Special Recreation and Commercial Permits

Special Recreation Permits are issued to organizations or individuals to allow the use of specific public land and related waters for commercial or competitive use.

The Special Recreation Permits allow the land stewards to coordinate and track commercial and competitive use of public lands. It also provides resource protection measures to ensure the future enjoyment of those resources by the public.

• Special Recreation Permit Application Booklet (2008)
• Special Recreation Permit Application
• Application Checklist

Application Process

1. Verify that the activity is going to take place on public lands by contacting the BLM Field Office in the area of activity
2. BLM will supply you with an application, checklist and a handbook
3. 120 days prior to operation, file the application and items identified on the checklist
4. BLM will advise applicant of disapproval or request additional information within 30 days from receipt of application or 15 days before desired use date, whichever is earlier
5. Environmental documentation research is completed
6. The special Recreation use Permit is issued or denied

This process generally takes 30 to 90 days to complete depending upon the complexity of the applicant's organization plan. 

Not all applications submitted receive a permit, therefore any action taken before receiving a special recreation permit authorization, such as advertising or expending funds, is premature and at the applicant’s risk.

Alaska Contacts for Special Permits

Anchorage Field Office 4700 BLM Road Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 267-1459 or  800-478-1263 Lead for Special Recreational Permits: Jeff Kowalczyk Email: Jeff_Kowalczyk@blm.gov

Fairbanks District Office 1150 University Ave. Fairbanks AK 99709-3844 (907) 474-2313 Lead for Special Recreational Permits: Roger Delaney Email: Roger_Delaney@blm.gov

Glennallen Field Office P.O. Box 147 Mile 186.5 Glenn Highway Glennallen, AK 99588 Phone: (907) 822-3217 Fax:  (907) 822-7335 Email