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
To ensure compliance with rules and regulations, forest staff inspect cabins on a rolling basis or when they are sold. To help with compliance, the forest requests cabin owners complete self-inspections using this form. Self-inspections are optional but will help cabin owners in maintaining orderly buildings and lots as well as aid them in identifying ways to make their cabins more compliant. Completed self-inspection forms should be sent to the permit administrator (contact information below).
Note: special use permits for cabin occupancy will only be issued for fully compliant cabins when cabins are sold. New buyers should make sure a cabin inspection is conducted prior to a sale to understand what noncompliance items may exist. Current owners should be aware all recreation residence special use permits on the Santa Fe National Forest expire in 2029 and will only be reissued to cabins in full compliance.
To request a cabin inspection, please contact your permit administrator.
Depending on the historic nature of your cabin (as determined by an archaeological survey), you may be restricted in what work you can do to the cabin. You may need to replace items in-kind to preserve the historic integrity of a cabin.
Permit holders who wish to sell their improvements must contact the permit administrator. A completed copy of form FS-2700-3a is required to begin the permit transfer process. Part I is the relinquishment and the permit holder's signature is required. Part II is the application for the purchaser to complete.
It is important that a Santa Fe National Forest representative be involved early on in the process, to ensure all regulations and requirements are met. The Forest Service does not handle the sale of recreation residences, nor does it keep track of those that are for sale. This information is best obtained from a local real estate office.
Before a permit is transferred to a new owner, a cabin inspection must be performed to ensure the cabin is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit and agency directives.
Note: In 2024, the Transfer Fee was $1,412.00 (check with special use administrator for current fee).
All term permits on the Santa Fe National Forest will expire in 2029. Permit holders must be in compliance with the terms and conditions of their current term permit in order to be reissued another 20-year term permit. Now is the time to make sure your cabin is in compliance in preparation for the issuance of new term permits! If you have any questions please call your permit administrator.
Recreation residence tracts should give the impression of a forest having a few cabins, rather than a subdivision with a few trees. The dominant character of the tract must therefore be the forest environment, not human improvements. The residences and lots should be cared for to retain the tract's visual and historic character. They must be kept in good, safe condition. Colors must blend with the natural forest setting and lots must be kept clean and tidy.
Permit holders are required to keep their cabins maintained and in compliance with the terms and conditions of their permit and agency directives. Any changes to the cabin need to be authorized by the permit administrator, including paint color, roof replacements, etc. Items that do not need district approval are those that are considered "routine" maintenance, such as repairing holes, re-staining the cabin (as long as the color is not changed!), repairing a few boards on the stairway, etc. When in doubt about whether or not something is considered maintenance, contact your permit administrator.
Whether you are planning to repair your septic system, re-roof the building, or fix your deck, you need to have a plan and talk to the your permit administrator before beginning work.
The special use permit requires a permit holder to submit conceptual design and site plans for proposed development or changes to permit administrators for review and approval by the district ranger. The conceptual plans should be detailed enough to allow preparation of an analysis, and details shown should include roads, trees, rock outcrops, planned and existing improvement location, structure size, staging areas for equipment, and lot boundaries as accurately as possible.
The district ranger will review the proposal for environmental, visual, and historic concerns and, if there are no concerns, give written approval-in-concept.
If approved, the permit holder will submit their construction plans to the San Miguel County building department, New Mexico Environment Department, or any other relevant permitting agency, for approval and to obtain the required permits.
After the Forest Service receives copies of any necessary permits and gives final written authorization, construction may proceed. Final approval is provided by the forest in an official letter. No work can commence until this official letter of approval is issued to the cabin owner.
If construction plans include alterations to or removal of any exterior materials of the cabin, an archaeological survey and report are required by a qualified archaeologist or historian.
Tip for cabin owners: Proposed plans for construction/reconstruction typically need to undergo National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other approvals, which can take several months to years. Please plan ahead when preparing to make extensive changes to your cabin - it can be a lengthy process!
Fire prevention is of the utmost importance in the Santa Fe National Forest's recreation residence tracts. We encourage all cabin owners to replace their spark arresters with an updated, modern version to reduce fire risk. Please trim back brush, branches, and leaves to a minimum of ten feet away from the cabin, propane tank, and overhead utility lines.
To request a Fire Prevention Officer visit your cabin to provide tips on how you can improve fire safety, please contact the permit administrator.
Cabin owners are responsible for removing "hazard trees," or dead/dying/sick trees that are within striking distance of the cabin or other improvements. Before removing trees, cabin owners must obtain written approval from the permit administrator. Please submit the number, size, and general location of the trees you wish to remove to the permit administrator for approval. Photos are helpful to convey why the trees need removal for safety reasons.
Once approved, you may be required to obtain a dead-and-down fuelwood permit. These permits can be purchased for a small fee at any Santa Fe National Forest office. Here are guidelines for whether or not to obtain a permit:
- If you cut and store up to 2 cords' worth of wood and store it at your cabin, permit is not needed.
- If you cut and store more than 2 cords' worth of wood at your cabin, a permit is needed.
- If you remove any amount of wood off forest land (for disposal or use elsewhere) a permit is needed.
Click on a link below to view helpful resources and guidance for recreation residence cabins. Please note each permit and operation and maintenance plan will differ.
- Cabin Fee Act Frequently Asked Questions
- Sample Term Special Use Permit and Operation and Maintenance Plan for Recreation Residences on the Santa Fe National Forest
- National Recreation Residence Directive (WO FSH 2709.14 – CHAPTER 20)
- Regional Recreation Residence Directive (R3 FSH 2709.14 – CHAPTER 20)
- Santa Fe NF Rec Residence Self Inspection Report
Key Recreation Residence Contacts:
- Bernadette Lujan (Permit Transfer and Billing Manager) - bernadette.lujan@usda.gov