WELCOME TO THE NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRUST LANDS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN FUNDING K-12 EDUCATION IN NORTH DAKOTA
UPCOMING EVENTS
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The next Department of Trust Lands oil & gas lease auction will open October 6, 2026. Bidding will close October 13, 2026.
To nominate a tract for the auction, please visit our new customer portal.
The nomination deadline is August 21, 2026.
The State of North Dakota, acting by and through the Board of University and School Lands and its agent, the Commissioner of University and School Lands (Commissioner), hereby gives notice that sealed bids will be received for the purchase of 204,546 cubic yards of stockpiled construction aggregate material and for a five-year gravel lease on the following described tract in Williams County, North Dakota. Sealed bids must be received at the Office of the Commissioner, 1707 N. 9th Street, Bismarck, ND 58501, no later than 5:00 p.m. CT on October 20, 2026. Sealed bids will be opened and reviewed on October 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CT at the Williams County Courthouse, Commissioner’s Room, 205 E Broadway, Williston, ND 58802.
Additional Information:
Former Crushed Rock Sales (Location Map)
RECENT NEWS
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The tracts listed in the pdf below are available to lease with the Department of Trust Lands on a first come first serve basis for minimum rent. The tracts listed were offered in the Spring of 2026 at public auction and were not leased. To lease any of the available tracts please contact the Department at 701-328-2800 or email dtlsurface@nd.gov.
The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act (Act) stands to benefit both the State of North Dakota and the Native American Tribes within the state. Through a series of treaties—including the Fort Laramie Treaties of 1851 and 1868—the United States guaranteed Native American tribes defined territories, protection, and economic support. Although these treaties emphasized tribal land rights, subsequent federal policies such as the General Allotment (Dawes) Act, land sales, and major infrastructure projects significantly reduced tribal landholdings and altered many original commitments.
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The Most Recent Survey - 2026 County Rents and Prices Survey
Last Year's Survey - 2025 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! - 2023-25 Biennial Report
To view the Department's historical reports please visit Resources - Biennial Reports.
The 69th Legislative Assembly passed new legislation to empower the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, Unclaimed Property Division to automatically return unclaimed property to the rightful owner, eliminating the necessity for certain owners to file a claim.
Under the new program, the Unclaimed Property Division can automatically return single-owner property with a value up to $1000. This innovative initiative compares the state’s unclaimed property database with verified automated tools to secure updated address information. Upon strict verification, the Unclaimed Property Division simply mails a check for the qualified matching property. No additional action is required by the owner, except of course, cashing the check!
Unclaimed Property may include various types of assets such as inactive bank accounts, uncashed checks, refunds, securities, unpaid wages, and insurance policy proceeds. This newly launched program is designed to simplify the process of returning unclaimed funds to owners while reducing paperwork, free of charge.
If you receive a letter, there is no action required, other than expecting a check in approximately 45 days. If you do not receive a letter, visit our website https://unclaimedproperty.nd.gov to see if we may holding any funds that may belong to you. If you lived in any other states, visit www.missingmoney.com to search every state’s database at once.