Commercial Use Authorizations

Licensed tour guide talks about the beauties of the San Cristobal.

Angel Cuevas NPS

What is a Commercial Use Authorization (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 in the San Juan National Historic Site
  • Will have minimal impact on San Felipe del Morro, San Cristobal, San Juan de la Cruz, San Juan Gate, two and half miles of walls, Las Palmas Bastion and other SAJU Jurisdictions, resources and values; and are consistent with the Parks purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations.
• A CUA is 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 the San Juan National Historic Site areas,
  • Use park resources, and result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.
• Businesses and individuals may not conduct commercial activities in the park without a valid CUA or in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the CUA.

We're accepting applications!

All commercial use authorizations are received on a rolling-basis; however, all permits expire on December 31st.

Requirements

• Fill out complete application, see checklist below for details.
• Pay application fee using Pay.gov, then send copy of of payment receipt for $150.00 (Non-refundable). Send to [e-mail].
• How to make the payment CUA APPLICATION FEE
• NPS Form 10-550 CUA Application with Instructions
• NPS Form 10-660 CUA Annual Report with Instructions
• NPS Form 10-660A CUA Monthly Report with Instructions
• Pre Applications check lists

Submit proof of liability insurance naming the United States of America as an additional insured. Here is an example

Liability insurance

 

Park Ranger in a vehicle inspection

Yanira Martinez NPS

What am I responsible for after I get a CUA?

Failure to submit required reports or misrepresentation of reported statistics or earning will result in denial of your next CUA application.

As a condition of the CUA, all CUA holders in the NPS are required to complete the annual CUA report. The form includes questions about visitor use statistics, reportable injury data, and gross receipts earned from operations in the NPS. The information requested and collected by the annual CUA report is Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved. The annual CUA report is due early in the calendar year for the preceding operating year (e.g., report for 2019 will be due in early 2020). Additionally, the park may require you to submit a monthly CUA report that includes questions only about visitation statistics and reportable injury data.

All parks use the OMB approved reports but can add information requests specific to that park (e.g., how many times did you access a specific area).

To find an approved vendor visit our Approved Commercial Vendors page.

How long does it take to get a CUA?

• The San Juan National Historic Site requires 1-2 business weeks to process a CUA application. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received.
• The application cannot begin processing until the application, any other required documentation and payment are all received.

For questions in regard to permits and commercial use authorizations please contact [phone] ext. 232. or e-mail us