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Fall 2024 Surface Lease Auction Schedule

The Department of Trust Lands Surface Division, on behalf of the Board of University and School Lands will hold Fall Surface Lease Auctions Tuesday, October 1st through Thursday October 24th . Once the list of tracts to be offered for Surface Lease Auction are finalized they will be posted to this website and advertised in the official county newspapers.

The following Minerals Management Division fees have been changed or eliminated as follows:

Minerals Management Division Fee                                Amount/Per
Oil & Gas Lease Nomination Fee                                         $0.00    
Oil & Gas Lease Application Fee (upon winning lease)       $50.00/tract
Oil & Gas Lease Assignment Fee                                         $0.00    
Oil & Gas Lease Extension/Amendment Application Fee    $1,000.00/lease
Oil & Gas Lease Shut-in Application Fee                             $100.00/lease
Coal Lease Assignment Fee                                                 $0.00    
Coal Lease Amendment, Renewal Request Fee                   $0.00    

The Most Recent Survey - 2024 County Rents and Prices Survey

Last Year's Survey - 2023 County Rents and Prices Survey

Past Surveys can be found under the Resources tab.

The most recent Department of Trust Lands' Biennial Report is now available! - 2021-2023 Biennial Report

To view the Department's historical reports please visit Resources - Biennial Reports.

Watch the Red Tape Reduction video here

Public input is now being accepted for the second round of Gov. Doug Burgum’s Red Tape Reduction initiative aimed at eliminating unnecessary and outdated regulations, rules, policies and procedures to make government more efficient and effective and help lower costs for taxpayers, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller announced today.

Help reduce State red tape and submit your suggestions here - Red Tape Reduction Working Group | North Dakota Office of the Governor (nd.gov)

Nearly $500M to be distributed to K-12 from Common Schools Trust Fund this biennium, easing pressure on property taxes and state’s general fund

BISMARCK, N.D. (JULY 27, 2023) –The state of North Dakota collected a record $522.5 million in oil and gas royalties paid on state-owned mineral acres during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, according to information presented today to the North Dakota Board of University and School Lands (Land Board). This is on top of a previous record of $457 million in fiscal year 2021-22...

View Full Press Release

At the Board of University & School Lands regular April meeting the Department of Trust Lands (DTL) presented an overview of the trusts and funds they manage, including the upcoming 2023-2025 distributions to our beneficiaries, to showcase the contribution these distributions make towards the beneficiaries' budgetary needs.

DTL 2023-2025 Trusts and Funds Summary

The Department of Trust Lands on behalf of the Board of University and School Lands completed spring surface lease auctions in March.   

2023 Spring Surface Lease Auction Results

Unleased Tracts Available for Lease

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ND EDUCATION THROUGH LEASING OF SCHOOL TRUST LANDS.

NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Unclaimed Property Day is back to return money to citizens of North Dakota

Search for your cash at unclaimedproperty.nd.gov

BISMARCK, N.D. (JAN. 31, 2023) – Nearly 33 million people in the United States – 1 in every 10 – has what the industry calls unclaimed property: financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for a number of years. When that happens, and the company cannot locate the owner, the money or properties are submitted to the state. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, and uncashed checks...

Full Press Release

North Dakota Land Board Announces Successful Completion of Missouri River Acreage Adjustment Project - Part II

BISMARCK, N.D. (DEC. 19, 2022) – The North Dakota Board of University and School Lands (Land Board) today announced full completion of the Missouri River Acreage Adjustment Project, which in total returned a net of approximately $130 million to North Dakota private mineral owners and oil and gas operators...

View full press release

North Dakota Land Board Announces Successful Completion of Missouri River Acreage Adjustment Project - Part I

BISMARCK, N.D. (OCT. 4, 2022) – The North Dakota Board of University and School Lands (Land Board) today announced the successful completion of Part I of the River Acreage Adjustment Project, which returned a net of approximately $120 million to North Dakota private mineral owners and oil and gas operators….

Fall 2022 Surface Division Newsletter is now available

The most recent Department of Trust Lands' Biennial Report - 2019 - 2021 Biennial Report

For the Department's historical reports please visit https://www.land.nd.gov/resources/biennial-reports.