Special Park Use Permits

Special park uses are considered activities that are generally outside of the normal visitor experience or intended use of the park. They are often organized and take many forms, including festivals, sporting events, performances, ceremonies, memorializations, and more. These types of events require a permit and discussions with a permits specialist to determine the best location for the event based on available areas, number of participants, and many other factors.

How to Apply

1. If you are interested in applying for a Special Park Use Permit, you MUST fill out the Special Use Permit application.
2. Once a permit application has been completed, e-mail your application to the permitting office: FOMC_permits@nps.gov
3. All applications will have a non-refundable $100 application fee associated with them. Payments can be made via credit card (option available over the phone) or check. In your application e-mail, specify which payment method is preferred. *Fort McHenry NM&HS currently has no way to process checks on site. While payments via check are possible, credit card is preferred.*
4. Once an application has been submitted and the application fee has been paid, the permits coordinator will review your application with the park management team to determine whether your permit application will be approved. Please allow at least six weeks for special use permit processing.

Permit Pricing

Application Fee: $100 (non-refundable) Fee does not apply to First Amendment activities regulated under 36 C.F.R. § 2.51 and 36 C.F.R. § 2.52.

Cost Recovery: is charged at a dollar-in dollar-out ratio to the permittee, meaning whatever the cost is to the NPS to manage the permit is the exact cost that will be charged to the permittee. For permits that require park staff to monitor the permits, this price will be the hourly rate of the park staff. For planning purposes, the park recommends permittees plan for an estimated cost of $50 per ranger per hour.

Insurance Requirements

You may be required to obtain liability insurance naming the United States of America as additionally insured in an amount commensurate with the risk posed to park resources by your proposed activity. You may also be asked to post a bond to ensure the payment of all charges and fees and the restoration of the area if necessary.

Locations For Special Use Permits

Special use permits may happen most places within the park with some restrictions. For all restrictions on various areas in the park, reference Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine's Superintendent's Compendium. Use the above map as a reference when deciding where in the park you'd like to request your activity to occur. While the locations detailed below are not the only locations in the park where permits occur, they are are the most requested.

Star Fort Historic Zone: Some permitted activities may occur within the park's historic zone (fee area) with the following restrictions:

• Capacity Limit: 50 person maximum
• Fees: Special Use Permits do not waive fees within the park. As the Historic Zone is a fee area, make sure to plan accordingly for how to cover the park entrance fees for your permit attendees. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information.
• Equipment: Due to the high visitation and cultural sensitivity of this area of the park, equipment for requested activities may be restricted to prevent impacts on the park's visitation as well as avoiding impacts to historic structures and landscapes.

Seawall Trail: Permittees requesting use of the Seawall Trail, such as organized walks, 5Ks, fun-runs, etc., are possible with the following restrictions:

• Accessibility: The trail must remain accessible to the visiting public. While a special use activity may occur on this trail, permittees are not granted exclusive use of the trail.

East and West Lawns: The most common locations for special park uses, these lawns provide large open areas for various types of special use activities to occur. Each lawn has different benefits depending on the activities and setup that permittees plan. The West Lawn provides better access to the park road for loading/unloading of equipment. Whereas the East Lawn is closer to existing restroom facilities located in the park visitor center. The East Lawn is more heavily visited, while the West Lawn is a quieter backdrop.

Indoor Locations: Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine has NO INDOOR LOCATIONS available for permitted use. The park's visitor center, as a publicly available space must remain open and available for all visiting public. If a permittee is concerned about the potential for bad weather, they may request a weather date as a backup for their permitted activity.

Considerations for Permits
Federal procedures (31 USC7701) require your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number on the back of all checks accepted for deposit in the amount of $50 or more. You must supply one or the other in order for your check to be accepted and your application to be processed.

The information provided on the application will be used to determine whether a permit will be issued, so please provide as much detail as possible. You will be notified of the disposition of the application and the necessary steps to secure your final permit. If your request is approved, a permit containing applicable conditions and regulations will be sent to the person you have designated on the application. The permit must be signed and returned to the park prior to the event.

The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve and protect our resources as stated in the Organic Act… "The Service…shall provide and regulate the use of …National Parks.[its] purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."(16 USC 1)

It is the policy of Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine to accommodate requests for special use permits when and where possible, while adhering to this mandate. Therefore, our primary concern is to assess potential resource damage and disruption of normal public use prior to authorization of any special use activity.