What is a CUA?
A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a business permit with the National Park Service that authorizes an individual, group, company, or other for-profit entity to conduct commercial activities and provide specific visitor services within a national park area. The National Park Service will only issue CUAs for commercial activities and visitor services that:
- Are determined to be an appropriate use of George Washington Memorial Parkway;
- Will have minimal impact on George Washington Memorial Parkway’s resources and values; and
- Are consistent with George Washington Memorial Parkway’s purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations.
A CUA may be required if you, as an individual, organization, or company, provide any goods, activities, services, agreements, or other function for members, clients, or the public that:
- take place at least in part in George Washington Memorial Parkway,
- use park resources, and
- result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.
The Following Services Require CUAs in George Washington Memorial Parkway
- Water Taxi/Tourboat/Amphibious Vehicles/Charter Cruises
- Land-based Guided Tours (e.g., Hiking, Bicycling, Wildlife, Photography, Walking Tours)
- Fitness and Educational Activities (e.g., Yoga, Instructional Biking, Instructional Skating, Instructional Fishing)
- Rock Climbing
- Non-motorized Water-based Guided Tours (e.g., canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding)
- Minor Boat Repair and Maintenance
How do I apply for a CUA?
- Home - Commercial Use Authorization
- NPS is excited to announce the development and deployment of the online CUA system. The system is designed to standardize, modernize, and streamline the CUA application and reporting process. The system allows potential CUA applicants and CUA holders to view available CUA opportunities, apply for CUAs, submit required CUA reports, and pay CUA fees.
What is the cost for a CUA?
- Annual Application Fee: All activity based CUAs are issued for up to one year. The CUA operating year is from January 1 to December 31. For each application, there is a standard $350 application fee for the first application submitted during a CUA season. That same applicant will pay a $250 application fee for each subsequent application submitted to the same park during the same CUA season. CUA applicants and holders must make all payments for application fees and management fees through the online system.
- Market Price Management Fee: In addition to the application fee, parks are required to collect a reasonable fee to recover the costs associated with administering and managing the CUA program. Fees are based on the following:
- Market Price Fee (% of gross receipts earned from park-based operations)
- <$250,000.00 - 3% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
- $250,000.00 to $500,000.00 - 4% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
- >$500,000.00 - 5% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
- Management fees will be submitted at the end of your CUA operating year.
What are the CUA Reporting Requirements?
- 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.
CUA Office Contact Information
700 George Washington Memorial Parkway, McLean, Virginia 22101
e-mail us
(703) 343-5822
