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Utah State Parks outlines new event permit pricing, web portal and law‑enforcement billing changes
Summary
State Parks presented a standardized pricing menu for special‑use permits at Sand Hollow and statewide, plans an online permit portal and clarified that law enforcement previously embedded in parks is now billed through the division of law enforcement.
Utah State Parks staff presented a new, statewide special‑use permit pricing menu May 23 and described work under way to move permits to a web‑based portal and clarify how parks bill for event support.
Deputy Director Chris Horimoto and assistant Sand Hollow manager Josh Del Monte said the pricing menu is designed to make event fees transparent and consistent across state parks. The menu breaks fees into standard park entry, campsite reservations, location use (for example OHV staging areas or beaches), manager time and third‑party services such as vendor review. The menu also shows optional discounts for social‑media publicity and community benefit from events.
Horimoto said the changes aim to reduce uncertainty for event organizers and to ensure parks are compensated when an event displaces paying customers. Josh Del Monte walked the council through Sand Hollow’s draft tool: event organizers could create an account, specify attendees, campsites and locations, and receive an instant fee estimate. Parks plan to accept electronic payments through the portal to reduce delays associated with mailed checks.
Law‑enforcement billing is also changing: rangers formerly embedded in State Parks are now part of the Division of Law Enforcement. Park permit reviews will notify the law‑enforcement organizers when events are large or complex and services may be needed; state parks anticipate billing law‑enforcement costs through the special‑use permit process for now. Horimoto said that could change in future fiscal years.
Organizers and council members raised specific questions: the division’s role administering SITLA (School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration) access fees outside parks; multi‑year reservations for recurring major events; and how camping reserve windows interact with event organizers. Sand Hollow staff said they will continue working with the SITLA office and local stakeholders and will share contacts and pricing guidance; staff also said they are exploring ways to reserve campsites more than four months ahead for major recurring events.
Why it matters: The new menu and online portal are intended to speed approvals, clarify event costs, and reduce risk for parks and organizers. For OHV tourism and large events that account for substantial local economic activity, faster, clearer permitting and billing may reduce conflicts with local businesses, sheriffs’ offices and other stakeholders.
Next steps: State Parks plans to pilot the portal and menu at Sand Hollow and aims for an October launch. Staff will publish the draft menu and contact information for follow‑up and said they welcome input from the OHV committee.
