Permits & Reservations

The park is a special place where glittering waters meet emerald shorelines. Its rich history is revealed in legends, shipwrecks, and the stories of people who helped to shape this unique area. We are home to four distinct yet interconnected ecosystems. These resources, combined with the closeness of Miami, make the park an ideal location for a variety of special activity requests. Each event, activity, research project and commercial operation in the park requires a permit. Permits are issued and approved after National Park Service employees follow required steps for environmental compliance. This includes reviews to determine that activities will not impair park values, resources or visitor enjoyment. Permits are required for:

 

SPECIAL PARK USES

The special use permit authorizes activities that benefit individuals, groups or organizations, rather than the public at large. Examples include: weddings, memorial services, special assemblies, First Amendment activities and athletic events. The National Park Service may permit a special park use providing the activity will not cause derogation of park resources or values, visitor experiences, or the purpose for which the park was established. Primary consideration will be given to potential resource damage, anticipated disruption of normal public use, and previously approved permitted activities. Review the Superintendent's Compendium for guidance on your proposed activity prior to sending an email to [e-mail] with your inquiries.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A minimum of 15 business days is required to review special park use permit requests. This review period begins the day the completed permit application and the $100 non-refundable permit fee are received. Applications will not be considered until payment of the $100 non-refundable application fee is received. Large or complex projects may take additional time. In addition to the application fee, other fees may be charged. National Park Service staff may be assigned as on-site monitors for the project. The permittee will be billed for all costs incurred.

FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITIES

A special use permit is required for public assembly or the sale or distribution of printed matter in National Park Service areas when group size is greater than 25. Please send an email to [e-mail] with your inquiries. All First Amendment activities must take place at the designated area at Convoy Point. A map of this location is available in the Superintendent's Compendium. All activities are limited to daylight hours. All park regulations must be followed and no resource damage is allowed. The application must contain a statement of the goal of the organization and the proposed activity.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Permits for First Amendment activities may take up to ten days to approve or deny. Customary permit fees requirements are not applied to First Amendment activities.

STILTSVILLE

The six stilt houses located in the northern part of the park are closed to the public without a permit. Special visitation permission can be obtained by contacting the Stiltsville Trust, which maintains the properties through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service. Depending on the nature of your visitation request, it is likely you will require a special park use permit from the NPS in addition to permission from the Stiltsville Trust. For more information visit the Stiltsville Trust.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A minimum of 15 business days is required to review Stiltsville permit requests. This review period begins the day the completed permit application and $100 non-refundable permit fee are received. Applications will not be considered until payment of the $100 non-refundable application fee is received. Large or complex projects may take additional time. In addition to the application fee, other fees may be charged. National Park Service staff may be assigned as on-site monitors for the project. The permittee will be billed for all costs incurred.

SCATTERING of ASHES

The park is a beautiful, unique place that has touched many hearts. To request to memorialize a loved one by scattering their ashes in the park, a special use permit for scattering ashes is required. Please note that scattering of ashes must take place at least three nautical miles off shore and other federal guidelines apply. There are no terrestrial areas in the park where scattering of ashes is authorized to take place. For more information, to include the permit application, please send an email to [e-mail].

 

FILM, PHOTOGRAPHY, and SOUND RECORDING PERMITS

The National Park Service conserves and protects areas of untold beauty, grandeur and historical importance for current and future generations. The tradition of capturing images of these special places started with explorers who traveled with paint and canvas or primitive cameras. Sharing these images helped inspire the creation of national parks. Today, visitors to national parks continue to memorialize their visits through filming and photography.

On January 4, 2025, the EXPLORE Act was signed into law (Public Law 118-234). Section 125 of the Act changed how the National Park Service will manage filming and photography in park areas.

Key elements of the new law include:

• In most cases, permits and fees are not required for groups of eight individuals or less conducting filming and photography. To avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming or photography must:

(1) occur in areas open to the public;

(2) use hand-carried equipment only;

(3) not require exclusive use of a site; and

(4) not adversely impact park resources, values, and other visitors.

• Permits and fees are never required for filming and photography that is associated with a permitted event, such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.

• All filming and photography is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, or conducted by media or for news gathering.

• When a permit is required, the National Park Service may charge application and location fees.

• Individuals and groups exempt from permit and fee requirements for filming or photography remain subject to all other laws and regulations that apply in park areas, including those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to resources.

Please email [e-mail] for more information about filming and photography in the park.

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Requests for filming or still photography involving more than eight individuals require a permit and should be processed appropriately and all cost recovery and location fees collected as authorized.

Application

Applying for a Special Use Permit for filming and still photography when involving more than eight individuals. (maximum 12 Individuals). Please email [e-mail] for an application.

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Timeline

When a permit is required, the application AND any associated application fee must be received a MINIMUM of fifteen (15) business days in advance. Any project that is complex in nature will likely require additional time and coordination. Once the application and application fee are received, the proposed project will undergo a compliance review to ensure that natural and cultural resources and/or visitor experiences will not be unduly impacted. Upon approval from the Superintendent, the final permit containing special conditions will be sent to the applicant for their signature and a copy returned to the Permits Office. Applications can be denied a permit for a variety of reasons, and the submission of an application does not imply the issuance of a permit.

 

COMMERCIAL USE AUTHORIZATIONS

What is a CUA?
A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service that authorizes an individual, group, company, or other for-profit entity to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park area. The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that:

• Are determined to be an appropriate use of Biscayne National Park, 
• Will have minimal impact on the park’s resources and values; and 
• Are consistent with the park’s purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations. 

A CUA is required if you, as an individual, organization, or company, provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:

• take place at least in part in Biscayne National Park, 
• use park resources, and 
• result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit. 

The Following Services Have Been Deemed Appropriate AND Require CUAs in Biscayne National Park.

• Boat tours and transportation (including charters)
• Marine towing and salvage
• Guide and Charter Fishing
• SCUBA and snorkeling tours

Requests to provide any service outside of this list requires additional consideration. Please email here.

How do I apply for a CUA? 

• NPS is excited to announce the development and deployment of the online CUA system. The system is designed to standardize, modernize, and streamline the CUA application and reporting process. The system allows potential CUA applicants and CUA holders to view available CUA opportunities, apply for CUAs, submit required CUA reports, and pay CUA fees.
• CUAs are applied for through the online system: Home - Commercial Use Authorization

What are the CUA Reporting Requirements?

• CUA holders must submit an annual report via the online CUA system each year by January 31 for the operations that occurred during the preceding year. This report provides the park with visitation statistics, reportable injury data, and a record of annual gross receipts. 
• Failure to submit the required reports or misrepresentation of statistics or earnings may result in the inability to submit subsequent CUA applications via the online CUA system or the suspension of active CUAs.

Email CUA Office here.

• List of current CUA holders and others authorized to guide tours in the park

 

RESEARCH and COLLECTING

It is the policy of the National Park Service to support and encourage natural science and social science studies, provided that these studies enhance understanding of park natural, cultural and social resources, processes and values, or serve to assess how the use of the park impacts an ecosystem.

Permits are required by those seeking to conduct scientific and social studies in the park. Although studies conducted by outside investigators are not required to focus on specific NPS issues, all studies must be consistent with NPS statutes, policies, and environmental laws that govern research on NPS lands.

Research permit applications and proposals go through a review process in order to ensure that all proposed research studies for the park comply with NPS statutes and policies, that park resources and values are not impaired, and that park visitors are not unduly impacted by proposed activities.

Researchers working under park permits are expected to follow the SFNRC research data reporting requirements and be cognizant of their obligation to submit their final deliverables.

How to apply: the National Park Service developed the Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) portal to facilitate application for scientific research permits. Investigators interested in conducting research in the park are required to submit both an application and a research proposal via this system. Proposals may be uploaded during the online application. Investigators are encouraged to review the NPS guidelines for research proposals prior to submitting an application and research proposal.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Permit applications will not be reviewed unless a study proposal is submitted. Review and processing of research applications and proposals can take 90 days or more.