What is a commercial use authorization (CUA)?
Public Law 105-391, Section 418, which was signed in 1998, provides for the issuance of commercial use authorizations (CUAs) to a private person, corporation, or other entity to provide suitable commercial services for park area visitors. Commercial activities are generally prohibited in national parks unless authorized by a CUA or concessions contract. A CUA may be issued when commercial services:
- are determined to be an appropriate use of Yosemite National Park;
- will have minimal impact on Yosemite’s resources and values; and
- are consistent with Yosemite’s purpose, management plans, policies, and regulations.
The following services require CUAs in Yosemite National Park for 2025:
- road-based commercial tours
- transportation (point to point)
- motorcycle tours
- guided step-on
- guided backpacking
- guided photography
- guided fishing
- stock use
- chain sale/chain installation
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 Yosemite National Park;
- use park resources; and
- result in compensation, monetary gain, benefit, or profit.
How do I apply for a CUA?
Before conducting business in the park, you must receive a CUA must be obtained. Allow 30 days for processing after we receive complete application documents.
Apply for a 2025 Yosemite National Park CUA through the CUA Online Application and Reporting System (COARS).
Watch an instructional video for help applying for a commercial use authorization.
Commercial Services Updates
For the 2025 CUA season, Yosemite National Park will be using the new online CUA system designed to standardize, modernize, and streamline the CUA application and reporting process for NPS staff and applicants. The system will use a standardized CUA application fee that will be the same across all NPS units. We are standardizing the application fee for CUAs to obtain cost recovery for the application processing in accordance with requirements of law.
The applicant will pay a $350 application fee for the first CUA permit submitted during a CUA season. That same applicant will pay a $250 application fee for each subsequent application fee submitted per permit to the same NPS unit during the same CUA season. These standard application fees will be reviewed every years and may be adjusted to ensure the NPS is collecting the full cost of receiving and processing the application, as required by federal law. CUA management fees will continue to be collected through the system and assessed at the unit level. There are no plans to standardize CUA management fees.
Also, for the 2025 CUA operating season, Yosemite National Park will implement the NPS market price management fee. The market price fee that will be implemented is 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.
The only exception for the standardization of application fee is road-based commercial tour CUA will remain the $450.00 application fee for year 2025. Road-based tours for year 2025 will not require a market price management fee.
For additional CUA information, please visit the National Park Service commercial use authorizations page.
Passenger Vehicle Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs)
All commercial passenger transportation companies that wish to operate in Yosemite National Park must hold a valid 2025 CUA. The application window for processing CUAs ends October 1, 2025, with an exception for chain sales and chain installation CUAs.
Before you apply:
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Your company must hold general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and commercial automobile liability as required by the US DOT or CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission). Insurance certificates must list the United States of America as an additional insured.
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California-based companies conducting intrastate trips must hold current passenger transportation operating authority from the CPUC.
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Companies conducting interstate transport must hold current passenger transportation operating authority from the US DOT.
- The transportation report [80 kb PDF] must be uploaded into online system for road-based tour CUA and transportation (non -tour) CUAs.
- The annual report form [700 kb PDF] must be uploaded into the online system for road-based tour CUA and tranportation (non-tour) CUAs.
Before each trip to Yosemite National Park:
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All vehicles must clearly display your company name, logo, or DBA.
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All vehicles must clearly display your DOT or PUC number.
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Ensure your driver, and clients understand and abide by all conditions of your CUA. (Violation of CUA conditions by any of your employees, agents or clients including tour groups may result in a citation, and/ or a suspension or termination of your CUA.)
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Reservations are required for bus parking at Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
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The Driver must carry a paper copy of the entire CUA and be prepared to show it at the entrance station or to any park staff upon request.
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Driver or guide must have a valid debit or credit card to pay entrance fee. View entrance fees for commercial tours.
Guiding Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs)
Organizations wishing to conduct commercial guiding activities must obtain a commercial use authorization (CUA). Guiding CUA activities include, but are not limited to:
- Guided step-on
- Guided hiking/backpacking
- Guided photography
- Guided fishing
- Stock use
- Nordic activities including winter backpacking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snow camping
Other Requirements and Information for CUA holders:
- All CUA holders must submit an annual report. This is a condition of your CUA even if you make no trips to the park. You will receive the annual report form through email at the end of the calendar year.
- Notify the CUA office by email if any of your contact information changes.
- You will periodically receive important information regarding the park or your CUA from us. Be sure these emails do not end up in your spam/junk folder.
- Read the Commercial Use Authorization Suspension, Restriction, Revocation, and Application Denial Policy
If you have any questions, please email us or call 209/347-1893.
Before each trip to Yosemite National Park:
- Ensure the group is aware of park regulations and safety issues. Trip leaders must also be familiar with the conditions of the CUA.
- The trip leader must carry a hard copy of page 1 of the CUA. The trip leader must also have a hard copy or electronic copy of the full CUA.
- Reservations are required for bus parking at Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
- Check the Yosemite National Park conditions and alerts before heading to the Park.
- Additional maps related to special regulations and camping closures along with a list of allowed food storage containers are outlined in the park's compendium. [10 MB PDF]
- All vehicles must clearly display your company name, logo, or DBA; all employees must wear attire displaying easily visible company identification (a hat, shirt, vest, or similar items).
- Guides must have a valid debit or credit card to pay entrance fee.
Other requirements:
- CUA holders must submit monthly itineraries and activity reports per the conditions of the CUA.
- All CUA holders must submit an annual report by December 1 of the calendar year. This is a condition of your CUA even if you make no trips to the park. You will receive the annual report form through email.
- You may receive important information from us. Be sure these emails do not end up in your spam/junk folder.
If you have questions please email us or call 209/347-6412.
Authorized Guides
