The State of Connecticut waited until there were at least 1000 boxes (seriously) hiding behind all those rocks in the state parks and a good chunk of their park staff was getting laid off due to budget cuts and then said, hey, we would like you all to get permits. And most state boxers went, "um, no, that ship has sailed." I think I know one or two boxers that have ever bothered with permits. Because it's not just a permit. You're supposed to go check your box once a year, and put a special sticker on it, and tell them exactly where you want to plant it BEFORE you plant it so they can go check the spot first, meaning you have to go to the park twice. And then they have planting guidelines that their own state letterboxes don't even meet. Like they have state letterboxes in historic structures and in stone walls. And this is all in a state that was mostly clear-cut and covered with sheep about 100 years ago. The land here is not that delicate.

Geocaching has a permit system is several states. Those state parks require a fee - some as high at $50 per box! And they are only good for a couple of years!

I still follow the rules from when I started in 2002:
1- plant anywhere.
2- don't get caught.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that's still mad about that ~snickers~ . Most letterboxers plant more respectfully than those state letterboxes are hidden.

West Virginia state parks have sanctioned Geo Caches. I have thought about asking them to add letterboxing. You are required to explain how to find the Cache and get a yearly renewal to maintain it.