CUA Fees

Guided kayak trip on a Gull Pond in Cape Code National Seashore at sunset.

National Park Service

CUA Application Fee

You are required to pay a nonrefundable CUA application fee each time you submit an application to allow the park to recover costs associated with processing your CUA application. The application fee amount is determined by each park.

CUA Management Fee

In addition to the application fee, you must pay a management fee that allows the park to recover costs associated with managing and monitoring your CUA. This fee varies because each CUA type requires a different level of management and monitoring.

Market Price Fee

Since 2015, parks can charge a market price fee in order to recover costs associated with the administration and management of your CUA. You still pay the application fee when you submit your application, but this amount is credited back to you when you pay the market price fee at the end of the operating season. In other words, the market price fee covers both the CUA application fee and CUA management fee described above.

The market price fee is is a per-person fee or a fee based on a percentage of your revenue earned from in-park or park-based operations. You are required to report this information each year when you submit the mandatory CUA annual report. The percentage of revenue market price fee is based on the following:

• Less than $250,000 earned from park-based operations - 3% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
• $250,000 to $500,000 earned from park-based operations - 4% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
• More than $500,000 earned from park-based operations - 5% of gross receipts (minus application fee)

The percentage of revenue market price fee is a tiered fee best explained by example. Suppose a CUA holder earns $750,000 in gross revenue as a result of doing business authorized by the CUA. The NPS will charge 3% of gross receipts for the first $250,000 earned, 4% for the next $250,000, and 5% for the remaining $250,000, for a total CUA management fee of $30,000, minus the application fee.

You can find specific information about CUA application and management fees by checking individual park websites or contacting the park’s CUA office.