a bill of sale document.
When private improvements change ownership, it is Forest Service policy to issue a new special use authorization. Upon application and presentation of proof of ownership, a new authorization may be issued to the new owner, provided continuation of the use is desirable. The new authorization may contain new conditions and stipulations.
Contact your local National Forest office.
These can be found on the national website.
The recreation residence program is more streamlined. Cabin owners should use the information that is posted specifically for them found on the Recreation Residence page.