Most businesses, including non-profit organizations, operating in the park are covered under two types of legal instruments – a commercial use authorization or a concessions contract.
Commercial Use Authorizations are short-term agreements that allow most businesses, including non-profits, incidental use of the park.
A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) allows an individual, group, company, or other non-profit entity to conduct business activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park unit. The National Park Service (NPS) issues CUAs to manage a wide-range of visitor services in addition to road-based commercial tours. For Acadia National Park, this includes transportation providers, tour operators, guided hiking, bike tours, kayak trips, summer camps, art and photography workshops, and much more.
Federal law mandates the NPS issue CUAs only for business activities and visitor services that:
are determined to be an appropriate use of the park,
will have minimal impact on park resources and values, and
are consistent with the park's purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations.
Why does NPS require CUAs?
The requirement is in 36 CFR 5.3 - It is illegal to conduct business in a park area without a permit, contract, or other written agreement. Additionally, Public Law 105-391 Section 418, passed in 1998, provides NPS the authority to issue CUAs to allow business operations and requires NPS to collect a reasonable fee for CUA administration and management.
Application fees are to recover costs associated with managing and monitoring the CUA Program for Acadia National Park. Public Law 105-391 Section 418, passed in 1998, provides NPS the authority to issue CUAs to allow business operations and requires NPS to collect a reasonable fee for CUA administration and management. One hundred percent of the CUA application fee collected stays within the park.
Do I need a CUA?
A CUA is required if you provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:
take place at least in part on lands managed by the National Park Service,
use park resources, and
result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.
In Acadia National Park, this commonly covers:
Tour operators
Guide services including biking, hiking, climbing, nature tours
Water-based activities including kayaking, paddleboarding, boating
Photography or painting workshops; photography or painting tours.
Motorcoach operators
Any other service a business entity which wishes to perform the service in the park (this requires prior park approval).
Business operators receiving a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) for activities such as biking, photography, yoga, hiking, summer camps, rock climbing, kayaking, or other activities are required to pay the per person rate of $20.00 for each client, regardless of the size of the vehicle. Clients may use their annual or federal recreational lands passes according to the parameters of the pass. Only clients 16 years old and over are required to pay this fee. The vehicle and driver/guide have free entry into the park, but may not use their own passes to cover the clients’ fee. This fee can be purchased upon arrival to Acadia National Park at Hulls Cove Visitor Center, or the Sand Beach Entrance station.
Business operators receiving a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) for road-based tours and transportation are required to pay the Commercial Tour Fee Schedule rate which is based on the capacity of the vehicle:
Sedan
1-6 Capacity
$25
Van
7-15 Capacity
$50
Mini Bus
16-25 Capacity
$60
Bus/Motorcoach
26+ Capacity
$150
Carry CUA with you at all times
Businesses and any of their representatives must have in their possession a complete copy of the CUA at all times when conducting business in the park; random monitoring of CUA holders is conducted.
Follow Special Park Conditions at all times
Special park conditions will be sent to you with your CUA. You must follow these special park conditions at all times.
CUA holders must submit an annual report via the online CUA system each year by January 31 for the operations that occurred during the preceding year. This report provides the park with visitation statistics, reportable injury data, and a record of annual gross receipts.
Failure to submit the required reports or misrepresentation of statistics or earnings may result in the inability to submit subsequent CUA applications via the online CUA system or the suspension of active CUAs.
Management Fees
Beginning in 2025, all CUAs, with the exception of Road Based Commercial Tours, will be subject to a management fee.
The management fee is due at the end of the operating year and is based on a percentage of the operating year’s gross receipts. This fee must be paid to the park after the park has reviewed and approved the annual report, which is submitted by January 31st, after the operating year has ended.
Management fee is based on percentage of gross receipts ($350.00/$250 application fee for the operating year acts as a credit towards the following):
Less than $250,000: 3% of gross receipts
Between $250,000 and $500,000: 4% of gross receipts in addition to the prior amount
Over $500,000: 5% of gross receipts in addition to the two prior amounts
