Changes Coming To Acadia National Park's Commercial Use Authorization

 

General Information about Commercial Use Authorizations

• For general information about the park’s CUA program, visit: Do Business With Us - Acadia National Park

 

The National Park Service’s CUA program has initiated a long-term planning strategy that has resulted in administrative changes across the Service. Beginning in calendar year 2025, Acadia National Park will implement these changes. This notification outlines changes to CUA applications, CUA fee requirements, and CUA timelines of requirement that may affect you. As new requirements are implemented, notifications will be emailed to existing CUA holders. They will also be posted on our website. We appreciate your adherence to and cooperation with all current and upcoming CUA requirements. Current details are listed below:

Summary of Changes:

The changes to the Commercial Use Authorization process will result in three main changes:

1. Implementation of an online CUA system and standard application

2. Standardized commercial service types and included activities.

3. Management fees based on market pricing.

Online CUA Application and Reporting System

As part of a larger effort to streamline and modernize the National Park Service (NPS) Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) application and reporting process, the NPS began using an online system to process applications and collect required CUA reports for some parks beginning December 1, 2023, for the 2024 CUA season. All parks must utilize the online system beginning for the 2025 CUA season, including Acadia National Park. NPS collected public comments on its implementation of the online CUA system in August and September 2023.

The online CUA system standardizes CUA application fees across the service. For the 2025 CUA season, Acadia National Park will implement these standard CUA application fees. The CUA application fee will be $350 for the first application submitted by the applicant to Acadia National Park and $250 for any subsequent applications submitted from the same applicant.

An exception to the standard CUA application fees applies to road-based commercial tour CUAs (RBCT CUA). RBCT CUAs are subject to historic CUA fees for the 2025 CUA season. In Acadia National Park, the application fee for RBCT CUAs will remain $300 for the 2025 CUA season. The NPS is currently collecting public comments for its plan for RBCTs for the 2026 CUA season, including the implementation of standard CUA application fees. You can find additional information and provide comment on this online system by visiting: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/online_cua_system_rbct.

CUA Service Types

Acadia National park will amend the number and titles of commercial activities authorized by CUA (hereafter referred to as CUA Service Types) for the 2025 season. The online CUA system requires you to apply for individual CUA Service Types and pay the standard application fees explained above.

 

* $250 Application Fee for any subsequent applications submitted from the same applicant

CUA Service Type	Included Activities	Application Fee*	Fee Type
Road Based Commercial Tours	Step-On Guides	$300	No management fee charged for the 2025 CUA season
Transportation (Non-Tour)		$350	Market Price
Cadillac Shuttle Service		$350	Market Price
Art Instruction	Photography Workshops	$350	Market Price
Bicycle Rental	Bike Pick-up; Drop-off	$350	Market Price
Bicycle Tours		$350	Market Price
Boat tours (Non-motorized)		$350	Market Price
Boat Tours (Motorized)		$350	Market Price
Climbing/Mountaineering - day trip	Ice climbing	$350	Market Price
Fishing – spin or fly		$350	Market Price
Hiking/Walking - front country	Birding, Running, Yoga	$350	Market Price
Luxury Picnics		$350	Market Price
Summer Camps		$350	Market Price

 

CUA Fees

The National Park Service (NPS) is required by law to collect a fee for CUAs at an amount at least sufficient to recover the NPS’s costs to administer and manage the CUAs. The NPS requires CUA applicants to pay an application fee and CUA holders to pay a separate management fee. Management fees allow the NPS to recover the costs to the park for supporting and monitoring the commercial use, and for any cleanup or restoration of the site after the use has occurred. Paying CUA fees does not eliminate the requirement that you pay applicable entrance fees.

CUA Application Fees

As explained above, starting for the 2025 CUA season, Acadia National Park will implement the standard application fees required by the online CUA system. CUA application fees for each CUA Service Type, with the exception of RBCT CUAs, will be $350 for the first application received and $250 for subsequent applications received by the same applicant within the same CUA season. RBCT CUAs are subject to a $300 application fee for the 2025 CUA season and the standard CUA application fee for the 2026 CUA season and beyond.

CUA Management Fees

For the 2025 season, Acadia will implement a market price management fee. This fee will be due at the end of the 2025 season based on the data submitted in your 2025 annual report. The management fee must be paid no later than January 31, 2026 for the 2025 season. Failure to submit your 2025 annual report and pay the corresponding management fee will prevent you from being issued a future CUA. A Market Price Management Fee bases the management fee on a percentage of gross receipts earned from in-park or park-dependent operations. The application fee is deducted from Market Price fee.

For CUAs requiring a Market Price Fee, refer to table below:

 

CUA Gross Receipts	CUA Management Fee
<$250,000	3% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
$250,000 to $500,000	4% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
>$500,000	5% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

 

Timeline for new CUA Requirements in Acadia National Park

Dates.....................	Instructions
January 31, 2025	Final due date of 2024 Annual Report. This report must be included in any 2025 application packet submitted before this date.
February 1, 2025	CUA web portal opens for 2025 applications
December 1, 2025	Anticipated date that 2026 Applications are accepted.
January 31, 2026	Final due date of 2025 Annual Report.Market Price Management Fee due date.

 

Additional Information

• If you have any questions about these changes, please contact Commercial Services at: e-mail us

• For general information about the park’s CUA program, visit: Do Business With Us - Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

• For frequently asked questions relating to the new CUA Application portal, visit: Help - Commercial Use Authorization (nps.gov)

You will continue to receive updates to our process by email. We will also post updated information on our website as the changes become effective. We look forward to seeing you in the park!