Recreation Residence Permits

What Is A Recreation Residence?

The Forest Service Recreation Residence program gives 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 permit requires the payment of an annual land use fee based upon fair market value of the land, not including improvements, as determined by an appraisal.

• 15,570 recreation residences occupy National Forest System lands throughout the country.
• 6,314 are in the Pacific Southwest region (California).
• 740 are on the Stanislaus National Forest.

For details regarding the forest management of recreation residences, the Region 5 Supplement 2709.11-2014-1 of the Forest Service Handbook is available on our Regional Forest Service web page.

Sample Special Use Permit

To review a sample Term Special Use Permit for Recreation Residences, click on the link below.

• Download the: FS-2700-5a (01-2013) form (pdf)

Recreation Residences as Historic Structures

Recreation residences played a role in national forest land use policies before the establishment of the Forest Service as an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Between 1897 and 1914, annual special use permits authorized individual recreation residences. In 1915, Congress passed the "Term Occupancy Act" to allow private recreation residences and commercial recreation facilities on National Forest System lands. 

In 1968, in recognition of other recreation needs, the Forest Service decided against establishing any additional new tracts. In 1976, this moratorium was expanded to include no development of new lots within existing tracts. During that time, California, which has nearly 20% of its land area under Forest Service administration, became first in the nation in the number of recreation residence permits on National Forest lands. Further, among California's National Forests, the Stanislaus ranks third in numbers of recreation residence permits.  

The Term Occupancy Act represents a unique era in Forest Service history and an enduring connection that recreation residence permit holders have with these tracts of public land. Recreation residence permit holders are partners with the Forest Service in stewardship of these historic resources. Because of their potential status as properties eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, permit holders assume the responsibility of maintaining the natural and historic character of these structures, improvements and the land around them. 

To learn more about Maintaining the Historic Character of Your Forest Service Recreation Residence, click here.

The Forest Service follows the standards for the treatment of historic properties from the Department of the Interior. To learn more, click here.