Commercial Use Authorization

 

All permit applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Due to the current dynamic situation, permits will take longer than usual to process.


The Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit program authorizes businesses to provide certain commercial services not typically provided by the concessioners within the boundaries of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Commercial Use Authorizations are two-year permits granted through the Business Management Office. Specific requirements for certifications and insurance must be met and maintained for the duration of the CUA.

 

Services Available In Glen Canyon

 
Three hikers climb a hill

Guided Services

Check here for a full listing of Guided Services permitted to operate in Glen Canyon.

Launch ramp with a large amount of boats in various states of launch.

Vessel Services

Check here for a full listing of Vessel Services permitted to operate in Glen Canyon.

people sitting on large flat boulders looking out over the landscape

Retail Services

Check here for a full listing of Mobile Food & Beverage Services permitted to operate in Glen Canyon.

 

Road-based Commercial Tour CUAs (RBCT CUAs)

There is currently a moratorium on issuing RBCT CUAs. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area did not historically issue RBCT CUAs prior to May 28, 2020, therefore will not be issuing RBCT CUAs at this time. For updates visit the National Park Service's RBCT CUA page.

Information for Commercial Tour Groups Entrance Fees in Glen Canyon.

Services Not Permitted

These types of commercial services are not offered through the CUA Program or authorized under any other permit from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area:

  • Vessel Piloting Services (Pilot for hire of personal vessels or rental vessels)
  • Commercial Boat Tours, to include, but not limited to, private boat charters and photography boat tours
  • Delivery or pick-up of any out-of-park rentals, including, but not limited to, the following:
    • RVs
    • Houseboats
    • Camping Equipment or "Drop Camps"

Apply for a New Permit


The first step in obtaining a CUA is the submission of a CUA application request form (pdf file). For more information, please contact the Commercial Use Authorizations Coordinator at 928-608-6325.

 

For Current CUA holders

All CUA Holders must fill out the following forms:
All services, these forms are necessary for your business operations: Visitor's Acknowledgement of Risk
plus one of the following:
Guided Services: Fishing-Lake Powell, Land Tours, Hiking, Photography, Hunting, Kayak/Canoe, Kayak/SUP, Scuba Instruction, Waterski Wakeboard Instruction: Guided Service Annual Report
Guided Colorado River Fishing and Backhaul: Guided Colorado River Services Annual Report
Private Vessel Services - Caretaking, Minor Repair, Launch and Retrieve, Marine Salvage: Vessel Service Annual Report
Commercial Vessel Services - Launch and Retrieve-Motorized Vessels, Launch and Retrieve - Human Powered Vessels: Commercial Vessel Service Annual Report
Retail Services - Mobile Food & Beverage Service: Retail Service Annual Report

Program Changes

Beginning with operations in calendar year 2020, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area CUA permits will convert back to 2-year CUA permits, with operating years from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021, Permit holders will be required to update CUA documents annually. Applications for CUA permits will be accepted at other times during the year, but all permits will expire on December 31, 2021. Application Fees for the first CUA Service Type will be $300 and each additional CUA type cost will be $100 for each year, regardless of when you apply.

 

Changes to CUA Fees Begin in 2019

Implementation of Percentage-Based CUA Fee at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is implementing changes to its Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program in multiple phases over the next two years. The National Park Service (NPS) is required to collect a reasonable fee for CUAs at an amount at least sufficient to recover the costs to the NPS in administering and managing CUAs (Public Law 105-391, Section 418).

Beginning in January 2019, changes will be implemented to CUA fee requirements, CUA service types, and CUA timelines of requirement.

The park's CUA program will move from a flat annual fee to a fee that is calculated based upom a percentage of gross receipts earned from in-park or park-dependent operations.

Due to the large volume of applications submitted to the park, a complete application packet must be received from companies by November 15, in order to obtain a finalized CUA permit before January 1 of the next business year.

Commercial Use Authorization Fee Change Factsheet

What will these changes do and why are they needed?
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Park) is implementing changes to its Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program in phases over the next two years. The Park’s CUA program will move from a flat annual fee to a fee that is calculated based upon a percentage of gross receipts earned from in-park or park-dependent operations (market price fee).

Public Law 105-391, Section 418 requires the National Park Service (NPS) to collect a reasonable fee for CUAs at an amount at least sufficient to recover the costs to the NPS in administering and managing CUAs. Thus, all CUA applicants will be required to pay two types of fees: Application Fees and CUA Management Fees.

The CUA fee changes will achieve the following:

  1. result in a more equitable fee structure based upon volume of work performed in the park;
  2. prevent the conversion of the larger CUA businesses into concession contracts, which would limit the number of awardees and could result in some businesses being forced out of the market; and
  3. is responsive to a point of emphasis from the Secretary of the Interior.

How will these changes affect smaller and larger CUA business models?
Smaller CUA business models will benefit from this change as a result of lower application fees and in some cases (if annual revenue is under $10,000), no management fees would be assessed.

Gross Receipts

Market Price Fee

<$250,000

3% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

$250,000 - $500,000

4% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

>$500,000

5% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

Larger CUA business models will see lower application fees, but could see increased Management Fees based on the Market Price Fee Table.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit program authorizes businesses to provide certain commercial services not typically provided by concessioners within the boundaries of a unit of the National Park Service.
There are two types of CUA fees. An Application Fee is a non-refundable fee assessed to recover administrative costs associated with reviewing and approving or denying applications for CUAs. The Management Fee is a type of fee to recover the actual costs incurred by all park divisions involved in support of the use, monitoring, clean-up, and restoration resulting from use. The Management Fee will be a “market price fee”, which is based on the percentage of gross receipts earned in-park or from park-dependent operations.
The Park introduced the changes to the CUA fee structure at the annual CUA meetings held in March, 2017. The Park provided nearly two years notice to companies operating under existing CUAs as changes will not be implemented until January 2019.
Due to the large volume of applications submitted to the park, a complete application packet must be received by November 15, 2018 in order to obtain a finalized CUA before January 1, 2019. Incomplete or late packets will not receive a CUA until after February 15, 2019. Regardless of when in 2019 a company wishes to operate in the park, a complete Annual Report including all financial reporting from 2018 must be received by January 30, 2019.
As the new requirements are implemented, notifications will be posted on our website and mailed and e-mailed to existing CUA holders. The Park will work with CUA holders on a case-by-case basis to issue pro-rated, gap permits as needed to transition to a calendar-year permitting schedule.

Commercial Use Authorizations may be issued only to authorize services that are determined to be an appropriate use of the park, will have minimal impact on park resources and values, and are consistent with the purpose for which the unit was established as well as all applicable management plans, park policies, and regulations. CUAs are not competitively awarded and are limited to what the economy can support unless specifically limited by the Park, are only two years in duration, and pay only Application and Management Fees.

Concession contracts are limited in number and scope, are competitively awarded, range from 10-20 years in length, and require the awardee to pay a Franchise Fee that is generally around 10%-15%. Concession contracts are limited to three category types: Category I contracts exist when a concessioner constructs capital improvements on park lands; Category II contracts exist when a concessioner operates on assigned land or in a government building but makes to construction or capital improvements to the property; and Category III contracts exist when the concessioner is assigned neither land nor buildings.

Existing CUA Service Types (subject to change)

CUA Service Type

Application Fee

Fee Type

Guided Fishing Service - Colorado River

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Fishing Service - Lake Powell

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Hiking Service (Backcountry)

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Hiking Service with Canyoneering (Backcountry)

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Hiking Service with Packstock (Backcountry)

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Photography Workshop - Land Based

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Photography Workshop - Water Based

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Hunting Services

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Kayak/Canoe Service with Instruction

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Guided Stand-up Paddleboard Service with Instruction

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Waterski/wakeboard Instruction

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Delivery/Launch/Recovery of Commercially Owned
Powerboat Vessels Under 26 feet in length

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Delivery/Launch/Recovery of Commercially Owned
Human- powered Vessels

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Delivery/Launch/Recovery of Provately Owned Vessels

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Minor Boat/Vessel Repair

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Boat/Vessel Caretaking

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Marine Salvage

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

SCUBA Diving Services with Instruction

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Mobile Clinic Operations

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Land Tours (Backcountry Roads)

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Mobile Food & Beverage Services

$300 if First CUA; $100 if additional CUA for 2019

Market Price for 2019 Operating Year

Last updated: February 2, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1507
Page, AZ 86040

Phone:

928 608-6200
Receptionist available at Glen Canyon Headquarters from 7 am to 4 pm MST, Monday through Friday. The phone is not monitored when the building is closed.

Contact Us