Commercial Use Authorizations

Commercial Use Authorizations

A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) allows an individual, group, company or other for-profit entity to provide commercial visitor services within a National Park area, and is required if an entity provides a good, activity, service, or other function to visitors in a NPS managed area, uses park resources and results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit.

Federal regulations require the National Park Service issue and charge a reasonable fee for CUAs that at a minimum recovers administrative and management costs of the authorization.

• Completed applications must be received by the park no less than four weeks prior to the date the business begins operating in the park.
• There is a $350 application fee that must be included with the submitted application.
• Once an application is approved, an additional administrative fee may be charged if the commerical use activity requires monitoring or logistical coordination by park staff. The need for this will be determined by park staff at the time of application.

Applying for a CUA - Commercial Use Authorizations (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)