Natural Areas Permits Terms and Conditions
You must click on and read the three items below:
- Who needs a Commercial Use Permit?
- How do I apply?
- What are the Fees and Reporting Procedures?
Before being allowed to accept the terms and conditions and continue on to the application form.
Who needs a Commercial Use Permit?
- Any individual, organization, or business that is charging a fee to bring people, animals, goods and/or services into a natural area,
- Any organization, for-profit and non-profit, that receives compensation in the form of a fee or donation as a condition of compensation for the services provided during the activity within a natural area. Examples: guided fishing, hiking, rafting, boating, filming or photography, environmental education, wildlife/bird watching.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
- Applicant must pay a non-refundable $50.00 processing fee with application.
- Permit must be carried on permittee at all times during activity/event.
- The Natural Areas Department requires 15 business days to review and process the commercial use policy (CUP) once all fees and completed application are submitted in full.
- Permittee is required to abide by all natural area regulations. Violations will result in revocation of permit and natural areas violations may result in a citation.
- CUP activities are not allowed in areas closed to the public.
- CUPs are non-transferrable and do not give permit holders exclusive use privilege.
- The NAD reserves the right to deny, to modify, revoke, or suspend a permit for any reason.
- Commercial advertising, marketing, sale of goods and from customers is not allowed on natural areas.
- Permittee is required to report on events and activities after they occur. (see reporting table)
- Permittees are required to have Commercial Liability Insurance consistent with terms published by the City’s Purchasing Department.
- Permits are issued per event/activity or up to 365 days for reoccurring events. Permit is valid only through the calendar year of the approved permit.
- The Natural Areas Department limits the number of CUP permits issued per year/per activity.
- A damage deposit may be required.
- Applicant cannot publish or advertise event held in a natural areas until the permit has been approved and issued.
- NAD reserves the right to deny CUP applications based upon NAD’s knowledge of parking and site capacity demand for the given time periods requested in the permit.
- Limited Use Permit visitation shall not exceed 25 total visitor days and Moderate Use shall not exceed 50 visitor days per calendar year, per organization, per permit.
- Permittee is required to list specific dates, times and requested natural areas at the time application is submitted.
How do I apply?
- Read and accept Terms and Conditions.
- Determine your Permit Level and required fee using table below.
- Submit an online application (see link below).
- Submit the $50 application fee and associated fees with the permit (within application) by contacting the Natural Areas Department Administrative Assistant.
- Attach the proof of insurance and other documentation.
- Submit associated fee based on Permit Level.
What are the Fees and Reporting Procedures?
Permit Level | Group Size | Cost |
Prior Reporting (due at time of application) |
Post Reporting |
---|---|---|---|---|
Limited Use |
1-15 People Visitor days not to exceed 25 in calendar year. Total group size includes guide or leader. A visitor is one customer visiting one natural area property in one day. |
$50.00 |
Due at time of application Prior reporting is required for ALL permit levels |
Report within two weeks from end of event/activity. |
Moderate Use |
16-50 People Visitor days not to exceed 50 in calendar year. A visitor is one customer visiting one natural area property in one day. |
$250.00 profit |
Quarterly reporting is required (March 30, June 30, Sept 30, December 31) |
Quarterly reporting |
High Use |
200 people or more Visitor days will be greater than 200 in calendar year. |
$500.00 |
Quarterly reporting is required (March 30, June 30, Sept 30, December 31) |
Quarterly reporting |
Commercial Filming and Photography |
Conditional – staff discretion. Use fee based on number of days filming, size of film crew, amount and type of equipment present. Recovery fee is for administrative and personnel costs. |
TBD based on use fee and cost recovery fee |
Due at time of application. Prior reporting is required for ALL permit levels |
Report within two weeks from end of event/activity |