PART 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS Authority: 54 U.S.C. 100101, 100751, 320102. Source: 48 FR 30275, June 30, 1983, unless otherwise noted. § 1.1 Purpose. (a) The regulations in this chapter provide for the proper use, management, government, and protection of persons, property, and natural and cultural resources within areas under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. (b) These regulations will be utilized to fulfill the statutory purposes of units of the National Park System: to conserve scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife, and to provide for the enjoyment of those resources in a manner that will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. § 1.2 Applicability and scope. (a) The regulations contained in this chapter apply to all persons entering, using, visiting, or otherwise within: (1) The boundaries of federally owned lands and waters administered by the National Park Service; (2) The boundaries of lands and waters administered by the National Park Service for public-use purposes pursuant to the terms of a written instrument; (3) Waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States located within the boundaries of the National Park System, including navigable waters and areas within their ordinary reach (up to the mean high water line in places subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and up to the ordinary high water mark in other places) and, except in Alaska, without regard to the ownership of submerged lands, tidelands, or lowlands; (4) Lands and waters in the environs of the District of Columbia, policed with the approval or concurrence of the head of the agency having jurisdiction or control over such reservations, pursuant to the provisions of the Act of March 17, 1948 (62 Stat. 81); (5) Other lands and waters over which the United States holds a less-than-fee interest, to the extent necessary to fulfill the purpose of the National Park Service administered interest and compatible with the nonfederal interest. (b) The regulations contained in parts 1 through 5, part 7, part 13, and part 14 of this chapter do not apply on non-federally owned lands and waters or on Indian tribal trust lands located within National Park System boundaries, except as provided in paragraph (a) or in regulations specifically written to be applicable on such lands and waters. (c) The regulations contained in part 7 and part 13 of this chapter are special regulations prescribed for specific park areas. Those regulations may amend, modify, relax or make more stringent the regulations contained in parts 1 through 5 and part 12 of this chapter. (d) The regulations contained in parts 2 through 5, part 7, part 13, and part 14 of this section shall not be construed to prohibit administrative activities conducted by the National Park Service, or its agents, in accordance with approved general management and resource management plans, or in emergency operations involving threats to life, property, or park resources. (e) The regulations in this chapter are intended to treat a mobility-impaired person using a manual or motorized wheelchair as a pedestrian, and are not intended to restrict the activities of such a person beyond the degree that the activities of a pedestrian are restricted by the same regulations. (f) In Alaska, unless otherwise provided, only the public lands (federally owned lands) within Park area boundaries are deemed a part of that Park area, and non-public lands (including state, Native, and other non-federally owned lands, including submerged lands and the waters flowing over them) shall not be regulated as part of the National Park System. [51 FR 37010, Oct. 17, 1986, as amended at 52 FR 10683, Apr. 2, 1987; 52 FR 35239, Sept. 18, 1987; 61 FR 35136, July 5, 1996; 85 FR 72961, Nov. 16, 2020; 89 FR 96550, Dec. 5, 2024] § 1.3 Penalties. (a) A person convicted of violating a provision of the regulations contained in parts 1 through 7, part 9 subpart B, and parts 12, 13, and 14 of this chapter shall be subject to the criminal penalties provided under 18 U.S.C. 1865. (b) [Reserved] [83 FR 26595, June 8, 2018, as amended at 89 FR 96550, Dec. 5, 2024] § 1.4 What terms do I need to know? Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 52032, Aug. 12, 2026. (a) The following definitions shall apply to this chapter, unless modified by the definitions for a specific part or regulation: Abandonment Administrative activities Airboat Aircraft Archeological resource Authorized emergency vehicle Authorized person Bicycle Boundary Camping Carry Controlled substance Cultural resource Developed area Director Dive flag Downed aircraft Electric bicycle (1) “Class 1 electric bicycle” shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. (2) “Class 2 electric bicycle” shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. (3) “Class 3 electric bicycle” shall mean an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Firearm Fish Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Fishing Flat wake speed Harbor Hunting Legislative jurisdiction Manned submersible Manual wheelchair Motorcycle Motorized wheelchair Motor vehicle National Park System Net Nondeveloped area Operator Other Federal reservations in the environs of the District of Columbia Pack animal Park area. National Park System Park road Permit Person Personal watercraft Pet Possession Power-driven vessel Practitioner Public use limit Refuse Regional Director Sailing vessel Secretary Services Sewage Smoking Snowmobile State State law Superintendent Take taking Traffic Traffic control device Trap Trapping Underwater diving Underway Unloaded, (2) A muzzle-loading weapon does not contain gun powder in the pan, or the percussion cap is not in place; and (3) Bows, crossbows, spear guns or any implement capable of discharging a missile or similar device by means of a loading or discharging mechanism, when that loading or discharging mechanism is not charged or drawn. Un-manned submersible Vehicle Vessel Weapon Wildlife (b) In addition to the definitions in paragraph (a), for the purpose of the regulations contained in parts 3 and 7 of this chapter, the definitions pertaining to navigation, navigable waters and shipping enumerated in title 14 United States Code, title 33 Code of Federal Regulations, title 46 Code of Federal Regulations, title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Boating Safety Act of 1971, and the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980, shall apply for boating and water activities. [48 FR 30275, June 30, 1983, as amended at 49 FR 18449, Apr. 30, 1984; 51 FR 37011, Oct. 17, 1986; 52 FR 10683, Apr. 2, 1987; 60 FR 55790, Nov. 3, 1995; 61 FR 35136, July 5, 1996; 62 FR 30234, June 3, 1997; 65 FR 15089, Mar. 21, 2000; 72 FR 13702, Mar. 23, 2007; 85 FR 69188, Nov. 2, 2020] § 1.5 Closures and public use limits. (a) Consistent with applicable legislation and Federal administrative policies, and based upon a determination that such action is necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety, protection of environmental or scenic values, protection of natural or cultural resources, aid to scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, equitable allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities, the superintendent may: (1) Establish, for all or a portion of a park area, a reasonable schedule of visiting hours, impose public use limits, or close all or a portion of a park area to all public use or to a specific use or activity. (2) Designate areas for a specific use or activity, or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity. (3) Terminate a restriction, limit, closure, designation, condition, or visiting hour restriction imposed under paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section. (b) Except in emergency situations, a closure, designation, use or activity restriction or condition, or the termination or relaxation of such, which is of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a significant alteration in the public use pattern of the park area, adversely affect the park's natural, aesthetic, scenic or cultural values, require a long-term or significant modification in the resource management objectives of the unit, or is of a highly controversial nature, shall be published as rulemaking in the Federal Register. (c) Except in emergency situations, prior to implementing or terminating a restriction, condition, public use limit or closure, the superintendent shall prepare a written determination justifying the action. That determination shall set forth the reason(s) the restriction, condition, public use limit or closure authorized by paragraph (a) has been established, and an explanation of why less restrictive measures will not suffice, or in the case of a termination of a restriction, condition, public use limit or closure previously established under paragraph (a), a determination as to why the restriction is no longer necessary and a finding that the termination will not adversely impact park resources. This determination shall be available to the public upon request. (d) To implement a public use limit, the superintendent may establish a permit, registration, or reservation system. Permits shall be issued in accordance with the criteria and procedures of § 1.6 of this chapter. (e) Except in emergency situations, the public will be informed of closures, designations, and use or activity restrictions or conditions, visiting hours, public use limits, public use limit procedures, and the termination or relaxation of such, in accordance with § 1.7 of this chapter. (f) Violating a closure, designation, use or activity restriction or condition, schedule of visiting hours, or public use limit is prohibited. [48 FR 30275, June 30, 1983, as amended at 51 FR 29470, Aug. 18, 1986] § 1.6 Permits. (a) When authorized by regulations set forth in this chapter, the superintendent may issue a permit to authorize an otherwise prohibited or restricted activity or impose a public use limit. The activity authorized by a permit shall be consistent with applicable legislation, Federal regulations and administrative policies, and based upon a determination that public health and safety, environmental or scenic values, natural or cultural resources, scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, proper allocation and use of facilities, or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities will not be adversely impacted. (b) Except as otherwise provided, application for a permit shall be submitted to the superintendent during normal business hours. (c) The public will be informed of the existence of a permit requirement in accordance with § 1.7 of this chapter. (d) Unless otherwise provided for by the regulations in this chapter, the superintendent shall deny a permit that has been properly applied for only upon a determination that the designated capacity for an area or facility would be exceeded; or that one or more of the factors set forth in paragraph (a) of this section would be adversely impacted. The basis for denial shall be provided to the applicant upon request. (e) The superintendent shall include in a permit the terms and conditions that the superintendent deems necessary to protect park resources or public safety and may also include terms or conditions established pursuant to the authority of any other section of this chapter. (f) A compilation of those activities requiring a permit shall be maintained by the superintendent and available to the public upon request. (g) The following are prohibited: (1) Engaging in an activity subject to a permit requirement imposed pursuant to this section without obtaining a permit; or (2) Violating a term or condition of a permit issued pursuant to this section. (h) Violating a term or condition of a permit issued pursuant to this section may also result in the suspension or revocation of the permit by the superintendent. [48 FR 30275, June 30, 1983, as amended at 51 FR 29470, Aug. 18, 1986] § 1.7 Public notice. (a) Whenever the authority of § 1.5(a) is invoked to restrict or control a public use or activity, to relax or revoke an existing restriction or control, to designate all or a portion of a park area as open or closed, or to require a permit to implement a public use limit, the public shall be notified by one or more of the following methods: (1) Signs posted at conspicuous locations, such as normal points of entry and reasonable intervals along the boundary of the affected park locale. (2) Maps available in the office of the superintendent and other places convenient to the public. (3) Publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area. (4) Other appropriate methods, such as the removal of closure signs, use of electronic media, park brochures, maps and handouts. (b) In addition to the above-described notification procedures, the superintendent shall compile in writing all the designations, closures, permit requirements and other restrictions imposed under discretionary authority. This compilation shall be updated annually and made available to the public upon request. § 1.8 Information collection. The information collection requirements contained in §§ 1.5, 2.4, 2.5, 2.10 2.12, 2.17, 2.33, 2.38, 2.50, 2.51, 2.52, 2.60, 2.61, 2.62, 3.3, 3.4, 4.4 and 4.11 have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., [52 FR 10683, Apr. 2, 1987] § 1.10 Symbolic signs. (a) The signs pictured below provide general information and regulatory guidance in park areas. Certain of the signs designate activities that are either allowed or prohibited. Activities symbolized by a sign bearing a slash mark are prohibited. (b) The use of other types of signs not herein depicted is not precluded. [48 FR 30275, June 30, 1983, as amended at 61 FR 46556, Sept. 4, 1996]