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Lincoln Home - a two-story tan house with green shutters in the distance

Interested in operating a business with Lincoln’s Home in the Background?

You just need a CUA.

A Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) is a permit issued by Lincoln’s Home NHS permit coordinator for appropriate commercial services for park visitors within the boundaries of the park. An appropriate commercial service must meet three conditions: the services (a) will have minimal impact on the park area’s resources and values; (b) are consistent with the purposes for which the park area was established; and (c) are consistent with all applicable park area management plans, policies, and regulations.

What Laws Govern CUAs?

Congress enacted the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act (Public Law 105-391) to improve commercial services in the NPS. The law outlines the requirement for CUAs and provides the framework for the NPS CUA program.

Who needs a CUA?

A CUA is required if an entity provides a good, activity, service, or other function to visitors in a NPS managed area, uses park resources and results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit.

What constitutes a commercial tour or service?

A commercial tour or service consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purposes by an organization that profits from providing that service.

Are there limits on the number of CUAs that can be issued?

Yes. The superintendent cannot issue more CUAs than are consistent with the preservation and proper management of park resources and values. It may be necessary for the superintendent to limit the number of commercial users through a park planning process. The superintendent may also limit commercial use by establishing CUA conditions that restrict operating areas, times, group size, or other parameters

What are the costs for a CUA?

CUA fees are broken into an application fee and a management fee. The application fee is non-refundable and is charged to the applicant when they submit the application packet. The application fee must cover all costs associated with sending, receiving, and reviewing an application.

For the first application submitted during a CUA season, the applicant will pay a $350 application fee. That same applicant will pay a $250 application fee for each subsequent application submitted to the same NPS unit during the same CUA season.

The management fee covers all CUA management after application approval. This includes correspondence with the CUA holder, in-field monitoring, and the mitigation of resource impacts caused by the commercial activity.

Parks may also charge a market price management fee based upon a percentage of gross receipts a CUA holder earns from park-dependent operations, a per-person fee, or the same permit fee charged by neighboring agencies/municipalities. When parks charge market price management fees based on a percentage of gross receipts, the application fee must be credited to the operator when they pay the management fee. If the calculated market price management fee is less than the application fee, the park must keep the application fee and not refund the CUA holder for lost revenue. The fee is based upon the following:

Market Price Fee (% of gross receipts earned from in-park or park dependent operations)

Market Price Fee (% of gross receipts earned from in -park or park dependent operations)
Gross Receipts Fee
<$ 250,000 3% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
$250,000 to $500,000 4% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
> $500,000 5% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
 

Are there limits to the amount of money a CUA holder can make?

In-park CUAs are CUAs that operate entirely within park boundaries. Out-of-park CUAs originate outside the park, but use a portion of the park for their service. In-park CUAs are limited to a $25,000 annual gross receipt maximum. The limit only applies to gross receipts earned inside the park or from park-dependent operations. There is no limit on the amount of gross receipts generated by out-of-park CUA holders.

CUA Insurance

CUA holders must carry appropriate liability insurance and provide the NPS with proof of that insurance. General commercial liability in the amount of $500,000 per occurrence is required, though some activities are higher risk (e.g., guided rock climbing) and may require increased coverage.

Still Have Questions?
Contact Lincoln’s Home CUA Permit Coordinator at:

Lincoln’s Home National Historic Site
426. S. 7th Street
Springfield, IL 62701
217-391-3256

How Do I Apply?

Click the following link. It will take you to our new online CUA system. From there, you can learn more, apply for a CUA, & obtain necessary forms.

Home - Commercial Use Authorization

Last updated: May 7, 2025

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

413 S. 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62701

Phone:

217 492-4241

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