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Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation – Permits

Below are the types of permits available within areas managed by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation for activities that are restricted by statute, regulation, park plan, and/or policy.

ADOBE ACROBAT READER IS REQUIRED to open and fill out the applications. The program is available for Mobile Devices (Android and Apple/iOS) and for Desktop Computers (PC and Mac)

  • Special Park Use Permits
    • What situations require a Special Park Use Permit?
      • Special Park Use Permits are issued under the authority of 11 AAC 18.010 by the local area park offices for:
        1. An organized or promoted assembly of more than 20 persons. Examples – company picnic, family reunion, scout groups, weddings.
          • An assembly of more than 20 persons is covered under your Reserve America reservation. Make sure to have the reservation available (paper or digital) to present to Park Staff. Any other activity will require a Special Use Permit in addition to your Reserve America reservation (see examples below).
        2. Any promotional or entertainment event, including an organized athletic event, competitive recreational event, or spectator event, whether or not an admission fee is charged. Examples – trail race, ski event, bike event
        3. Camping within a developed campground for longer than 15 consecutive days in a calendar year or longer than the period designated by the director for the site or area in which the camp is made.
        4. Constructing or placing an improvement, structure, or property within a park, including a sign (with the exception of a state regulatory marker), fixture, shelter or cabin, personal property, road, trail, excavation, fill, or buttress.
        5. Using a state park for recurring or permanent motorized access, including aircraft landings and takeoffs across land or water closed to motorized use.
        6. Occupying a campsite with more than the allowed number of vehicles.
        7. Discharging explosives.
        8. Conducting exploration, scientific research, or information collection.
        9. Any other incompatible use as defined under regulation or that does not otherwise have lawful recreation as its primary purpose.
    • How do I apply?
        1. Fill out ★ Special Use Permit Application.
        2. Alaska State Parks is automatically notified after you have submitted your application. You will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received; this email is not a permit. Please allow up to 30 days processing time.
        3. Instructions for payment will be provided to you after the application is received. Fee information is provided here: Director's Order 327.
        4. An area representative will review your information and write a Director's Determination for the requested activity. Once the Determination is approved and signed by the Director, the permit can be finalized.
        5. The final permit will be sent to you. Stipulations will be attached. Additional fees may apply.
    • Other Specific Special Use Permits:
  • Kenai River Commercial Operator Permits
    • What situations require a Commercial Use Permit?
      • Anyone conducting commercial activities within a unit of the State Park system must obtain, in advance, a permit issued by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Examples of commercial activities include guided sportfishing or rentals within the Kenai River Special Management Area.
    • How do I apply?
        1. Fill out the application form that suits your needs:

          ★ Kenai River Sport Fishing Guide Permit Application
          Please note the application will time out after one hour. The webpage will refresh and you will have to start over.
          Kenai River Guide Application Tutorial:

          Stipulations for Kenai River Commercial Fishing Guide Permits

          ★ Kenai River Rental Boat Operator Permit Application

        2. Note: Sportfishing guides in the Kenai River Special Management Area are required by state regulation to obtain a state park commercial use permit and to successfully complete a course for providing professional guide services. The Kenai Peninsula College currently offers two 40 hour courses each spring semester that meet this requirement and information on the class schedule can be found at http://www.krga.org. For details on the training requirement please contact Alaska State Parks commercial use permitting section.

        1. Alaska State Parks is automatically notified after you have submitted your application. You will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received; this email is not a permit. Please allow up to 30 days for processing. Incomplete applications may take longer to process.
        2. Once application is deemed complete, instructions on payment will be sent to you. Fee information can be found here: Director's Order 328.
        3. Once payment is received, the final permit will be processed and a copy will be sent to you.
        4. Make sure to follow all stipulations in the permit and any additional stipulations above (Special Stipulations or Park Area Specific Stipulations) that pertain to your activity.

        Scenic commercial operators within the Kenai River Special Use Management area should fill out the general commercial use permit application.
    • End of Season Report (Not Required for Kenai River Fishing Guides).

      • Scenic Operators - Need to complete your end of season report? Click here.

        End of Season Report Tutorial:
    • I Need to Amend My Permit

      • Need to amend your commercial use permit? Click here.
           Please note you can amend multiple items under one form.

  • Commercial Filming Permit
    • What situations require a Commercial Filming Permit?
      • Commercial filming is any filming that involves the digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience. This includes recordings such as those used for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar projects. This does not include filming intended to be used exclusively for a specific news story or item for broadcast or publication. Commercial filming on Alaska State Parks managed lands and waters, which includes state park uplands, shorelands, tidelands, and freshwater bodies, requires an authorization from the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR).
    • How do I apply?
        1. Fill out the application that suits your needs:

          ★ Commercial Filming and Photography Application*
            Commercial Filming and Photography Stipulations

          *Portrait Photographers should fill out the general commercial use permit application.

        2. Alaska State Parks is automatically notified after you have submitted your application. You will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received; this email is not a permit. Please allow up to 30 days for processing. Incomplete applications may take longer to process.
        3. Once application is deemed complete, instructions on payment will be sent to you. Fee information can be found here: Director's Order 328.
        4. Once payment is received, the final permit will be processed and a copy will be sent to you.
        5. Make sure to follow all stipulations in the permit and any additional stipulations above (Special Stipulations or Park Area Specific Stipulations) that pertain to your activity.

          NOTE: All parties associated with the commercial filming and photography permit are required to pay day use and parking fees while operating in the parks.

Please note: Permits are not required for regular recreational activities within State Parks, such as camping, hiking, boating, skiing, etc., but fees do apply. See Park Use Fees page for more information.

Submit a comment or complaint about a commercial operator:
Comment and Complaint form

Need further assistance?
Contact the Permitting Unit at parkpermitting@alaska.gov

Mission Statement

"The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation provides outdoor recreation opportunities and conserves and interprets natural, cultural, and historic resources for the use, enjoyment, and welfare of the people."

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Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Atwood Building
550 West 7th Avenue
Suite 1380
Anchorage, AK 99501
DNR Public Information Center:
(907) 269-8400
DPOR Director's Office:
(907) 269-8704