Permits

Often individuals, organizations, and businesses consider national parks appealing settings to hold events or express opinions through demonstrations. Couples choose national parks as beautiful wedding venues. Families gather to share meals and celebrate the generations. At times, the National Park Service requires permits for activities like these to make sure these activities do not cause unacceptable impacts to a park's natural and cultural resources or unduly interfere with park visitors' access and enjoyment.

A Special Park Use Permit (SUP) can by used by park management to authorize the use of park-managed lands and waters for a variety of activities and uses. With the exception of the sale of printed material (36 CFR 2.52), SUPs are not used to authorize commercial activities. Commercial activities require a commercial use authorization, concession contract, or lease.

Other activities that require special use permits include:

• Special events such as fun runs, large gatherings, concerts, and festivals (36 CFR 2.50)
• First Amendment activities such as rallies and demonstrations (36 CFR 2.51)
• Right-of-way permits (electric transmission and distribution, telecommunications)
• Grazing and agricultural uses (36 CFR 2.60)
• Other non-visitor activities on park land

Special Use Permits are required for any activity that provides a benefit to an individual group or organization rather than the public at large. A permit is also required for an activity not initiated, sponsored, nor conducted by the National Park Service that is disruptive or potentially disruptive to normal park operations.

A $50 non-refundable application fee (check or money-order only) must be submitted with the application form for the application to be considered. If the permit is approved and issued, additional fees will be charged to recover costs incurred by the National Park Service for administering the permitted activity.

Special Use Permit applications involving any natural or cultural resource disturbance must provide a location map and Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory Environmental Review (PNDI) receipt for Threatened and Endangered Species. The park is responsible for completing NEPA and Section 106 reviews and the applicant should allow adequate time for those reviews to take place after the permit application has been received by the Park staff.

Find National Park Service-wide information on permits.

For more park specific information, or if you are unsure if the activity you have planned requires a Special Use Permit, please call 724-329-5805. You can also e-mail the Special Use Permit Coordinator or Site Manager before submitting your application and non-refundable application fee.

Permitted activities must not interfere with general park visitation or park programs. Therefore, the pavilion on the path from the visitor center to the meadow is not available for reservations. This pavilion is available on a first come, first served basis when not being used for park programs. In addition, due to the high monitoring costs, permits for overnight activities such as group camping are no longer issued.

 

To Apply

You may download a Special Use Permit application by clicking on the link above. Which application you use will vary depending on what you'd like to do. If you can't decide which one is appropriate, the Special Use Permit Coordinator will be happy to give you guidance.

Special Event Permit

National parks are great places to celebrate historic events and family milestones. The types of activities that take place in national parks are diverse, such as sporting events, pageants, celebrations, regattas, public spectator attractions, entertainment, ceremonies, historical reenactments, fairs, festivals, weddings, family reunions, and picnics.

Depending on the size and complexity of the planned event, the park may require you obtain a special park use permit. If issued, the permit will include terms and conditions that protect park resources while allowing you to enjoy the park without interfering with other park visitors.

Film, Still Photography and Audio Recording Permit

Filming, still photography, and audio recording activity may require a permit, consistent with 54 U.S.C. 100905.

• Filming, still photography, and audio recording activity that occurs in closed areas, requires exclusive use of a site or area, or involves a set or staging equipment other than handheld equipment (such as a tripod, monopod, and handheld lighting equipment) requires a permit, unless the activity is affiliated with an activity or event that has been allowed under a written authorization, such as a special use permit.

• Filming, still photography, and audio recording that involves more than eight individuals requires a permit, unless the NPS has specifically notified an individual or group that a permit is not required, or if the activity is affiliated with an activity or event that has been allowed under a written authorization, such as a special use permit.

• If a permit is required for the reasons stated above, or if the NPS otherwise determines and then notifies an individual or group that a permit is required for a filming, still photography, or audio recording activity, then engaging in that activity without a permit is prohibited. Violating a term or condition of a permit issued by the NPS for a filming, still photography, or audio recording activity is prohibited, and may result in the suspension or revocation of the permit, in addition to any penalties that may apply under 36 CFR 1.3.

First Amendment Permit

Streets, parks, and sidewalks have a long-standing tradition of being used for exercising the right to free speech and public debate and assembly. The National Park System offers visitors the opportunity to engage in demonstration activity while managing the activity to protect park resources and values. Demonstrations are defined in 36 CFR 2.51 as:

…demonstrations, picketing, speechmaking, marching, holding vigils or religious services, and all other like forms of conduct that involve the communication or expression of views or grievances, engaged in by one or more persons, the conduct of which is reasonably likely to attract a crowd or onlookers. This term does not include casual park use by visitors or tourists that is not reasonably likely to attract a crowd or onlookers.

Right-of-Way Permit

All right-of-way permit (ROW) applications must be submitted through the NPS ROW Permit Application Portal. You can also use the portal to submit general ROW inquiries to the park. Visit the NPS Right-of-Way Permit page for more information on the application process.

For Agriculture & Grazing, or any other type of permit, please contact the Special Use Permit Coordinator for more information!

Print blank form, complete with pen, sign and mail it to:

Fort Necessity National Battlefield
c/o Special Use Permit Coordinator
1 Washington Parkway
Farmington, PA 15437

- OR -

E-mail the Special Use Permit Coordinator or Site Manager. Fees can only be paid by check or money order!

Please note: The application will not be processed until the application fee is paid unless the superintendent has granted a waiver.

 

Attention Photographers:

Wedding parties, family reunions, and graduations do not need a commercial photography special use permit unless:

1. They are using multiple props in the photo (hand held items like flowers do not count as a prop), and/or

2. They are setting up photography equipment like lights, screens, big tripods, constructing a set (i.e. items that could get in the way of regular park visitors), and/or

3. They are using models (wedding parties, graduates, and family reunion folks are not considered models since they are not being paid to be in the photo), and/or

4. Photos will be use to advertise a product, and/or

5. Photo will be taken at a location in the park that is normally closed to visitors, or

6. Taking the photo in the chosen location would cause an unsafe situation or impede regular visitor traffic.

If any of the above six criteria are met or your group is more than eight people, the photographer will need a special use permit. For further information or clarification, please contact the park at 724-329-5805.