Special Uses

Special Uses provides services supporting our national policy and federal land laws by authorizing uses on National Forest System land. The Forest Service manages over 193 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. The Forest Service provides services that support our national policy and federal land laws.

Learn more about authorizing regulations and laws, and the Permit Application Process.

NEW -  Ski Area Water Rights on National Forest System Lands - Notice of final directive; request for public comment. 

The Forest Service amended the agency's policy for ski area concessions by adding two ski area water clauses to the Special Uses Handbook, FSH 2709.11, Chapter 50. 

the Final Directive was published in the federal register on Dec. 30, 2015. The Federal Register Notice provides background on the directive and includes the agency's response to comments received in the proposed directive. 

This Final directive follows the proposed directive for ski area water rights published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2014. That notice initiated a 60-day public comment period. Additionally, a 120-day Tribal consultation period began on July 28, 2014. 

• News Release: Forest Service publishes final directive on long- term viability of ski areas operating on National Forests

• Federal Register Notice (PDF, 738 KB)

• Excerpt FSH 2709.11, Chapter 50, Ski Area Water Rights Cause D-30 - Prior Appropriation States (PDF, 85 KB) - Final 2015

• Excerpt FSH 2709.11, Chapter 50, Ski Area Water Rights Cause D-31 - Riparian States (PDF, 67 KB) - Final 2015

• Webinar on the Final Directive (1 hour)

Directives for Additional Seasonal or Year-Round Recreation Activities at Ski Areas

A Federal Register Notice regarding the final directives for additional seasonal or year-round recreation activities at ski areas was published on April 17, 2014. The documents are provided below:

• FSM 2340 Privately Owned Recreation Opportunities

• FSM_2700, Chapter 2710, Special Use Authorization

• FSH_2709.14, Chapter 60, Winter Recreation Resorts and Other Concessions Involving Winter Sports

• FSH_2709.14, Chapter 10, Organizational Camps and other Privately Owned Improvements Authorized for Groups

• U.S. Forest Service Press release

• Federal Register Notice - Vol. 79, No. 74 April 17, 2014 - Additional Seasonal and Year-Round Recreation Activities at Ski Areas (PDF, 235 KB)

• For Reference: Ski Area Recreation Opportunity Enhancement Act (SAROEA)

Special Uses Cost Recovery 

• Cost Recovery Fees 2012

Advertising and Sponsorship at Concession Sites

Direction Regarding Advertising and Sponsorship at Concession Sites, FSM 2340. Link to Final Directive Advertising Sponsorship 

Questions and answers regarding advertising and sponsorships at concession sites. Link to Final QA Advertising Sponsorship 04-30-2013

36CFR 251.50 Land Uses; Special Uses Requiring an Authorization

• Final Rule (PDF, 138 KB) Effective August 12, 2004

Cabin Fee Act (CFA)

The Cabin Fee Act (CFA) is a law, signed December 19, 2014, in Section 3024 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, Public Law No. 113-291. The CFA established a new method for determining special use fees for the Recreation Residences by using a fee table with set fee tiers and institutes a transfer fee in the event that a cabin changes ownership and a new permit is being issued. Appraisals are no longer needed.

• Section (k) of the CFA repeals the former law that governed the fees -the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (CUFFA).

• The CFA also provides for fee retention by the Forest Service (FS) starting ten years after December 19, 2014, to administer the recreational residence program and other recreation programs carried out on National Forest System lands. For more information:

  • FAQs on Cabin Fee Act (PDF, 331 KB - 11/2019) & Implementation Letter (PDF, 86 KB - 2015 example)

• The CFA required the Forest Service to develop regulations to allow for fee adjustments when access is restricted to rec residences.

  • Final Rule - Restricted Access: Federal Register (PDF, 254 KB)

  • Scenarios for impaired Access

    • Proposed Rule - Restricted Access: Federal Register Notice

    • Briefing Paper on Restricted Access (5/2024)

Recovery of Costs for Processing Special Use Applications and Monitoring compliance with Special Use Authorizations. Federal Register Vol. 71 No. 34, February 21, 2006

• Copy of Federal Register Document (PDF, 218 KB) 

• News Release, dated February 21, 2006 (RTF)

• General Information Summary - February 2006 (RTF, 763 KB)

• Current Recovery Information under the Bureau of Land Management - Calendar year 2022

Ditch Bill Implementation 

• ID 2720-2005-2, December 21, 2005 (RTF, 197 KB)

  This interim directive supplements existing direction in FSM 2729 to provide guidance to Forest Service officers in evaluation applications and issuing easements for certain qualifying water development facilities on National Forest System lands under the Act of October 27, 1986 (otherwise known as the "Colorado Ditch Bill")

• Federal Register - June 30, 2004 (PDF, 50.3 KB)

• FSM 2729.16 Parent text being supplemented

Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines

• Forest Service Accessibility Guidelines