How do permits for US/Canada public land work?
I recently read an article stating that to access Banff National Park, you need several permits: A park permit, a backcountry permit and, if you want to, a fire permit. I also read about these permits frequently on TGO, for example here and here.
For me, this system is completely new, since everywhere I visited so far things either had been allowed without permit or forbidden (maybe apart from fishing, but I never did that). In my understanding, a permit is something you apply for, and which can be declined.
How can I understand the concepts of these permits? Are they more like a fee or can the permit be declined? Do I get a piece of paper I need to carry around?
I understand some of the answers may vary for different types of public land, for the US and Canada or even for different national parks. I try to understand the general concept.
Also, I know this question is very close to the first linked question, When do I need a permit to go into nature?, but I want to know how this system works/looks like from a practical point of view rather than when I have to care about it.
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As I understand it the permits have a couple of goals:
- It's a revenue stream to pay for the maintenance of the areas
- It's a way of controlling numbers
- It's a way of enforcing that the person with the permit has an understanding of the activity they are undertaking and has agreed to some kind of terms and conditions for said activity, it also means that if you don't have a permit or break these conditions you can be convicted
- Counting people in and out to ensure people return when expected (sometimes this may trigger a search)
Different permits cover slightly different aspects of the above, for example a fire permit covers all three, a park permit is primarily a revenue stream, a back country/hunting permit is primarily about limiting numbers, etc.
The US's complex justice system also makes it easier to prosecute people if there is some kind of formal system that people have signed up to.
Yes, if you have a permit you need to carry it around.
Yes, some permits may be declined, this is typically because of numbers, i.e. they will only allow x number of people a wild camping permit from y trail head, so the area doesn't become saturated.
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There are really no general principles.
Some permits are free and self-issued: you pick up a form at the trailhead and fill it out. This is really more of a registration system, so that the authorities know who is out there, but it's still required. Example.
Some permits are automatically issued to anyone who pays a fee, so it's really a way of requiring the fee to be paid.
Some permits have a numerical limit; the first N people to apply for a permit automatically get it, and everyone after that is denied. This is a way of limiting the number of people using the area.
Some permits have more stringent requirements, and each request is considered separately.
You just have to learn about each permit individually.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/6181. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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