Land Use Permit

Applications

Special Park Use Application
(Pay.gov) Credit Card Payment- Application Fee and Cost Recovery

A permit is required on NPS Lands if you plan to do the following:

• Road work/Construction
• Put up a cell tower/ telecommunications
• Staging of vehicles and/or equipment

• Use of NPS pullouts and parking lots (Basecamps)

• Rights of Way/Easements

A permit is required and can apply to neighbors and private property owners that may be doing activities such as, but not limited to digging, planting or doing home construction along park boundaries that may encroach on park land.

Application Process

Follow the directions found in the application form, then scan the completed form and e-mail to the permits office. Or mail the completed form to the park headquarters address found at the bottom of the page. Forms will be accepted via U.S. mail or email once confirmation of payment is received.

Payment Information

A non-refundable application fee of $175.00 must be submitted online through Pay.gov in order to secure a date on the permit calendar. The permit office accepts payment by credit card only and cannot accept personal or business checks or paypal. Please contact the permit office before making payment on Pay.Gov. A certificate of liability insurance of $1,000,000 naming the United States of America / National Park Service as the additionally issued is required for all National Park Service lands use permits. This fee is non-refundable even if your application is denied, so please contact the office prior to sending in paperwork.

Submitting an application with the fee does not guarantee your activity or the date requested will be approved. Applications are accepted up to one year in advance. We will let you know within 4 business days that we have received your application, but approval or denial of your activity can range from days to weeks.

Additional Information

• Some activities are required to go through full environmental or historic compliance review.
• Additional administrative costs, cost recovery or facilities use cost may also be charged.

Performance Bonds

Some projects may require a performance bond or cash deposit. The purpose of the bond is to ensure that the natural area or historic feature is left in as good a condition as it was prior to the activity, and to cover any unpaid costs incurred as part of the project. The amount of the bond will be determined according to the scope and potential for damage by the activity. At the conclusion of the permit, the bond will be returned to the permittee after final billing costs and costs of necessary clean up; repair or rehabilitation is deducted.

Wondering what properties are administered by the National Park Service? Check out our map of the entire Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. We do not manage business opportunities for California State Parks, Mountains Restoration Conservation Authority (MRCA), local parks or other lands not administered by the National Park Service, within the Recreation Area. For all other areas, you must contact the appropriate land managers.

Link back to Special Park Uses Homepage.

Contact Us
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Office of Special Park Uses
1 Baxter Way Suite 180 Westlake Village, CA 91362
[phone]
Email Us