Mining Claim Fees
How to file your documents and pay your fees
Documentation and fee details are listed below. Claimants (except for claims and sites in Alaska) may file documents other than maintenance fee waivers, and pay their annual maintenance fee as well as processing fees for other documents online through the Mineral & Land Records System (MLRS). This site is available 24 hours a day. MLRS provides the ability to file new claims and sites online, and file documents such as amendments, transfers of interest, affidavits of assessment work and notices of intent to hold. When you have entered the new claims or sites for which you wish to pay, or the claim/site actions you wish to file, MLRS then transfers the action to Pay.gov for secure payment.
Claimants who wish to make their filings and payments via mail or in person must make their filing to the proper BLM state office for the state where the claims or sites are located.
Alaska Claimants must pay their fees at the BLM Alaska State Office or the Fairbanks District Office in-person or by mail. Contact the BLM Alaska State Office for mailing addresses and other details.
Mining Claim and Site Filing Requirements for 2025 Assessments
FEES - NEW CLAIMS FILED ON OR AFTER September 1, 2024
| Claim Type | DOCUMENT NEEDED | DATE DUE | PER CLAIM FEE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lode Claims, Mill Sites, and Tunnel Sites | Notice of Location | Within 90 calendar days after the date of claim location. |
Processing Fee – $25 |
| Placer Claims | Notice of Location | Within 90 calendar days after the date of claim location. | Processing Fee - $25 Location Fee - $49 Maintenance Fee - $200 for each 20 acres or portion thereof |
Note: For claims located PRIOR to September 1, or the end of one assessment year but filed with the BLM ON OR AFTER September 1, the beginning of the next assessment year, maintenance fees are charged for both assessment years, unless a valid waiver is filed with the new locations, for the assessment year beginning after the location of the claim. Processing, location, and initial maintenance fees must be paid, in full, at time of filing.
MAINTENANCE FEES - EXISTING CLAIMS
| DOCUMENT NEEDED | DATE DUE | PER CLAIM FEE |
|---|---|---|
| A listing of each claim name and associated BLM serial number (Forms 3830-5 and 3830-5a - Placers may be used) | On or before September 1 |
$200 for lode claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites. For placer claims, $200 for each 20 acres or portion thereof. |
WAIVER FROM PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES FOR EXISTING CLAIMS
To qualify for a maintenance fee waiver, each claimant and all related parties must own 10 or fewer claims– nationwide.
| DOCUMENT NEEDED | DATE DUE | PROCESSING FEE |
|---|---|---|
| Form 3830-2 Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification | On or before September 1 |
None |
| Affidavit of Assessment 1 | On or before December 30 | $15 per claim |
| Notice of Intent to Hold 2 | On or before December 30 | $15 per claim |
1. An Affidavit of Assessment, along with the appropriate processing fee, may be submitted with the Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification.
2. Notice of Intent to Hold – Must be filed for the first calendar year claim(s) are located or the first instance a waiver form is filed. May be submitted with the Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification.
TRANSFER OF INTEREST/AMENDED NOTICE OF LOCATION
| DOCUMENT NEEDED | DATE DUE | PROCESSING FEE |
|---|---|---|
| Quit Claim Deed (QCD) or other type of transfer document 3 | N/A |
$15 per claim per transferee |
| Amended Notice of Location 3 | Within 90 days after recording the amended notice in the state local recorder's office | $15 per claim per amendment |
3. NOTE – QCDs and amendments MUST FIRST be recorded with the state recorder’s office before filing with the BLM unless your state does not require QCDs to be recorded.