Construction Permits

Special Use Permits for Construction

Special Use Permits for Construction are required to perform any construction-related activity on Park land where the construction-related activity is not the direct result of an official construction contract with the National Park Service. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Building of temporary or permanent structures or monuments;
- Installation and/or upgrade of utilities including water, sewer, electric, and/or communications;
- Installation of temporary communications towers;
- Performing site improvements such as installation or upgrade of sidewalks and/or brick pavers; the planting of trees, shrubs, and/or perennials; and the installation of light poles;
- Installation of monitoring and security equipment such as surveillance cameras and alarm systems;
- Performing infrastructure and/or soil surveys for analysis and environmental purposes;
- Constructing or upgrading of road and bridges;
- Performing routine upkeep of structures and monuments such as cleaning and engraving.
Special Use Permits for Construction are also required for activities supporting the above-mentioned construction tasks, such as:
- Temporary closure of Park roadways and/or traffic lanes;
- Temporary closure of Park sidewalks;
- The use of man lifts, forklifts, and/or cranes;
- Installation of construction fencing.

Special Use Permits for Construction are managed by the Division of Professional Services.

Applying for a Permit

Application Form
To obtain an application for a Special Use Permit for Construction, please see the following link: Application Form. Please send the completed form to the Park GIS Specialist.

Compliance Checklist
A Compliance checklist is also required as part of the Special Use Permit for Construction application package. Please see the following link: Compliance Checklist. Please send the completed form to the Park GIS Specialist.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application processing cost of $250 is required with the submission of the Special Use Permit for Construction Application. You may use the following form to submit payment via a credit card: Credit Card Form. Please fax the completed Credit Card Form along with a copy of your signed application to 202-475-2216.

Things to Know Before Applying

A permit manager from the Division of Professional Services will guide applicants through the permitting process. The permit manager will contact you if additional meetings, discussions, or documents are required. A Special Use Permit for Construction must be issued prior to the start of any work on Park land. Please also review the Standard Conditions [add link to Standard Conditions of Permit] of the Special Use Permit for Construction.
The approval process for a Special Use Permit for Construction may take between 30-120 days .

Additional Required Documents and Steps

Depending on the scope of work, a permit manager may require additional meetings and more in-depth work plans prior to approving the permit, such as a traffic control plan, work schedule, equipment list, etc.

The permittee is required to have liability insurance and name the United States/National Park Service as additional insured as part of the policy. The liability insurance protects the permittee and the National Park Service from claims resulting from accidents or negligence by the permittee. A permit manager will provide more details when processing the application.

For some projects, bonding may be required. If so, we will provide a comment during the review process.

A refundable cost recovery deposit may be required. This deposit would be used to pay for costs incurred by the National Park Service resulting from the construction-related activity, such as employees' services (permit monitoring, administrative, etc.), restoration and/or rehabilitation, or cleanup of Park land. Cost recovery is based on the size and scope of the project and can range from $500 to $500,000 or more.
Cultural and environmental compliance is required as part of the permitting process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How long does it take to receive the Special Use Permit for Construction?
A: After the Park receives a complete application package, the approval process can take anywhere from 14 to 120 days or more, depending on the scope of the project.
Q: What activities require a Special Use Permit for Construction?
A: Special Use Permits for Construction are required to perform any construction-related activity on Park land where the construction-related activity is not the direct result of an official construction contract with the National Park Service.
Q: Are any additional permits or approvals required for work in the Park?
A: Sometimes additional permits and/or approvals are required by other DC and/or Federal Agencies (DOEE, DC Water, PEPCO, U.S. EPA, etc.). These are project specific and can vary depending on the scope of the work.
Q: What costs are associated with Special Use Permits for Construction?
A: The application fee is $250. Additional fees associated with the cost of administration of your permit may be required through the cost recovery process. This is specific to each project.
Q: What do I need to include in a permit application submission?
A: Typically, a permit submission includes a completed Application Form 10-930, Compliance Checklist, Certificate of Insurance, site plan including vehicular parking and staging areas, and the $250 application fee, if applicable. Other documentation may be required to fully explain the intent of your work. See the Compliance Checklist for more information.
Q: Where do I send my completed application package?
A: Please send your completed application package to the Park GIS Specialist at [e-mail].

For additional information, please contact the Park GIS Specialist below:
GIS Specialist
National Park Service
National Mall and Memorial Parks
1100 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20024
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]