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A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service. Section 418 of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-391) authorizes the NPS to issue CUAs to authorize a private person, corporation, or other entity to provide commercial visitor services in parks. Without a CUA, other permit, contract, or other written agreement with the United States, such activities are prohibited under 36 CFR § 5.3. A CUA is required if you, as an individual, organization, or company, provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:
The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that:
Businesses and individuals may not conduct commercial activities in the park without a valid CUA or in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the CUA. General information about CUAs in the National Park Service (NPS) can be found at the NPS's Commercial Use Authorizations website. Information on Obtaining a CUABeginning in January 2024, Point Reyes National Seashore moved to an online CUA system for all applications and reporting processes. The online system is designed to make the application and reporting process more streamline for applicants and NPS staff. All NPS units will be using the same application process by 2025. Applications for Point Reyes National Seashore CUAs for 2024 are now being accepted through the online system. To help applicants learn the new application process, the National Park Service Commercial Services Program has developed a video to demonstrate how a business can apply for a CUA permit through the online system:
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This video shows how a business can apply for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit through an online system. Application Fee: The online system includes a standard CUA application fee. National parks using the online system for the 2024 CUA season must charge a minimum of $350 per CUA application. Parks electing to use the system for the 2024 CUA season that have historically charged a CUA application fee greater than $350, may continue to charge that application fee for the 2024 CUA season. For the 2025 CUA season, the standard CUA application fee across all national parks will be $350 for the first application submitted by the applicant and $250 for subsequent applications from the same applicant to the same park. Application fees will be collected through the system upon application submission. Market Price Management Fee: On January 1, 2023, Point Reyes National Seashore implemented a Market Based Management Fee Rate which is the National Park Service's preferred fee structure for Commercial Use Authorizations ("CUA") and is used by many parks. The standard National Park Service market price gross receipts model is used. A Market Price Management Fee is charged based upon a percentage of the gross receipts (see table below) earned from business in the Park. 100% of CUA fees paid remain at the Park and are used to fund oversight of the program, operational checks on operator performance, and projects that benefit CUA holders and access to the Park. The non-refundable application fee payable when an application is submitted is $350 and is deducted from the fee due at the end of the year.
As an example of the above is a fee chart: if a CUA holder earns $750,000 in gross revenue as a result of doing business authorized by the CUA. The NPS will charge 3% of gross receipts up to $250,000, 4% for the next $250,000, and 5% for the remaining $250,000, for a total CUA management fee of $30,000, minus the application fee. The CUA holder will deduct the $350 application fee from the percentage of gross receipts before remitting at the end of the season. If the calculated market price fee is less than the application fee, there will be nothing further due, and the NPS will retain the application fee. The application fee will be collected via Pay.Gov when the application is submitted. The Market Price Management Fee will be assessed and collected at the end of the season based on the mandatory CUA Annual Report (0MB 10-660). This fee may also be paid via Pay.Gov. CUA holders must submit an annual report each year. Download and complete the appropriate report from below. This report provides the park with required visitation statistics and financial data. For 2023 Annual Reports, complete the appropriate report and contact the Special Park Uses Office by email. Staff will send you a reply by email. Respond to their email, ensuring that you attach your completed reports to the reply. Companies that held a CUA in Point Reyes National Seashore in 2023 are required to submit their Annual Report before a CUA can be issued for 2024. Additionally beginning in 2024, CUA holders must submit a monthly report by the 15th of the following month for each month they operate in Point Reyes National Seashore. Once your CUA has been issued, download the appropriate monthly report from below and submit it through the system. The National Park Service defines Road-Based Commercial Tours as one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that someone has packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purposes and provides no other services except those incidental to road-based travel in a NPS area (on-board interpretation and incidental stops at visitor centers, restaurants, wayside exhibits, etc.). The National Park Service (NPS) has withdrawn plans to implement a standard, nationwide CUA requirement for road-based commercial tours and will not increase commercial tour entrance fees. Road-based commercial tour operators should visit the NPS's Road-based Commercial Tour CUAs page for additional information. Road-based commercial tour CUAs are not required at Point Reyes National Seashore at this time. However, if a road-based tour involves out-of-vehicle guided activities such as guided day hikes, a CUA may be required for those guided activities. Applying for a CUAApplications for a CUA can be made through the on-line system only. Begin the application process. Companies that held a CUA in Point Reyes National Seashore in 2023 are required to submit their Annual Report before a CUA can be issued for 2024. See "What are reporting requirements?" above for information on how to file your 2023 Annual Report. CUA Office contact informationSend the CUA Office a message with any questions about obtaining a CUA, submitting a report, using the on-line system, or to find out what type of services are permitted. Important LinksAnnual Report Forms
Monthly Report Forms
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Last updated: February 2, 2024