Skip to main content

Recreation Residences

In the early 1900's, the Forest Service Recreation Residence program started to give private citizens the opportunity to own a single-family cabin in designated areas on the National Forests. They are commonly called "summer homes" or "recreation cabins".

These privately owned cabins (improvements) are located within formally established "tracts" on "lots" designated for that purpose and are authorized and administered under the terms and conditions of a special use authorization (SUA) called a permit.  The guiding documents for the management of cabins include the cabin permit, operation and maintenance plan specific to each tract, and regional and national directives. The individual owns the improvements but not the land. The permittee pays an annual rental fee as directed by the 2014 Cabin Fee Act.

Recreation Residence Cabin Resources

Last updated April 21st, 2025