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Six Steps

NFH Facats

Cabin owners need to get involved and be ahead of the game if they want to ensure they receive a new 20-year permit without a lot of hassle.

Particularly in this situation, don’t wait to be told what to do.

Six Steps To Permit Compliance

Permit continuation is under way in most forests across the U. S. – or should be by now. Unfortunately, cuts to the Forest Service budget are stretching staff to the breaking point, and things – including permit continuation – aren’t getting done as quickly as cabin owners might like. Particularly in this situation, don’t wait to be told what to do.

Cabin owners need to get involved and be ahead of the game if they want to ensure they receive a new 20-year permit without a lot of hassle. Here are 6 steps you can take to make sure you’re involved and ready:

1. Make sure cabins continue to be consistent with your forest plan. This is the first step in the CRCD process and is where the Forest Service decides whether your Tract is “consistent with” the Forest’s management plan. When it’s completed, the FS will issue a Proposed Action that will indicate whether they plan to issue new permits.
   
   
2. Find your current permit in your files.  Take it to your cabin.  Look at everything on your lot (cabin, outbuildings, propane tank, walkways, etc.). Compare what you see on your lot with what is listed on the front of your permit.  Is there anything missing? And, while you’re doing this review, prepare a plot plan of your lot showing size and placement of the cabin, decks, propane tank, septic tank, water lines and any other improvements.
   
   
3. Now look at your “off-lot improvements.”  These are things like docks, your pump house and your water line or access road that are physically located outside the boundaries of your lot.  Are they listed on the front of your permit?
   
   
4. Once you have a list of everything that should be on the face of your permit it’s time to talk to the Special Uses Administrator in your District Ranger’s office.  They have their own copy of your permit and a file of records for your cabin.  Request to review the contents of your permit file. This file should contain approvals for each of the improvements on your lot, including any additions that have been built to your cabin. If you have documents that aren’t in the Ranger’s file, be sure to give them copies to complete their records.
   
   
5. Now compare the Forest Service’s copy of your permit and your own. They should match. Ask the Forest Service to add every item you have identified on the lot to the face of your permit.  If you ask them to do this in a meeting or over the phone, follow up with a letter that refers to that specific conversation.  Make sure that letter includes the name of the person you spoke to, the date of the conversation, what you asked them to do, and a summary of what they said they would do.
   
6. Bring your cabin into compliance. By now, you may have received an inspection report from the FS. Whether you have received one or not, it’s time to get busy on coming into compliance. Look at your cabin and all your other “improvements” with a critical eye.  Does your cabin need a coat of paint or stain?  Is your roof in good shape?  What does your Operation and Maintenance plan  list as outstanding projects?  If there is something the Forest Service already wants you to fix, get it done!