Public Land Sales

The BLM is authorized to dispose of land by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. This act repealed homesteading laws and requires that public lands which are sold must be sold at fair market value. The lands to be sold are typically small, isolated tracts; some have public roads leading to them and some do not.

Before any lands can be offered for sale, they must be reviewed through our land use planning process. This process identifies lands for disposal, as well as which lands should be retained. Land exchanges are the preferred method for disposal of public lands identified as unsuitable for continued management and for acquisition of key non-federal lands.

Our office administers the states of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Public land disposals/sales are administered through our field offices. There has not been a public land sale in Montana in the past several years and no sales are anticipated in the near future; therefore, the field offices in Montana do not maintain a mailing list for notification. The North Dakota Field Office has had occasional land sales within the past few years and they do maintain a mailing list at this time. Please contact their office to be put on a mailing list for lands in North and South Dakota. Refer to the map showing office boundaries to go to that office's home page. Please contact the appropriate field office(s) for further information on public lands for disposal within their area of jurisdiction.

Our office often receives inquiries regarding other types of land sales:

Tax Land - BLM has no jurisdiction over tax delinquent lands. Information about tax-delinquent lands can be furnished by the County Recorder's Office in the county in which the lands are located.
State-Owned Land - Information about disposal of state-owned lands can be obtained from the Department of State Lands in the state in which the lands are located.
Surplus Land- Sale of so-called "surplus lands" is handled by the General Services Administration (GSA) in Washington, D.C. BLM has no "surplus land."