A Special Use Permit (SUP) is required for activities that provide a benefit to an individual, group, or organization, rather than the public at large, and that require some degree of management from the National Park Service in order to protect park resources and the public interest.
Weddings and ceremonies require a Special Use Permit in order to be conducted on Death Valley National Park land.
Please read the information under “Before Applying” and “Applying for a Permit” below and follow the instructions for completing an application.
Other information for weddings:
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Weddings are subject to monitoring fees, as described below, depending on group size.
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Group size may be restricted in requested locations for the protection of park resources and visitor experience.
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Breakfast Canyon, an area closed to the public, may be requested as a wedding location. Email the Office of Special Park Uses for pictures and information.
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Wedding photographers do not require a separate permit. Portrait photography (including wedding, engagement, high school senior, and family photos) does not require a SUP.
Please email the Office of Special Park Uses at DEVA_Permits@nps.gov for more information.
When recreating in the park, groups of 30 or more people and/or 8 or more vehicles requires a Special Use Permit (CFR §1.6, Superintendent’s Compendium).
Please read the information under “Before Applying” and “Applying for a Permit” below and follow the instructions for completing an application.
Other information for large groups:
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Large groups may be subject to monitoring fees and insurance requirements, as described below.
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Group size may be restricted in requested locations for the protection of park resources and visitor experience.
Testing of vehicles and vehicle components requires a permit.
Death Valley National Park will not issue vehicle testing permits for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 33,001 or greater pounds. This policy also precludes testing of vehicle components within vehicles with GVWR or 33,001 or greater pounds.
An application will not be considered complete without dates, times, locations, and equipment. If your application is missing these details, or if they change during the application process, a new application must be submitted.
If you are applying for a sporting event, large event, or a complex filming permit, we strongly recommend you apply as far in advance as possible, to allow for processing time.
When conducting Special Use Activities in Death Valley with a permit, you are subject to all the laws and regulations that apply inside the park.
The following activities are not permitted:
Please read all regulations carefully as your permit application may be denied if it contains any of the activities below.
- Use of drones or other unmanned aircraft.
- Nudity in public areas.
- Smoking inside buildings, on boardwalks, and in vegetated areas.
- Scattering ashes from human cremation.
- Loud noises (exceeding 60 decibels at 50 feet in distance).
- Use of public address systems and sound amplification equipment unless otherwise specified in your permit.
- Driving any vehicle (including motorcycles and bicycles) off designated paved or dirt roads.
- Driving any off-road vehicle on a park road (including, but not limited to, OHV’s, ATV’s, dirt bikes, golf cards, Rhino or Polaris multiple passenger vehicles).
- Operating a motor vehicle in a manner that causes unreasonable damage to the surface of a park road or route.
- Operating a vehicle so slowly as to interfere with the normal flow of traffic is prohibited.
- Stunt or high-speed driving.
- Standing in a roadway as part of a film or photography shoot unless otherwise specified in your permit with approved traffic control.
- Removing, moving, or obscuring park road signs, speed limit signs, or wayside signs.
- Ground disturbance (including digging or driving posts and installing temporary signs or structures).
- Attaching props, equipment, signs, or banners to NPS facilities, structures, rocks, or vegetation.
- Contributing to erosion or otherwise unduly disturbing the ground or landscape, including running, walking, or other activity on fragile areas.
- Walking on soft areas following a rain and leaving footprints or lasting damage (for example, on the Racetrack playa).
- Collecting, moving, damaging, or otherwise disturbing any animal, plant, rock or any other natural, historical, or archeological resource.
- Walking on, climbing, entering, ascending, descending, or traversing any archaeological or cultural resource (including all mine structures, features, and ruins).
- Cutting or removal of branches or any vegetation.
- Feeding, touching, harassing, frightening, hunting, trapping, or disturbing wildlife.
- Viewing wildlife with artificial light (including infrared and black lights).
- Introducing wildlife, fish or plants, including their reproductive bodies, into the park’s ecosystem.
- Using a mineral or metal detector.
- Releasing Mylar or helium balloons, doves, butterflies, flower petals, or other living objects.
- Filming or photographing park employees unless otherwise specified in your permit.
- Brandishing or discharging a firearm, real or prop, unless use of a firearm prop has been specifically authorized in your permit.
- Unduly interfering or conflicting with visitors’ normal use and enjoyment of the park, including blocking visitor access to an area.
You must also comply with the following:
- Fire safety regulations and temporary closures resulting from fire conditions.
- Speed limits and traffic laws.
- Leave No Trace principles and ethics.
- Regulations for pets in the park including leash requirements and location restrictions.
- Park policies and principles related to ethical and responsible treatment of culturally sensitive sites and resources.
- Follow park Heat Safety policy, which limits permitted event length and location during summer months.
Many permits require full-time or intermittent monitoring for the protection of resources and visitor experience. This will be determined by the Office of Special Park Uses based on your application.
If monitors are required, your permit will only be issued subject to availability of monitors on the dates and at the locations requested.
See below for fees associated with monitoring.
Popular locations for Special Use Permits in the park include:
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Badwater Basin is located in Congressionally designated Wilderness, which limits groups size and equipment. This location is best for small groups under 12, with handheld equipment. Bathrooms on site.
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Breakfast Canyon – this location can be reserved for private events Offset from the road, it is a quiet canyon with views over the valley floor that provides privacy. This is a primitive location with limited parking that is best suited for groups of 20 or less. Props are allowed at this location. Bathrooms on site.
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Dantes View – popular high elevation viewpoint with panoramic views of the valley floor. The space will be shared with the public and can be busy. Great for sunrise and sunset. This site has a large parking area and can accommodate groups of up to approximately 40 people. Bathrooms on site.
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Harmony Borax – located on the valley floor with views of the Panamint Mountains and ruins from the borax mining era. This site has a large parking area and can accommodate groups of up to approximately 30 people.
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Hell’s Gate – sitting at a higher elevation, it provides a panoramic view of the valley floor and the surrounding mountains. This site has a parking area and can accommodate groups of up to approximately 20 people. Bathrooms on site.
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Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is located in Congressionally designated Wilderness, which limits groups size and equipment. This location is best for small groups under 12, with handheld equipment. Bathrooms on site.
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Stovepipe Wells – This location includes the Stovepipe Wells Visitor Center, the General Store or the campground. This site has a large parking area, close access to amenities, and can accommodate groups of up to approximately 40 people. Bathrooms on site.
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Zabriskie Point – popular viewpoint overlooking beautiful badland formations with the Panamint Mountains in the background. Great for sunrise and sunset. The space will be shared with the public and can be busy. This site has a large parking area and can accommodate groups of up to approximately 40 people. Bathrooms on site.
More information and photos on each location can be shared upon request.
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Download NPS Form 10-930 Application for Special Use Permit and fill out completely.
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A complete application is required at least 30 days in advance of your requested dates in order to process a permit. Applicants are encouraged to start the application up to 60 days before their requested date. Bicycle and running events require a complete application at least 120 days in advance of your requested date.
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An application will not be considered complete without dates, times, locations, and equipment. If your application is missing these details, or if they change during the application process, a new application must be submitted. The 30 day window may restart when this happens.
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Email DEVA_Permits@nps.gov the complete application as a single PDF file. Photos, links to shared drives, or pages as multiple PDFs may not be accepted.
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After the Office of Special Park Uses receives your application via email, we will reply with a link to pay the application fee online. This is the fee to process your application and is non-refundable, even if a permit is not issued or you choose to cancel your application. This application fee must be paid within five (5) business days in order to move forward with the permit process.
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Send a copy of your pay.gov email reciept to DEVA_permits@nps.gov.
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After the Office of Special Park Uses receives your receipt, we will review your application materials and determine if a permit can be issued.
After reviewing your application, we will send you information on insurance requirements for your specific request. However, generally, the following is true:
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First amendment permits – no insurance required.
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Wedding permits – most do not require insurance.
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Photography, filming, sporting event, special event, large group, and vehicle testing permits – most require the following:
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A Certificate of General Liability Insurance (COI) in the amount of $1,000,000 listing the ‘United States of America’ as additional insured. The COI must be in English and in US funds.
Note: If your insurance company requires an address for ‘United States of America’, they can list the additional insured as:
United States of America
Death Valley National Park
PO Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328
If your activity is approved, a permit containing applicable terms and conditions will be sent you. The permit must be signed by the responsible person and returned to the park for final signature by the Park Superintendent. A fully executed permit containing both signatures is required before the permitted activity may begin.
Please have a hard copy or downloaded digital copy of the entire document with you while you are in the park. It is your responsibility to have read and follow all of the conditions listed in your permit.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the National Park Service may recover all costs of providing necessary services associated with special use permits (54 U.S. Code § 103104). This amount will vary depending on the size and complexity of your permit but an estimate will be provided to you beforehand and will be included in your signed permit.
After your permitted activity is concluded, the Office of Special Park Uses will send information on paying the remaining costs, if applicable.
The following may apply:
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Hourly fee: approximately $50/hour. The exact hourly fee is based on the specific employee’s salary and may be charged if any of the following activities are required for your permit:
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Monitoring: Many permits require full-time or intermittent monitoring for the protection of resources and visitor experience, and to ensure full compliance with all conditions of the permit. The level and type of monitoring will be determined by the Office of Special Park Uses based on your application. Generally, one monitor is required for every 8 people involved with the project. If monitors are required, your permit will only be issued subject to availability of monitors on the dates and at the locations requested.
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Interviews: All interviews and filming or photographing of NPS staff members will be assessed at the specific employee’s hourly rate.
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Scouting: If a permittee requests a scouting trip with or by the Special Park Uses Coordinator, staff time will be assessed.
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Extended administrative time: Any activity that is particularly complex is subject to the hourly fee. This fee covers additional administrative time needed beyond the maximum two hours covered by the $300.00 application. This rate does not preclude any of the other fees and is applied per hour/per staff member.
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Government Vehicle Mileage Fee: $0.55/mile. We currently charge $.55/mile on government vehicles used for monitoring and other activities associated with your permit.
Please note:
If there is no contact from an applicant for 30 days after the application is submitted, the file will be closed. Any future contact with that applicant will require initiating the process from the beginning.
All costs of evaluating the request will be billed to the applicant, whether a permit is issued or not. In compliance with the requirements of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, the applicant must submit their social security number or Federal tax ID number when filling out the application for permit. Application will not be processed if submitted incomplete or are received without payment.
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