Commercial Use of State Lands (includes concessions, liveries, guiding, photography)

To use DNR-managed public lands for the following, you must first obtain a permit.

1. Please complete the commercial use permit application.
2. Use the interactive “commercial use of public lands contact map” to assist you in filling out and submitting your completed application to the correct contact for the area your business is located in. You can also view the contact information as a list.
3. Please note that there is a $100 application and review fee (not due until invoiced). There may also be additional annual fees depending on use. *

Boating access site use

Businesses (such as marinas and watercraft repair shops) and individuals who use DNR boating access sites for delivery and retrieval of watercraft, docks, hoists or piers, or for repair services.

*There will be a use fee based on the impact to natural resources and facilities.

Livery operation (paddle sports rentals)

Businesses who use state land for launching and retrieving rental canoes, kayaks, tubes, rafts, and standup paddleboards.

*There may be an annual fee based on facility impact, resource impact, use level, number of participants and duration. See the canoe livery scoring criteria for more information.

See also - summary of changes to livery laws

Camp unit rental delivery and retrieval

Business and individuals who deliver rental camping units (such as RVs/motor homes) onto state land must obtain a permit. This permit is required to ensure camp unit is delivered and retrieved in a timely manner to avoid customer conflict (such as units not being delivered in time for incoming camper who is renting the unit, or retrieved in time for the next incoming campsite reservation who is not renting the unit). Business that do not obtain this permit may be turned away.

1. Please complete the commercial use permit application.
2. Use the interactive “commercial use of public lands contact map” to assist you in filling out and submitting your completed application to the correct contact for the area your business is located in. You can also view the contact information as a list.
3. Please note that there is an annual use fee of $100 per unit.

See is a list of current permitted camp unit rental vendors.

We routinely schedule competitive bid lettings for all types of concession opportunities such as mobile food, park stores, watercraft rentals, firewood sales and horse riding stables in Michigan state parks.

If you're interested in providing goods or services on public lands, including state parks, trailheads and boating access sites, where a concession opportunity has not been advertised, please complete the commercial use permit application and use the interactive commercial use of public lands contact map to assist you in filling out and submitting your completed application to the correct contact for the area your business is located in. You can also view the contact information as a list.

If using state land for commercial filming or photography, an application is required to be submitted to each individual location. Please complete the non-event use permit application and submit it to the unit manager.

State parks, recreation areas, harbors, boating access sites

• If using up to two state parks, recreation areas, harbors or boating access sites for commercial filming or photography, an application is required to be submitted to each individual location. Please complete the non-event use permit application and submit it to the unit supervisor.
• If requesting use for multiple state parks, recreation areas, harbors or boating access sites (three or more), please submit your non-event use permit application via email to Chris Stark. In addition to the $50 application fee, which will be collected at the time the permit is approved, there may be additional review and use fees required. Please submit one application but provide a list that outlines the locations you are requesting to use, date(s) and time(s) of use, and a detailed explanation of how, what and where you will be filming for each location. Please include maps if possible.

For questions regarding commercial filming and photography, please contact Chris Stark at 231-631-6972.

At this time, a commercial fish guide permit is NOT needed to use state land, including DNR-managed boating access sites, for the purpose of providing fish guiding services (except for guiding services on the Pere Marquette River, see below). This includes carrying passengers on a watercraft, walk and wade and ice fish guiding.

You do need:

• An inland sport fishing guide license. This is a new requirement as of March 1, 2024.
• A valid fishing license.
• A valid DNR-issued inland pilot license or US Coast Guard captain license if carrying customers on your boat. If you have questions about the DNR inland pilot license, please contact a customer service center.
• Recreation Passport (for vehicle entry to state-managed boating access sites).
• Appropriate liability insurance coverage (consult an insurance agent).

*Pere Marquette River

A permit is required to provide fish guiding services on the Pere Marquette River; however, the number of permitted fishing guides on the Pere Marquette River system has been capped and no new permits are being issued at this time.

See a map of the Pere Marquette River with DNR-managed boating access sites and federally-managed and locally-owned/managed land.

If you have questions about providing fish guiding services on the Pere Marquette River, please contact:
Lori Green
989-889-9178
GreenL9@michigan.gov

Hunting guides in Michigan are required to obtain written permission in the form of a permit in order to provide hunting guiding services on DNR-managed public land. The commercial hunting guide permit only gives the authorization to have a business on DNR-managed public lands. The DNR does not issue permits for the "act" of guiding.

If you have questions about hunt guiding, please contact:
Casey Reitz
517-284-6210
reitzc@michigan.gov

• List of commercial hunting guides
• Commercial hunting guides circular

Commercial guiding operations that would not fall under hunting or fishing may need a permit if using state land routinely for their business. Examples could include backpacking guiding, ORV guiding, wildlife viewing guiding etc. (If only using state land occasionally you may need an event permit instead.)

1. Please complete the commercial guiding application/permit.
2. Use the interactive commercial use of public lands contact map to assist in filling out and submitting your completed application to the correct contact for the area your business is located in. You can also view the contact information as a list.
3. Please note that there is a $100 application and review fee (not due until invoiced). There may also be additional annual fees depending on use.

Here is a list of current permitted trip guides (winter paddling, backpacking, hiking).

If you plan to provide commercial services on DNR-managed public land which are not outlined above please do the following:

1. Complete the commercial use permit application.
2. Use the interactive “commercial use of public lands contact map” to assist you in filling out and submitting your completed application to the correct contact for the area your business is located in. You can also view the contact information as a list.
3. Please note that there is a $100 application and review fee (not due until invoiced). There may also be an annual fee based on the impact to the natural resources and facilities.