Permits

• When there is a demand to use federal lands by public or private entities to address different uses or needs. Often these diverse needs require specific approval. The Forest Service provides services that support our national policy and federal land laws.

• The Agency's special-uses program authorizes uses on National Forest Systems lands that provide a benefit to the general public and protect public and natural resources values.

• These authorizations are legal document such as a permit, term permit, lease or easement, which allows occupancy, use, rights, or privileges of National Forests System lands. The authorization is granted for a specific use of the land and for a specific period of time.

• If you will need to occupy, use, or build on National Forest System lands for personal or business purposes, whether the duration is temporary or long term.

• If there is a fee being charged or if income is derived from the use.

• If an activity on NFS land involves individuals or organization with 75 or more participants or spectators.

Name and Address - Include the full name(s) to be used. If the application includes real property, the name(s) on the legal document must match the application.

Applicant's Agent - This person must be at least 21 years old and may or may not be the same as the applicant. Documentation should be included to verify that this person may sign on behalf of the applicant.

Project Description - Include enough detail to enable the Forest Service to determine feasibility, environmental impacts, benefits to the public, the safety of the request, lands to be occupied or used, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Environmental Protection Plan – Include proposed plans for environmental protection and rehabilitation during construction, maintenance, removal, and reclamation of the land.

Map - Provide a detailed map (U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle or equivalent) or plat (survey or equivalent) showing the requested use in relation to NFS land, identification of applicant's property (if applicable), scale, map legend, legal description, and a north arrow.

Technical and Financial Capability – Provide documentation to assure the Forest Service you are capable of constructing, operating, maintaining, removing the use off NFS land, and reclaiming the land after the authorization terminates.

Alternatives - You must first consider using nonfederal land. Lower costs or fewer restrictions are not adequate reasons for use of NFS lands. Provide alternative locations for the proposal in your application.

To apply for a Special Use Authorization Application, you must first verify if you meet the following criteria:

1. Your request must be consistent with laws, regulations, orders, policies of NFS lands, other federal laws, and applicable state and local health and sanitation laws.
2. Your request must be consistent or made consistent with the standards and guidelines in the applicable Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
3. Your request must not pose serious or substantial risk to public health or safety.
4. Your request must not require exclusive or perpetual right of use or occupancy.
5. Your request does not unreasonably conflict or interfere with administrative uses, other scheduled or authorized existing uses, or use of adjacent non-NFS lands.
6. The proponent must not owe any fees to the Forest Service from a prior or existing special use authorization.
7. No gambling or providing of sexually oriented commercial services can be authorized on NFS land, even if permitted under state law.
8. No military or paramilitary training or exercises by private organizations or individuals can be authorized on NFS land, unless it is federally funded.
9. No disposal of solid waste or storage or disposal of radioactive or other hazardous substances can be authorized on NFS land.

To apply please provide the documentation listed for the desired use to the District Special Use Permit Administrator for the forest you desire.

Select Forest & Grassland Offices and find the forest you want to work with and contact them for more information.

Cost recovery fees cover the administrative costs incurred by the U.S. Forest Service to process a special use application or to monitor during implementation of a Special Use Authorization. The fee does not apply to non-commercial group use and recreation special use applications that require less than 50 hours to process.

Fee determination is based on an estimate of the number of hours U.S. Forest Service personnel will spend on work necessary to process an application and to monitor the implementation of a project. That estimate will be applied to the corresponding category and rate in the appropriate processing or monitoring fee schedule. For processing and monitoring requirements of less than 50 person hours, there is a fee schedule.

A Cost Recovery Agreement for actual hours will need to be entered into by the proponent for processing and monitoring requirements over 50 hours. In addition to a cost recovery charge there is an annual land use fee that can incur on your permit and it will depend on your use in the forest. This will be determined at the time of permit issuance and in certain permits it will be a recurring fee that can change depending on fair market value each year.

Depending on the complexity of the proposal, obtaining a Special Use Authorization can sometimes be a lengthy process. It is important to note not all proponent's will receive approval for a permit, therefore any action taken before receiving a Special Use authorization, such as occupying National Forest System Lands and advertising or expending funds, is premature and at the proponent's risk--and is against the law.

• Submit ALL proposals and applications at least 180 days ahead of your intended start of operations.

• All proposals and applications will be date-stamped when received and processed in order of receipt.

Submit proposals/applications or questions to the District Special Uses Administrator. See “How do I Apply?” section above for contact information.

There are more than 180 types of uses and we can’t fit them all here. If you cannot find information on your desired special use, provide the following information to the permit administrator mentioned on our “How do I Apply?” section.

• SF299-20 (Ask the administrator for that form and/or what is the current document process.)

• Map of desired location where you wish to implement your special use permit request. Shapefiles, KMZ or KML are encouraged.