Public land mining claim fees and waivers due Sept. 2

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management reminds claimants who wish to retain mining claims on public lands through the 2026 assessment year to pay a Maintenance Fee or file a Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification (Small Miner’s Waiver) on or before Sept. 2, to prevent the mining claim from being declared forfeit and void.

Courtesy Mining Claims Packets are available online or upon request through the California State Office, Information Access Center (Public Room). The BLM will not be mailing packets, unless requested.

The Maintenance Fee for a Lode Claim, Tunnel Site, or Mill Site is $200 per claim or site. For Placer Claims only, the fees are $200 for every 20 acres or portion thereof. Claimants who file the 2026 Small Miner's Waiver will be required to file an Affidavit of Annual Assessment Work (Proof of Labor) form including the required $15 processing fee per claim on or before Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

The California State Office Public Room is open to in-person visits; however, the BLM encourages submission of mining claims by mail or online.

• Mail: Checks must be pre-printed showing the address, with recommended Certified Mail being the preferred method of shipment, to Bureau of Land Management-CASO, ATTN: Accounts/Mining, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1623, Sacramento, CA 95825. Payments or filings by mail must be postmarked on or before Tues, Sept. 2, 2025.
• Phone: For Maintenance Fees Only: Call 916-978-4400 to pay with a credit card by telephone.
• Online: Visit the BLM’s Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS) payment portal to make payment with a credit card. Note: The Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification (Small Miner’s Waiver) cannot be filed on MLRS due to original signatures needed; please submit in-person or through the mail. 
• In-person: claimants who wish to make filings and payments via mail or in-person must make their filing to the proper BLM State Office for the state where the mining claims or sites are located. Check the website for times and telephone numbers for BLM Public Room hours.

For information on the filing deadlines, maintenance fees, Maintenance Fee Waiver Certifications, or Federal Land Policy and Management Act filings (Affidavit of Annual Assessment Work or Notice of Intent to Hold) please call the Information Access Center (CA Public Room) at 916-978-4400 or visit the BLM California Public Room website.

To review mining claim fees, please visit the website. Please note the website states the fees are due on or before Sept. 1; however, Sept. 1, 2025, falls on a Monday this year, which is a federal holiday.  Therefore, the deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.