Guide to Federal Government Sales Department of Interior

Back to the Table of Contents

Department of Interior

Bureau of Land Management

What is sold

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for managing more than 261.4 million acres of public lands. Public land is undeveloped land with no improvements. Most of the public lands are located in the Western States and Alaska. The BLM does not offer much land for sale because of a Congressional mandate in 1976 to retain these lands. The BLM occasionally sells parcels of land under certain conditions.The lands are generally rural woodland, grassland, or desert.

How the land is sold

The BLM has three options for selling land:

1. modified competitive bidding where some preferences to adjoining landowners are recognized;
   
2. direct sale to one party where circumstances warrant; and
   
3. competitive bidding at a public auction.

The sale method is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances of each particular parcel or sale. By law, the lands are offered for sale at fair market value.

How sales are advertised

Land sales are listed in local newspapers and in the Federal Register.

Special restrictions/conditions

Sales conditions are provided in the Notice of Sale. The BLM can sell public land only to U.S. citizens or corporations subject to Federal or state laws. Employees of the Department of the Interior are not allowed to bid. No financing is available. Cashier's check or cash is required.

For more information

For general BLM information, contact:

BLM National Headquarters
1849 C St., NW,
Washington, DC 20240
(202) 452-5125.

You may wish to consult the BLM website at www.blm.gov. You also may wish to contact the BLM office in the state(s) where you are interested in buying land. The specific states covered by each office are listed here.

BLM - Alaska State Office

222 W. 7th Street, #13
Anchorage, AK 99513-7599
(907) 271-4418

BLM - Arizona State Office

222 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2203
(602) 417-9504

BLM - California State Office

2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1834
Sacramento, CA 95825-0451
(916) 978-4611