Permits

Mosquito Lagoon Primitive Island Camping

NPS Photo/Atkinson

Backcountry Camping Permits

• No overnight camping is allowed anywhere within the Playalinda district of the park.
• Overnight camping is only allowed on the 14 designated island campsites

To Obtain a Special Use Backcountry Camping Permit at Apollo:

• Reservations for the 14 backcountry island sites must be made using www.Recreation.gov. Reservations may be made up to six (6) months in advance.

• Permits must be printed from www.recreation.gov before entering the campsite. Camper is required to state the area of entrance to waterway. Two permits must be printed, one kept with the visitor and one for the vehicle if parked in the seashore.

• Call the Visitor Center for information on canoe availability and to reserve a canoe for sites 1-5.

• Backcountry Overnight Primitive Island Camping Fees: $20/night
• Island capacities vary from 6-60 people.
• Refund and Cancellation Policy:Full refunds will only be given in the event of park closure due to inclement weather or administrative purposes. Otherwise, refunds are as follows:
  • For cancellations requested 30 days or more from date of reservation, guests will receive full refund
  • For cancellations requested 29-8 days prior to reservation, guests will receive refund of 1/2 the value of the reservation.
  • Cancellations requested seven days or less prior to the reservation date will not receive a refund.
  • Reservation Changes: Once your permit is printed, no changes will be allowed (refer to cancellation policy). Changes in the number of people within the same dates and campsites are allowed when available and completed prior to printing your permit. Changing the date of entry requires a new reservation. Cancel your current permit and reserve a new permit.
  • No-Shows: No refunds will be given in the event of a no-show.
  • Camping and canoe reservations may be cancelled due to inclement weather, by the seashore, in this case full refunds will be given.

 

NPS Photo/Woulard

Horseback Riding

Reservations are required. Prior to riding in Canaveral National Seashore, private stock users must obtain a Horseback Riding Permit. A separate permit is required for each day you will be riding. Only one individual in the group needs to obtain a permit. To obtain a permit, please call the Apollo Visitor Center at [phone] ext. 0. On the day of your reservation please check in at the visitor center in person, 7611 S. Atlantic Ave., New Smyrna Beach FL, 32796.

• Horse use is restricted to Apollo Beach. There is no horse use at Playalinda Beach.
• Horseback riding is permitted in the designated area with access from the Administrative boardwalk across from the Information Center. Horseback riding is prohibited within the seashore from April 15 (or when the first turtle nest is laid) through October 31(or after the last nest is hatched), because of sea turtle nesting season.
• There is a limit of six (6) horses per reservation per time slot. Due to limited parking for trailers, there will be no waiting with horses for access to the beach. Reservations may be obtained by calling the Information Center and selecting an AM or PM time slot.
• All horse trailers and vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas. The designated parking area is across from the Information Centernear the Administrative boardwalk, but not blocking access to the road or boardwalk.
• A Special Use permit must be obtained before using horses within the seashore. The permits will be issued upon check-in at the Information Center at a recovery cost of $75.
• A valid Coggins certificate must be presented at the time the permit is issued.
• Horse owners are responsible for maintaining sanitary conditions. Horse droppings must be removed from the parking areas, beaches and roadways by owners.
• Horses must be led over the boardwalk by the rider, not ridden. Horses must proceed at a slow walk when passing the immediate vicinity of persons on foot. Care must be used by riders to avoid entanglement with fishing line and equipment.
• Neither rider nor horses are permitted in the dune zone.
• Horses are not permitted to consume vegetation. All forage and water must be provided by the owner.
• Canaveral National Seashore reserves the right to cancel a permit at any time if it is necessary to protect natural or cultural resources or if the activity is deemed detrimental to health and safety.

 

Backcountry Hiking Permits

Backcountry permits allowing access to Klondike Beach are issued at both entrance stations. There is a limit of 25 permits issued per day at an administrative cost of $2.00. Permits are sold on a first come first served basis, until the quota is reached. Permits may be suspended for operational safety. Hikers must be out of the park by closing time.

 

Special Park Use Permits

Special Park Use Permits are required for short-term activities that take place in the park area which:

• Provide a benefit to an individual, group or organization, rather than the public at large;

• Require written authorization and some degree of management control from the NPS in order to protect park resources and the public interest;

• Are not prohibited by law or regulation.

It is important that your application be as detailed as possible concerning your proposed activity. We must know the specific type of event, desired time and location, equipment (including vehicles), total number of participants (including contractors) and any special needs you may have. Also, when identifying the desired park location for your event, please specify the park district (Apollo Beach or Playalinda Beach) you wish to hold your event in. As an example, to clearly identify the desired location for an event, you should write, "Apollo Beach by parking area #1", in the preferred location section of the application.

The information on the application will be used by National Park Service staff to evaluate the impact of your event on park resources and other visitors. A $150 non-refundable processing fee is required with your application. In addition, exclusive park staff services may be required, at a cost of $50 per hour, per person, depending on the scope and size of the proposed activity. Liability insurance may also be required. Payment of fees shall be via money order or bank draft made payable to the National Park Service. Do Not Mail Cash. For additional information contact our permit coordinator at 321-267-1110. (Park Headquarters - 212 S. Washington Ave., Titusville FL 32796)

Wedding Permit Application Supplemental Information

Group size limits & authorized event locations

Canaveral National Seashore can accommodate smaller wedding groups with a permit, which do not exceed 20 participants, and which will require no more than 15 parking spaces. Both the Playalinda and Apollo District have a designated location which is most suitable for holding small wedding ceremonies. These locations were selected based on parking availability, ease of beach access, and in order to minimize interference to other park visitors who are not event participants. Exceptions to the above guidelines will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and require special approval by the Superintendent or Chief Ranger.

Authorized Wedding Ceremony Locations:
Apollo Beach (north district) ………………….. Beach access parking area # 1
Playalinda Beach (south district) ………………. Eddy Creek beach access area.

All Special Park Use permit applicants must include a $150.00 processing fee with your application. Payment by check or money order is accepted, and should be made payable to “National Park Service.” Additional cost recovery fees may be required, based on the complexity of your event, and/or the necessity to utilize park staff or resources to manage the event. As a general rule, permit refunds will not be issued for event cancellations, inclement weather, or park closures required by KSC security operations. Our permit coordinator may be reached at [phone].

Payment of Guest or Participant Entrance Fee

While a Special Park Use permit covers the entrance fee for the permit holder, it does not waive entrance fees for guests or participants. Often we are asked, particularly for weddings, if arrangements can be made for the permittee to pay the entrance fees of guests or other participants. Unfortunately, we no longer accept advance payments for guests as part of the permit process. This is because experience has shown that more often than not, the number of anticipated guests does not match the number of guests who actually arrive for the event. This discrepancy typically results in processing of refunds, or attempting to collect additional entrance fees after the event has ended.

To accommodate permittees who may wish to pay their guest’s entrance fees, the following option is available; either the permittee, or a designated individual may remain at the entrance station fee booth as guests arrive. The Visitor Use Assistant on duty will keep count of the authorized guests or participants with you, and payment will be made after you indicate the last anticipated guest or participant has arrived. Persons arriving for your event after that transaction has been completed will be charged the normal entrance fee, if they do not have a valid park pass. In such cases, any entrance fee reimbursement would be the responsibility of the permittee.

Special Park Use Application Form

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Commercial Use Authorizations (CUA) Permits

Canaveral National Seashore is no longer issuing CUA's for Commercial Charter Fishing, Kayaking, or Guides within Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. If you need to renew your CUA for Charter Fishing, Kayaking or Guided tours, within the refuge, please contact the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge at [phone].

For those needing a Commercial Use Authorization permit for use only in Canaveral National Seashore, the north end of the Mosquito Lagoon, you will need a CUA for the National Park Service.

Commercial Use Authorization Permit Application

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Commercial Harvesting Permits

Commercial Harvesting Permits coincide with the fiscal year, the fiscal year begins on Oct 1st and ends on Sep 30th.

The cost for this permit is $150. A permit is required for each individual engaged in the commercial harvesting of clams, crabs, fish, oysters, shrimp and bait fish within the boundaries of Canaveral National Seashore and/or Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Commercial Harvesting Permits may NOT be used for Commercial Guide Services.

Commercial Harvesting Permit applications are available at the park headquarters office: 212 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL 32796.

Commercial Harvesting Permit Conditions

Commercial Harvest Application Instructions

Zone Map

Commercial Harvesting Catch Log Form - Monthly Catch Log Submissions Are Required (even if you were not engaged in commercial fishing activity during the reporting month) Please submit your monthly catch log report each month via USPS, fax, in person, or email to: kristen_kneifl @ nps.gov

Mail to: Canaveral National Seashore, 212 S. Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL 32796 ; Fax to: [phone]

Catch logs are required because harvest data is needed to manage sustainable aquatic populations. On your logs, please record hours fished in each area even if no fish were caught. We ask that you record number of people fishing/harvesting, including guides or assistants who are actively fishing. Our Resource Management team greatly appreciates your cooperation.

Please do not submit a year's worth of monthly reports.

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NPS Photo

Commercial Photography & Filming Permits

The beauty of the pristine beaches within Canaveral National Seashore has provided location for a variety of films, commercials, and print advertisements.
If you are planning to do any filming or photography involving talent, products or props in front of a camera, you will need to obtain a filming permit. All permit applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and will not normally be issued for areas of high visitation or on weekends. Please contact [phone] for further information and location fees.

• Short Form Commercial Filming Application

• Long Form Commercial Filming Application

Insurance Liability Requirements: $300,000 minimum. Larger scale productions (cast, crew, equipment) typically require liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000. U.S. Federal Government must be listed as ADDITIONAL
INSURED on liability policy.