Available Real Estate
The bureau's Real Estate Services Section is responsible for sales, exchanges, and grants associated with management of over 5.1 million acres of Trust Lands. The Right-of-Way Section manages requests for rights-of-way through State lands and reciprocal access when needed to manage State land which is otherwise landlocked.
The Property Management Section manages the leasing program and formulates a programmatic plan for development of special uses on state land. The leasing program includes commercial developments, new leases such as wind farms, existing homesite leases, and short-term land use and recreation licenses. The bureau is also responsible for assisting other agencies with management of their land. MCA 77-2-351 allows the state to transfer non-trust lands to local governments in exchange for a commitment that the property be used for a continuing public purpose.
Licensing
To reduce duplicative permitting by DNRC and County Conservation Districts. This policy represents a revision of previous DNRC river licensing policy as it narrows the scope of projects which require DNRC authorization.
Amended Policy for Licensing Structures In, Over, Below or Above Navigable Waterways (pdf)
Property Sales, Purchases, and Land Banking
Land Sales and Purchases
The 2003 Legislature passed House Bill 223, which enables the Board of Land Commissioners to sell parcels of state trust land and purchase replacement land.In September 2004, the Board of Land Commissioners gave final approval to the Land Banking Rules, under which the trust land lessees received information from the department describing how they could nominate their leases for sale. Nominations were accepted between October 1, 2004, and January 31, 2005. Nominations were received for the sale of approximately 118,858 acres of trust land, of which 24,503 acres received preliminary approval for sale by the Board of Land Commissioners. In addition to selling land, the department will acquire land to replace that which is sold. Land acquired must meet specific requirement for income generation and accessibility to the public, among other desirable characteristics. Information on the Land Banking Program is available at: www.dnrc.mt.gov/trust/land_banking/about.asp
