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About NFH

Mission Statement

"National Forest Homeowners is a member-directed organization representing cabin-owner recreation residence permittees on our national forests. NFH provides leadership, member information and assistance, and advocacy for continuation of all recreation residence cabins.  It is dedicated to educating its members and others in sound science stewardship of our national forests."

Call To Action

Problems with the Interpretation of the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act

Cabin Coalition 2 Update

The Recreation Residence Program was established under the Organic Administration Act of 1897.  On March 4, 1915 the Occupancy Permits Act authorized long-term permits (up to 30 years) to encourage public use, private investment and the building of cabins on the National Forest. 
This was among the earliest recreation programs in the National Forests and, for more than 100 years, has provided a forest experience for multiple generations of entire families, their friends, children, the elderly and the physically handicapped.  Ninety years later, this particular form of recreation is regularly stated as a “valid use” of National Forest System lands1.   Sadly, however, today in many National Forests this congressionally accepted “valid use,” is being threatened. 
In 1969, in exchange for 20 year permits, the Forest Service set up a system of appraisals to establish lot values and the annual special use fee, set at 5% of that appraised value.  The system of appraisal changed little until recently.  The 5% has remained constant, reportedly reflecting historical application going back into the late 1800’s.  However, we believe it does not reflect the realities of today’s market forces.
In the late 1990’s problems with the appraisal process became very evident.  One lot appraisal came in as high as $600,000 resulting in an annual fee of $30,000.  Several national, state and local cabin associations became organized to address these problems.   A Cabin Coalition was formed and, with the help of three prominent legislators and much input from coalition members, corrective legislation was proposed and passed by Congress into law. 
The Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 (CUFFA) was intended to provide a fair, market-based appraisal of lot values that would result in a ‘fair fee’ for cabin permits on the National Forests.  This necessitated recognizing the full impact of the Forest Service permit restrictions, as well as regional and local restrictions, on market values. 
CUFFA was supposed to do this and we believe that was the intent of Congress.  However, adjusting for permit restrictions within the appraisal has been disallowed by the Forest Service.  Furthermore, we are convinced the ‘reduced fee,’ 5% of fee simple market value, does not fully account for the negative impact of all of those restrictions on the use of the lot.  This is the heart of the problem.

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Who We Are

National Forest Homeowners (NFH) is the largest organization of its kind in the United States.  With over 40 years of history and more than 5,000 members in all 24 states where Special Use Recreation Residences exist on National Forest lands.  NFH is a national and regional advocate for the cabin program.  NFH's professional staff and volunteer board of directors keep cabin owners informed on the issues they face and facilitate access to Forest Service Staff.  NFH is dedicated to protecting and preserving the cabin program well into the future.

NFH also acts as a watchdog, alerting and communicating to members upcoming forest policy changes and other important issues, sometimes before they become common knowledge.  Without NFH, cabin owners may not learn of these issues until it is too late to have any meaningful influence.

Since 1962, NFH has assisted permit holders with numerous issues involving their cabins.  Members receive a quarterly newsletter covering topics of interest and concern to permit holders.  Important issues are presented and analyzed, and courses of action are recommended.  In addition, regional forums and an annual convention provide materials and knowledge to empower members to better influence policy and legislation.  Members also have the ability to draw on the resources and political clout of the entire organization when issues such as new fee regulations, forest planning or permit renewals arise.  It's true that there is strength in numbers, and when you join NFH, you join over 5,000 like-minded cabin owners.