Permits and Fees
User fees help the District continue to provide clean, well-maintained areas, allowing you to enjoy your leisure hours in the beautiful setting of our forest preserves. It is hoped that these fees will defray costs in the most equitable and realistic manner possible.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has traditionally spent tax revenue to provide access to recreational use areas including parking, signage, drinking water, latrines, mowed turf areas, picnic tables, trash receptacles and visitor protection services. When preserve users desire facilities beyond those "basics" that are routinely provided, they have been asked to pay a user fee to help defray the growing cost of operation.
The District operates on a combined tax levy of assessed property value. Ever-rising costs set against a mandated tax cap impose strict limits on facilities operated and recreational services rendered by the District.
Therefore, the Forest Preserve Commission strongly believes that those who personally benefit from these special facilities or services should accept a larger share of the costs than the general tax-paying public of DuPage County. Similarly, the commissioners feel that non-county residents should also pay a higher fee for using DuPage County's facilities. In this way, taxes can be kept down.