Permits

The Forest Service manages the national forests for multiple uses, including recreation, timber, wilderness, minerals, water, grazing, fish and wildlife. Our job is to help people share and enjoy the forest, while conserving the environment for future generations. To help us meet this goal, certain activities, such as firewood collection, require permits, while others, such as camping, benefit from passes.

Get a Christmas Tree permit for the Ocala National Forest at Recreation.gov!

Special Uses Permits

• The Forest Service manages over 192 million acres of national forests and grasslands that comprise the National Forest System (NFS). Today, our growing population and mobile society have created a demand for a variety of uses of these federal lands. Often these diverse needs require specific approval.

National Forest in Florida Special Use Program

When DON'T You Need A Permit?

• When you are gathering edible material (morels, etc.) for your own consumption.
• When you are camping in a dispersed area.
• When you are at a site that doesn't require a Recreation Enhancement Act Fee.
• When you are building a campfire on National Forest System lands you can collect a reasonable quantity of wood for the campfire without a permit.

Regional/Forest Accomplishments

Fee revenues make a difference.

The majority of proceeds from recreation fees and passes goes right back into maintaining and improving the things you use most like bridges, buildings, trails, boat ramps and visitor centers. 

Check out this quick snapshot showing the kinds of work done with your fees. For a more comprehensive understanding of how much was collected and how it was used, check out the national, regional and local accomplishment reports.

• For some recreation activities:
  • At most day use sites such as trailheads, picnic areas and river access sites
  • Reserving a campsite
• For collecting fuelwood.
• Special Use Permits are required for commercial and non-commercial use of NFS lands, including:
  • Easements for electrical and utility lines,
  • roads to access private property bound by National Forest lands,
  • oil and gas pipelines, wells or holding tanks, etc.
  • Minerals

Forest Grazing Allotments

Permitted grazing is use of rangeland resources by livestock. Grazing permittees are individuals or organizations who have acquired the privilege to graze livestock on National Forest or National Grasslands. Groups, such as Grazing Associations, often hold grazing permits.

Grazing management on rangelands today is a collaborative effort. There is a lot of public concern about management of livestock on federals lands. Gaining the understanding and cooperation of everyone involved in grazing management improves the chances for a successful program. This includes landowners, land managers, users, universities, other agencies, and the public.

Apalachicola

The District Ranger, Arvind Bhuta, USDA Forest Service, Apalachicola National Forest, 57 Taff DR, Crawfordville, FL 32327-2138 will be accepting sealed bids for permitted livestock grazing until February 12, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. EST. All bids will be opened at that time. 

One allotment is being offered: the Deer Hunt allotment located in Liberty County south of Bristol, FL. The allotment contains approximately 8,500 acres of grazable land and can be expected to support 100 head of cows with or without nursing calves. Grazing will be allowed annually from March 1 through October 31. A 5-year Term Grazing Permit will be issued to the successful high bidder. A prospectus of detailed information is available to the public and interested bidders from the above address or by email from renee.ripley@usda.gov.

For more information, please contact Renee Ripley, Biological Technician Cell phone: (850) 447-0322 Front office phone: (850) 264-4997