Obtaining Land from the Bureau of Land Management
What is the Bureau of Land Management?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the U.S.
Department of the Interior, manages 264 million acres of public lands found primarily in
the Western United States, and 564 million acres of subsurface mineral estate located
throughout the country. Originally, the public lands were valued principally for the
commodities extracted from them, including minerals and livestock forage; today, the
public also prizes them for their recreation opportunities and the natural, historical,
and cultural resources they contain. Additionally, at a time of unprecedented growth in
the Western States, the public lands are one of the last guarantees of open space, a key
factor in the West’s lifestyle.
Am I entitled to free land from the BLM?
No. While that was true at one time, there is no free land.
Congress abolished homesteading in 1976 with passage of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act, which made it national policy to retain the public lands in Federal
ownership. Today, the BLM manages the public lands for all Americans, who enjoy numerous
benefits from these lands, including recreational opportunities, such as camping, hiking,
hunting, and fishing.
I have seen an advertisement that says I can obtain
low-cost land from the BLM. Is this true?
No. The BLM occasionally sells land – but only at fair
market value, as required by law. The advertisement by private companies not associated
with the Federal government may ask you to send in money for information about how to buy
land for $1.25 an acre (or a similarly low figure). The BLM recommends that you read
carefully any advertisement on this subject and be cautious about sending money. The BLM
will provide you free and accurate information about land sales.
What about Desert Land
Entry?
On March 3, 1877,
the Desert Land Act was passed by Congress to encourage and promote the
economic development of the arid and semiarid public lands of the Western
United States. Through the Act, individuals may apply for a desert-land
entry to reclaim, irrigate, and cultivate arid and semiarid public lands.
How does the BLM select land that might be sold?
Through its land-use planning process, the BLM identifies
parcels of land for potential sale that fall into one of the following categories:
scattered and isolated tracts that are difficult or
uneconomical to manage;
tracts acquired by the BLM for a specific purpose that are no
longer needed for that purpose; or
land where disposal will serve important public objectives,
such as community expansion and economic development.
However, the growing cities and towns of the West are
spreading closer or even next to once-remote BLM-managed public lands. As a result, the
public in general – and Westerners in particular – appreciate the open space
guaranteed by BLM, which means that the agency considers its land sales even more
carefully than in the past.
May I select a specific parcel of BLM-managed public
land that I am interested in purchasing?
No. You may bid only for those parcels that the BLM has
decided to sell on a competitive-bid basis.
Are there any lands for sale in the East?
No. Sales of BLM managed lands take place only in the Western
States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
Utah, and Wyoming.
Does the BLM sell buildings?
No. The General Services Administration administers the sale
of all surplus Federal property.
I heard that I could get land if I have a mining
claim. Is that true?
No not at this time. Although current law allows you to stake
a mining claim on Federal lands that are open to mineral entry, beginning in 1994 and in
each subsequent year, Congress declared a moratorium on applying for a mineral patent to a
properly located and recorded mining claim. While this moratorium is in effect, the BLM
cannot accept mineral patent applications. You may obtain further information on locating
mining claims from any BLM State Office.
How can I get a copy of a land or mineral patent?
You may obtain microfilm copies of land and mineral patents
from any BLM State Office Information Center at a cost of $1.10 per page. In addition,
some land patent records are available for selected states on the BLM’s Web site http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/
How can I get additional information?
You should contact your local BLM office. You can obtain the
address from the BLM’s Web site http://www.blm.gov )
or call (202) 452-5125.
Or contact our Utah BLM Information
Access Center
Public_Room_UT_State_Office@ut.blm.gov
Bureau of Land Management
Information Access Center (UT-942)
Utah State Office
PO Box 45155
Salt Lake City, Utah 84145
(Street Address: 324 South State 4th Floor)
Phone: (801) 539-4001
Hours: 8:00 to 4:00
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