Skip to main content
Contact Kevin

The Concessioner's Toolbox

DIY legal resources for concessioners, guides, and outfitters doing business with the Forest Service or the National Park Service. 

Need more guidance? Contact us!

Free legal resources for FS and NPS concessioners

This Toolbox is designed to help you gain a better understanding of the laws and policies that apply to your operations on Forest Service or National Park Service lands. The downloads available here are free to use.

Forest Service Special Use Authorization

If you have a Forest Service Special Use Authorization, it was issued pursuant to a specific federal statute. Marinas, campgrounds, ski resorts, and organizational camps such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts are some examples of businesses that require a Special Use Permit.

Resorts and marinas

If you have a resort or marina, you likely have a Term Special Use Permit which was issued pursuant to the Term Permit Act of 1915.

  Term Special Use Permit

  Term Permit Act of 1915

Ski areas

If you operate a ski area, your permit was likely issued pursuant to Granger-Thye Act (16 U.S.C. § 497b) or (16 U.S.C. § 580d) which authorizes the Forest Service to enter into long-term ski area permits.

  Granger-Thye Act (16 U.S.C. § 497b)

  Granger-Thye Act (16 U.S.C. § 580d)

Outfitters and guides

If you have a Special Use Permit for outfitting and guiding, it may have been issued pursuant to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act at 16 U.S.C. § 6801 et seq.

Special Use Permit for Outfitting and Guiding

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act at 16 U.S.C. § 6801 et seq.

Organizational camps & community groups

Several other federal statutes pertain to concession-type operations, such as the National Forest Organizational Camp Fee Improvement Act, set out at 16 U.S.C. § 6231 et seq. These apply to organizational camps such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and community-based organizations.

National Forest Organizational Camp Fee Improvement Act

Forest Service Code of Federal Regulations

The general regulations which apply to these agreements are set out in the Code of Federal Regulations at 36 CFR Part 251 (external link).
  Code of Federal Regulations 36 CFR Part 251

Navigating Forest Service resources for your business

The USDA Forest Service provides several documents to assist you in administering your permit to operate on Forest lands. These resources are notoriously hard to find, so we've put together some Forest Service essentials here. 

Forest Service Sample Business Plan

If you are an outfitter, you may be required to provide a business plan. The Forest Service has provided a sample business plan you can use.

FS Sample Business Plan

Forest Service appeals regulations

The Forest Service also has regulations which outline when and how you can appeal decisions related to your special use authorization. The regulations at 36 C.F.R. Part 214 set out the basic requirements of any appeals, as well as the critical deadlines that you need to meet (external link).
36 C.F.R Part 214

National Park Service concessions regulations

If you are a concessioner on NPS lands, these resources are critical to understanding the administration of contracts and rate increases.

NPS Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998

If you have a National Park Service concession contract, and it was issued after 1998, it was issued pursuant to the National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998 (recodified at 51 U.S.C. § 101911 et seq.).

National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998

Regulations and administration of NPS concessions contracts

The regulations regarding National Park Service concession contracts are set out at36 C.F.R. Part 51 (external link), and Section 10 of the National Park Service’s Internal Policy Manual addresses the administration of its concession contracts.

   36 C.F.R Part 51

NPS Internal Policy Manual

NPS rate administration guidelines

The National Park Service’s guidelines for approving requests for rate increases are set out in the NPS Concession Management Rate Administration Guide (February 2017), as amended in 2024.

NPS Concession Management Rate Administration Guide (2017, 2024)

NPS Commercial Use Authorizations

If you have a National Park Service Commercial Use Authorization (CUA), the NPS has not yet issued formal regulations, but Commercial Use Authorization Interim Guidelines have been made public.

Commercial Use Authorization Interim Guidelines

The Garden Law Firm. Your Legal Compass.

If you think we sound like a good fit for your legal inquiry, get in touch.

Contact Kevin today