Doing Business With The Park

• Pickup and drop off of passengers at First Flight Airstrip, Wright Brothers NM
• Pick up and drop off of passengers at Billy Mitchell Airstrip, Cape Hatteras NS, Frisco
• Pick up and drop off passengers at Ocracoke Airstrip, Cape Hatteras NS, Ocracoke

• Permitted Locations
  • First Flight Airstrip Wright Brothers NM
  • Billy Mitchell Airstrip Cape Hatteras National Seashore
  • Ocracoke Airstrip Cape Hatteras National Seashore
• Limitations:
  • Aircraft operations are prohibited from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise at the Billy Mitchell and Ocracoke
  • Aircraft maintenance and refueling are prohibited unless in emergency circumstances

• Daily set-up and take-down of beach rental equipment such as chairs, umbrellas, small tents, and coolers
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations:
  • Seashore beaches that are vehicle-free areas (VFAs) including, but not limited to, beaches on Hatteras Island in front of Buxton (year-round) and the following villages between April 15 and October 14 only: Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Frisco and Hatteras
• Prohibited locations:
  • Lifeguarded areas
  • Beaches open to off-road vehicle use (ORV ramps and routes)
  • Sound-side beaches
• Limitations:
• • Operating hours: equipment set up must take place no earlier than 8 am and equipment take down must occur by 8 pm in order to support National Park Service wildlife management operations
  • Tents/Sun shades must be secured using a weighted bucket/bags filled with sand and strapped to the tent frame. Umbrellas may be secured using a single bucket/bag filled with sand and a strap lashed through the ribs of the umbrella.

Beach Fire Services

• Set-up and take-down of beach fires, chairs, and canopy tents for clients in designated areas in accordance with Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach Fire Regulations
• Assisting clients with obtaining a fee-free Beach Fire Permit and educating clients on Beach Fire Regulations
• Associated interpretive programs or demonstrations
• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations:
  • Areas where Beach Fires are permitted in accordance with park Beach Fire Regulations and associated Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) regulations:
    • November 16 – April 30: throughout the park unless otherwise restricted
    • May 1 – November 15:
      • Coquina Beach Parking Lot
      • Villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras
      • Ocracoke Day Use Area
• If using an ORV, must follow rules and regulations for ORV use within the Seashore
• Limitations: Holder and its clients must abide by all stipulations and regulations of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach Fire Permit

CUA will be valid for activities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial

• Bicycle and electric bikes tours for individuals or groups
• Associated photography service

• Permitted locations:
• Park roads and in parking areas that are otherwise open for motor vehicle use by the general public.
• CUA holders may not use their personal annual or lifetime passes to admit clients into Wright Brothers National Memorial. Participant’s age 16 and older entering the park must pay applicable entrance fees of $10 per person. Clients may use their own annual or lifetime passes to cover this entry fee.
• Prohibited Locations:
  • Bicycle riding off of park roads and parking areas to include sidewalks and trails.
• Limitations:
  • Appropriate safety equipment to include, at minimum, a properly sized helmet.
  • All bikes must be maintained, inspected, and in good working condition at all times.
  • Bicycles must exhibit a white light on the front and a red light or reflector on the rear. The CUA holder must inform customers to use the lights during periods of low visibility

Guided Fishing Services

• Fishing instruction for individuals and/or groups
• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes
• Launching and use of non-motorized watercraft (kayaks, canoes, and/or stand-up paddleboards (SUPs))
• Launching and use of motorized vessel (excluding personal watercraft such as Jet Skis™) via designated public boat launch sites
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations at Cape Hatters National Seashore:
  • Any areas open to the public except for lifeguarded areas.
• If using an ORV, must follow rules and regulations for ORV use within the Seashore
• Permitted locations at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site:
  • Beach area at the end of Pear Pad Road
  • Beach area near Mann’s Harbor Bridge also known as the Freedman’s Colony area
  • Note: the National Park Service recommends using the Mann’s Harbor Bridge location, because this location provides a larger area for parking and boat launching than in the Pear Pad Road location
• Limitations at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site:
• • Operating hours: between sunrise and sunset only
  • Parking at Pear Pad Road location – large vehicles and trailers may not park in the parking spaces and must park on the grass outside of the cul-de-sac loop on south / southwest side (the same side of the road as the houses)

• Horseback riding and instruction
• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations for activities/services:
• • Seashore beaches that are open to public vehicular access as designated off-road vehicle (ORV) ramps and routes – only in areas seaward of the existing dunes
  • On village beaches from September 16 to May 14
  • Inside Road connecting Beach Access Ramps 44, 48 and 49.
  • Along road shoulders or across paved routes where travel is necessary to cross to or from beach access routes.
  • Only on the following designated public pedestrian beach access routes, also known as vehicle-free areas (VFAs), during the following time periods:
  • • • October – March: Vehicle Free Area Ramp 45 to Ramp 48; Open Ponds Trail from the trailhead at Lighthouse Road in Buxton to the Frisco Woods Trail
• Permitted locations for staging (meeting customers and beginning activities):
  • • Bodie Island: access to ORV Ramp 2 via parking lot at Coquina Beach Day Use Area, use of up to 4 parallel parking spaces in the parallel parking area in the northwest section of the parking lot
    • Hatteras Island: Ramp 55 parking area - use of up to 4 parallel parking spaces in the parallel parking area in the northwest section of the parking lot; and Ramp 38 – use of up to four parking spaces
    • Ocracoke Island: as necessary and feasible along Ramp 70 to enable access to ORV route southwest from Ramp 70
• Prohibited locations:
  • • Resource closures
    • Lifeguarded beaches
    • Park campgrounds
    • Picnic areas
    • Pedestrian shoreline access areas in front of (i.e. seaward of) bird pre-nesting areas.
    • Established roads and trails, which are not open to motor vehicles
    • Beach dune areas
• Limitations:
  • • Operating hours: between sunrise and sunset only
    • Instructor/guide to student client ratio: no more than 7 students/clients to 1 instructor/guide
    • Maximum group size including instructors/guides: 16
• Horse Waste Management:
• • At the conclusion of each trip, the Holder must gather all horse manure deposited within the Seashore and must dispose of the manure outside of the Seashore
  • For CUA Holders staging their horses within the Seashore: the Holder must take steps to remove/disperse any horse urine deposited on parking lots by washing the area with water (fresh or salt water) at the end of each operating day, at minimum. The Holder must use only water to remove the urine – no chemicals or cleaners are permitted.
  • Prior to the beginning of each season, the CUA Holder is required to submit valid proof of a negative Coggins test for each equine entering the park. The Coggins test must have been performed within the last 12 months. The Coggins test is required in order to protect the park’s equine population on Ocracoke Island – the Ocracoke ponies.
  • If using an ORV, must follow rules and regulations for ORV use within the Seashore

• Waterfowl hunting instruction for individuals and/or groups
• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes
• Launching and use of non-motorized watercraft (kayaks and/or canoes)
• Launching and use of motorized vessel (excluding personal watercraft such as Jet Skis™) via designated public boat launch sites
• Associated photography services

• Formal interpretive programs such as tours, walks, talks, or hikes including the following activities: walking tours of the beach and sound-side areas; and talks around beach fires
• Historical demonstrations such as fish-net mending or U.S. Life Saving Service beach apparatus drill
• Recreational skill demonstrations such as bird watching, sand castle building or night sky/astronomy programs
• Sea turtle nest demonstrations (Cape Hatteras National Seashore only)
• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations at Cape Hatteras National Seashore:
  • Anywhere open to the public with the exception of the following:
    • Lifeguarded areas
    • Bodie Island Light Station area and historic grounds: April – October between 9 am and 5 pm
    • Hatteras Island Light Station area and historic grounds: April – October between 9 am and 5 pm
• Permitted locations at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial:
  • Anywhere open to the public
  • CUA holders may not use their personal annual or lifetime passes to admit clients into Wright Brothers National Memorial. Participant’s age 16 and older entering the park must pay applicable entrance fees of $10 per person. Clients may use their own annual or lifetime passes to cover this entry fee.
• Limitations:
  • Holder may not provide interpretive and educational programs in the same general location or same general time period as similar programs provided by the National Park Service
  • As applicable, the authorization Holder must obtain a fee-free Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach Fire Permit in order to provide beach/campfires as part of the interpretive and education programs. The Holder and its clients must abide by all stipulations and regulations of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach Fire Permit
  • The authorization Holder must abide by all applicable fishing regulations, which may include requirements to obtain a state of North Carolina fishing license for activities such as seine netting and catch and release ghost crabbing. The authorization Holder is responsible for making its own determinations as to applicability of fishing regulations and obtaining any necessary permits
  • This authorization does not authorize the Holder to take or collect plants, fish, wildlife, rocks or minerals (soil), as these activities require separate permitting
• Limitations for sea turtle nest demonstrations:
  • Wildlife - sea turtle nest demonstrations may not involve any wildlife
  • Location - demonstration nests must be located within close proximity to one another and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center to facilitate regular monitoring by the authorization Holder; authorization Holder must notify the park contact (listed at the top of this authorization) of the sites selected for nest demonstrations and include GPS coordinates of the sites
  • Removal - the National Park Service reserves the right to remove or request removal of demonstration nests in order to protect park resources. If the National Park Service removes the demonstration nests, the park contact will notify the Holder to arrange transfer of equipment and discuss alternative locations
  • Required signage – the authorization Holder must place signs at demonstration areas clearly identifying that the demonstration nests are for educational purposes and do not contain actual sea turtles or sea turtle eggs; signage must be easily differentiated from National Park Service nest signs, staking, fencing and marking to indicate to clients, NPS staff and the general public that these are not actual sea turtle nests
  • Required messages – authorization Holder must educate clients about endangered species protections, including the following specific messages:
    • Under no circumstance is a nest or turtle to be disturbed, e.g. dug into
    • If you see any turtle activity including tracks, hatchlings or other evidence of turtle nesting, call 252-216-6892 to inform Cape Hatteras National Seashore
  • If using an ORV, must follow rules and regulations for ORV use within the Seashore

• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP)
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations at Cape Hatteras National Seashore:
  • Anywhere open to the public with the exception of:
    • Portions of Salvo Beach Access Area. The Holder may only park, stage, and launch watercraft in areas south of the public restrooms.
    • Haulover Beach Access Area (also known as Canadian Hole)
    • Lifeguarded beaches
  • If using an ORV, must follow rules and regulations for ORV use within the Seashore.
• Permitted locations at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site:
  • Beach area at the end of Pear Pad Road
  • Beach area near Mann’s Harbor Bridge also known as the Freedman’s Colony area
  • Note: the National Park Service recommends using the Mann’s Harbor Bridge location, because this location provides a larger area for parking and boat launching than in the Pear Pad Road location
• Limitations at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site:
  • Operating hours: between sunrise and sunset only
  • Parking at Pear Pad Road location – large vehicles and trailers may not park in the parking spaces and must park on the grass outside of the cul-de-sac loop on south / southwest side (the same side of the road as the houses)

• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes
• Associated photography services
• Associated services such as on-board interpretation, box lunches, and walking tours of park areas

• Permitted locations:
  • Anywhere open to the public where ORV use is allowed. Must follow rules and regulations for ORV use within the Seashore. Follow this link for information on ORV Access Areas.

• Yoga
• Pilate's
• Personal Training
• Group or individual exercise classes similar to the options listed above
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations:
  • Any areas open to the public except for lifeguarded areas.

• Photography instruction for individuals and/or groups
• Associated walking tours
• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes
• Commercial transportation of participant/s on roads to and/or within the park

• Permitted locations:
  • Any areas open to the public.
• If using an ORV, must follow rules and regulations for ORV use within the Seashore.
• CUA holders may not use their personal annual or lifetime passes to admit clients into Wright Brothers National Memorial. Participant’s age 16 and older entering the park must pay applicable entrance fees of $10 per person. Clients may use their own annual or lifetime passes to cover this entry fee.

• Commercial transportation of participant/s on roads to and within the park
• Associated services such as professional photography, on-board interpretation, box lunches, and walking tours of park areas

• Permitted locations:
  • Only public roads (not Off-Road Vehicle ramps and routes) with the exception of the following areas in Cape Hatteras National Seashore:
    • South Beach Road “old Ramp 45”
    • Devils Shoal Road
• The authorization Holder and its agents (i.e. tour bus drivers) must park, load and unload passengers in designated bus parking and loading/unloading zones, where available, in order to safely manage traffic and pedestrian flow and limit impacts to other visitors
• For more information, please visit the National Park Service CUA Page.

• Sail boat tours
• Associated photography services

• Permitted locations:
  • Bodie Island: All ocean and sound side areas and Oregon Inlet Boat Ramp.
  • Hatteras Island: All sound side access areas and the Cable Crossing. All ocean side areas are open to boat launching and recovery.
  • Ocracoke Island: Marina boat ramps and all ocean and sound side areas.
• Prohibited locations:
  • Resource closures and designated swim beaches
  • Hatteras Island: 0.5 miles either side of Cape Point
    • Portions of Salvo Beach Access Area. The Holder may only park, stage, and launch watercraft or equipment in areas south of the public restrooms.
    • Haulover Beach Access Area (also known as Canadian Hole)
    • Lifeguarded beaches

• Commercial towing of inoperable vehicles
• Tire repair
• Battery service
• Locksmith

• Permitted locations:
  • Any areas open to the public
• Limitations:
  • Operators must have spill kits and mitigate any spilled hazardous fuel and or oils

• Kitesurfing
• Kiteboarding
• Surfing
• Windsurfing
• Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
• Associated photography services
• Commercial transportation of participant/s via Off-Road Vehicle/s (ORVs) on designated ORV ramps and routes

• Permitted locations:
  • Anywhere open to the public with the exception of:
    • Portions of Salvo Beach Access Area. The Holder may only park, stage, and launch watercraft or equipment in areas south of the public restrooms.
    • Haulover Beach Access Area (also known as Canadian Hole)
    • Lifeguarded beaches

• Set up and take down of equipment to support wedding ceremonies including: arches, benches, chairs, and small ceremony tables.
• Associated photography services

• Prohibited locations:
  • Lifeguarded areas
  • Non-beach areas to include around Lighthouses, Wright Brothers and Fort Raleigh
  • Resource Protection Areas (RPA's), and Closures
  • Sound-side beaches
• Limitations:
  • • Must provide a reasonably-sized path (at least 12 feet wide) between the equipment and the ocean, and between the equipment and the dune line in order to provide for visitor access to the area, as well as access for emergency vehicles and National Park Service operations.
    • Equipment must be set up and taken down within a two-hour period.
    • CUA Holders’ clients must obtain a special event wedding permit from Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The wedding permittee (CUA client) and the CUA Holder must abide by all wedding permit conditions