Commercial Use Authorizations

The National Park Service issues Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs) to allow individuals, corporations, or other entities to provide appropriate commercial services in parks. The term of a CUA may not exceed two years and no preferential right of renewal or similar provisions for renewal may be provided. The term of a CUA at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is for one year. CUAs are not concessions contracts and are not transferrable.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park issues CUAs for the following activities:

• Guided hikes
• Food and merchandise sales (at permitted events)
• Park tours (hiking)
• Bicycle trips
• Bicycle rental
• Orienteering
• Photography workshops
• Yoga classes

 

CUA Application

For more information and the application, contact the Permit Coordinator at 440-546-5904 or e-mail us.

CUA Reports

As a condition of the CUA, the CUA holder is required to submit monthly activity reports and an annual gross receipt report. A copy of these reports can be requested from the Commercial Services Office.

CUA Application Procedure

CUAs are available for a one year period or for single events. Applications are accepted at any time throughout the year but must be received at least 30 days in advance for previously approved activities (see above), or 6 months in advance for new types of uses.

Requests for a CUA application may be made via telephone or email (see link above). A completed application and the non-refundable application fee are required before an application can be processed. Please call 440-546-5904 for more information. Visit the NPS CUA subject site to learn more about applying for a CUA.

CUA Fees

Application Fee

The application fee allows the park to recover costs associated with processing your CUA application. A non-refundable application fee of $100 is due each time you submit an application.

Management Fee

In addition to application fees, the park will also collect a management fee or a market price fee. A management fee allows the park to recover costs associated with managing and monitoring your CUA. This fee varies based on the level of management required for your CUA. The management fee is used for single event CUAs.

Market Price Fee

A market price fee is another type of fee that may be charged in order to recover costs associated with the administration and management of your CUA. You still pay the application fee when you submit the application, but this amount is credited back to you when you pay the market price fee at the end of the operating season. The market price fee is based on a percentage of your revenue earned from park based operations. You are required to submit this information each year when you submit the mandatory CUA annual report. The market price fee is charged for CUAs valid for an entire operating season. The market price fee is calculated based on the following:

• Less than $250,000 earned from park-based operations: 3% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

• $250,000–$500,000 earned from park based-operations: 4% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

• More than $500,000 earned from park-based operations: 5% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

 

Laws, Regulations, and Policies

• NPS CUA website
• Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998, Sec. 418
• NPS Management Policies, Sec. 10.3
• Superintendent’s Compendium