Background
The NCWRC provides over 250 free Boating Access Areas (BAAs) to more than 100 different bodies of water in the State and maintains over 2 million acres of public game lands including primitive camping areas, parking areas, waterfowl impoundments, roads, lakes and ponds, and dams.
The money used to construct, maintain, and manage these facilities comes from fees and excise taxes paid by boaters with registered vessels as well as hunting, fishing, and trapping license holders.
All activity licenses (hunting, fishing, trapping) sold by the Commission entitle the licensee to access and use NCWRC property. However, over the years, the use of these properties by unlicensed users has increased substantially, as most Commission property is accessible to the public free of charge.
While over 2.2 million people visit Game Lands every year, only 40% of users participate in licensed activities, meaning that the majority of visitors are not contributing to purchasing, constructing, or maintaining the property or infrastructure.
Commercial Permitting Rules
- All individuals or commercial businesses profiting from the use of a Wildlife Resources Commission property for unlicensed activities must obtain Commercial Use Permit or an Event Permit, if using Commission property for a one-time event. (15A NCAC 10H .1801, 15A NCAC 10H.1802, 15A NCAC 10H.1803)
- Other rule requirements:
- Commercial Use Permit holders must submit bi-monthly reports to the Commission online with the number of participants
- Event Permit holders must submit an online report within 30 days of event conclusion
- All permit holders must have liability insurance
- All permit holders are responsible for removing litter and trash from individuals covered by their permit
- All permit holders are prohibited from blocking access to other users
Commercial Unlicensed Activities include:
- Guided tours or excursions (hiking tours, birding tours, climbing excursions, etc.)
- Providing registered and unregistered rental vessels
- Bicycle Rentals
- Paddle Sport Rentals (kayaks, river tubing, canoes, etc.)
- Boat Rentals (jet ski, motorboat, etc.)
- Dropping off or picking up individuals (river tubing, kayaks, etc.)
- Staging patrons or recreational equipment in preparation for an activity
- Other activities not explicitly listed
Commercial Use Permit Fee
$100 per year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31) + $3 per participant.
Unlicensed Activity Events include:
- Races (marathons, triathlons, running races, biking races, kayak races, etc.)
- Competitions/tournaments
- Other organized gatherings of more than 10 individuals where money is exchanged for participation
Event Permit Fee
10-100 individuals: $50
101-250 individuals: $100
251–500 individuals: $150
501–1000 individuals: $200
Over 1,000 individuals: $250
+ $3 per participant
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
January 1, 2025
Commercial Permits will assist the Commission in regulating some of the substantial unlicensed use of NCWRC property by helping to balance uses, minimize and mitigate user conflict and undesirable environmental effects of overuse, and provide increased funding for habitat and infrastructure enhancement and additional property maintenance and repairs necessitated by increased use of the properties.
Full Rule Text:
SECTION .1800 – COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY PERMITTING
15A NCAC 10H .1801 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND FEES
(a) The rules in this Section apply to commercial permits issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
(b) The use of Wildlife Resources Commission property, as defined by G.S. 113-129, by an individual or business
for profit or benefit is unlawful, unless the individual or business using the property for an unlicensed activity first
obtains a commercial permit as provided by this Rule.
(c) The following definitions shall apply to all rules in this Section:
(1) "Benefit" means the exchange of money, goods, services, or the growth or promotion of a business
or organization.
(2) "Commercial activity" means an unlicensed activity for which individuals pay to participate or use
equipment and that takes individuals or groups to Commission property for participation in the
unlicensed activity, the purpose of which is financial gain or benefit of the commercial business.
(3) "Commercial business" means any individual or business using Commission property for financial
gain or benefit.
(4) "Commercial permit" means either a commercial use permit or event permit for otherwise
unlicensed activities.
(5) "Commission property" means Wildlife Resources Commission property as defined in G.S. 113-
129(18).
(6) "Commercial use" means the use of Commission property for financial gain or benefit.
(7) "Commercial use permit" means a permit that allows for the commercial use of Wildlife Resources
Commission property.
(8) "Event" means an organized gathering of more than 10 people on Commission property where
money is exchanged for participation in an unlicensed activity.
(9) "Event permit" means a permit that allows for the use of Commission property for a one-time event.
(10) "Unlicensed activity" means any outdoor activity that the Commission does not regulate through a
Commission-issued license or permit.
(d) Application for a commercial permit shall be made online at www.ncwildlife.org or at Commission headquarters
located at 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606-2576. Information required from the applicant shall include:
(1) the applicant's name, address, telephone number;
(2) name of business, company, or organization;
(3) type of commercial activity or event;
(4) dates of activity or event;
(5) locations of commercial activity or event; and
(6) for event permits, the number of individuals anticipated to partake in the event.
(e) The fee for a commercial use permit shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00). The fee for an event permit shall be
based on the number individuals participating in the event, including event participants, volunteers, staff, and
spectators. The event permit fee schedule is as follows:
(1) ten to 100 individuals - $50;
(2) one hundred and one to 250 individuals - $100;
(3) two hundred and fifty-one to 500 individuals - $150;
(4) five hundred and one to 1000 individuals - $200; and
(5) over 1000 individuals - $250.
(f) In addition to the commercial permit fee, a fee of three dollars ($3.00) per individual participating in the permitted
activity on Commission property shall be required and remitted to the Commission no more than 30 days after the
event for which the permit was acquired or every other month during the year for which the commercial use permit is
valid.
(g) Unless authorized by the Commission, commercial permit holders and their patrons shall not block access or
prevent others from entering or exiting any Commission property.
(h) Commercial permits are non-transferable between individuals, businesses, or companies and a separate permit is
required for each commercial activity or event.
(i) The Commission may deny permits or issue permit requirements for use of its property based on the time of year,
holidays, safety concerns, biological impacts, compatibility of requested activity with intended use of an area or
property, failure to adhere to the conditions set forth in these Rules and Commission planned or sponsored events.
(j) Unless a more limited duration is designated on the permit, a commercial use permit shall be valid from January
1 through December 31 of the same year. An event permit shall be valid for the duration of the event and expires at
its conclusion.
(k) Records of commercial activities shall be available for inspection by representatives of the Commission upon
request and during normal operating hours.
(l) The Executive Director of the Commission or his or her designee may warn, cite, or revoke a permit holder's
commercial permit, if the permit holder violates any rules set forth by the Commission in this Subchapter or any
conditions of the permit.
History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-264;
Eff. January 1, 2025.
15A NCAC 10H .1802 COMMERCIAL USE PERMITS
(a) A commercial use permit shall be required for commercial activities on Commission property, including but not
limited to:
(1) providing registered and unregistered rental vessels to individuals for use on Commission property;
(2) leading tours or excursions for unlicensed activities on Commission property;
(3) dropping off or picking up individuals on Commission property; or
(4) using Commission property to stage patrons or recreational equipment in preparation for an activity
on Commission property.
(b) Individuals holding a commercial use permit shall submit a report to the Commission online at www.ncwildlife.org
by the last day of every other month of the year in which their permit is valid. The report shall contain the following
information:
(1) individual's name and name of business, company, or organization;
(2) permit number; and
(3) number of individuals participating in activity.
(c) Individuals applying for a commercial use permit as described in Rule .1801 of this Section shall verify liability
insurance in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000) in
aggregate for commercial activities conducted on Commission property.
(d) Commercial use permittees shall be responsible for removing litter and trash left on Commission property by
individuals covered by their permit.
History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-264;
Eff. January 1, 2025.
15A NCAC 10H .1803 EVENT PERMITS
(a) An event permit is required for a commercial business conducting an event on Commission property.
(b) Individuals holding an event permit shall submit a report for the event within 30 days of the conclusion of the
event, to the Commission online at www.ncwildlife.org with the following information:
(1) individual's name and name of business, company, or organization;
(2) permit number; and
(3) total number of participants.
(c) Individuals applying for an event permit as described in Rule .1801 of this Section shall verify one million dollars
($1,000,000) per occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,000) in aggregate of liability insurance for commercial
events to be conducted on Commission property.
(d) Event permit holders shall be responsible for removing all litter and trash left on Commission property by
individuals participating in the event.
History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-264
Eff. January 1, 2025.