Leases, Licenses & Easements

When does the DNR lease state land?

Leases are issued for the following types of activities:

• Removal of dirt, rock, sand, gravel, and clay;
• Agriculture purposes such as hay, pasture, and cropland;
• Cooperative farming to aid wildlife and plant management;
• Commercial purposes such as retail, parking lots, mining facilities, and manufacturing facilities;
• Government purposes such as local government parks, trails, monitoring stations, and dry wells; and
• Miscellaneous purposes such as road right-of-ways, tile outlets, and storage sites.

What is the process for requesting a state lease?

Contact the DNR's Division of Lands and Minerals Regional Operations staff in your area for further assistance. They will refer you to the DNR staff responsible for managing the land. A request to lease state land is reviewed to determine if the proposed use conflicts with the resource management objectives of the land. State leases will have a maximum term of ten years, with some lease types limited to two years. Agricultural leases and cooperative farming agreements will usually have a term of three years or less. Most leases are usually renewed upon the expiration of the lease term, provided that the continued use does not conflict with the current resource management objectives.

A lease fee is charged based either on a fee schedule or a percentage of the appraised value of the land.

Do I need permission to construct a road across state land administered by the DNR to access my property?

Yes, you must have either a lease or an easement issued by the state. An easement grants a long term right to use or occupy the land for a specific purpose, while a lease has a limited term but may cover the same type of activity.

The DNR is not required to issue easements upon request. For requests from individuals, state law provides that an easement may be issued only if there is no reasonable alternative for access and the easement use will not cause significant adverse environmental or natural resource management impacts. If the state-owned land is trust fund land, state law provides that the easement can only be issued to local units of government, not to individuals.

What is the process for requesting an easement?

It is recommended that you first contact the Lands and Minerals Regional Operations staff to review issues concerning land ownership, planned routes, and existing resource management uses. The DNR often requests that the proposed easement be realigned to minimize impacts.

Find information and application materials on the road crossing easements page

Easement fees are based on a percentage of the appraised value of the area covered by the easement, plus an application fee of $2000.

Do I need permission to install a utility line across state land or public water?

Yes, a license must be obtained from the DNR for the passage of any utility over, under, or across any state land or public water. Public waters are any water bodies (lakes, rivers, and some wetlands) identified as such on the Protected Waters and Wetlands Maps. These maps were produced on a county-by-county basis and are available for download from the Public Waters Inventory Maps portion of this web site, or from Minnesota's Bookstore.

Utility lines cover:

• telephone, fiber optic, electrical or other lines, cables or conduits; and
• pipelines or mains for gases, liquids, or suspended solids.

What is the process for requesting a utility crossing license?

It is recommended that you first contact the Lands and Minerals Regional Operations staff to review issues concerning land ownership, planned routes, and existing resource management uses. The department may request that the proposed location of the license be realigned to minimize impacts.

Find information and application materials on the utility crossing licenses page

There is an application fee for each license, and a one-time crossing fee which is either based on a fee table or the appraised value of the land. A monitoring fee may also be assessed to ensure proper construction.

May I lease state land for a lake home site or hunting cabin?

No, the DNR does not issue new leases for residential homes, seasonal cabins, or hunting purposes. In 1973, the legislature directed that no new leases be issued for these purposes. There are state hunting cabin leases still in effect. These leases are non-transferable, but they are continuing to be renewed for the current lessees.

The DNR had a large lakeshore leasing program. The legislature directed the sale or exchange of these properties, and only three leases now remain in effect. Those leases, at Horseshoe Bay in Cook County, are non-transferable but may remain in effect for the life of the lessee.

More information

Contact your Division of Lands and Minerals Regional Operations staff for more information.