Rocky Mountain National Park notice of changes to Commercial Use Authorization Program
Tom Hellauer/Denver Gazette
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) will implement changes to the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) program over the next two years, Kyle Patterson with the Park said in a news release Wednesday.
The Commercial Use Authorization program is a management tool used by the National Park Service to authorize appropriate business activities within NPS site’s boundaries. Any business, or non-profit organization, wanting to operate a business or provide a service within the park must obtain a CUA.
CUAs authorize companies or individuals to conduct business in Rocky Mountain National Park on an annual basis and a CUA provides a group a non-exclusive license to offer services to park visitors.
Your organization is considered a business if it provides goods, services, activities, or other things to the public using National Park Service lands. The full list of CUAs can be found here.
These changes align park operations with National Park Service policy and support the park’s CUA program.
Beginning in December, RMNP implemented the new online CUA portal required by the National Park Service. In conjunction with the online system, the park will implement a defined application window for all CUA applicants (current and new).
- The CUA Online Portal started on December 1, 2023, for all current and new applicants to apply for the 2024 operating season. Access to the portal is on https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/cua.htm
- The defined application window for all CUA applicants (current and new) for 2024 is from December 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. Applications, payment, and supporting document submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
- All applications will be required to be submitted through an online system.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, the following change to the fee structure will be implemented.
- RMNP will charge a market price to recover costs associated with the administration and management of the CUA program.
- Fees will be based on a percentage of revenue earned from in-park or park-based operations.
Market price fees will be based on the following:
- Less than $250,000 earned from park-based operations: 3% of gross receipts (minus application fee)
- $250,000-$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)
All companies interested in applying for a CUA are encouraged to visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/cua.htm. Additional questions may be directed to ROMO_fees_permits@nps.gov. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at 970-586-1206.
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