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Special Uses - Recreation Residence

Harrison Lagoon cabin, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.
(Forest Service photo by Ron Neibrugge)

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 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 permit. The individual owns the improvements but not the land. The permit requires the payment of an annual rental fee based upon fair market value of the land, not including improvements, as determined by an appraisal.