Lands Section
General Information
Welcome to the DMLW Lands Section page. The Lands Section manages over 165 million acres of uplands, tideland, shorelands, and submerged lands by authorizing land use permits, easements, and leases for a multitude of uses on State land. This page will help you navigate how to obtain an appropriate authorization for use of State land.
Is it State Land?
The first part of applying for an authorization is to verify that the land is owned by the State of Alaska. The easiest way to determine if it is State land is to use a program provided on the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) website called Alaska Mapper. If you need further assistance with Alaska Mapper, please contact DNR's Public Information Center.
Which DMLW Region is it in?
Before moving forward, determine which regional office is responsible for the management of the land. Staff from any regional office will be able to assist you if the location is unclear.
Northern
The Northern Region covers roughly the northern half of the State, including Fairbanks, Barrow, Nome, and St. Lawrence Island.
Southcentral
The Southcentral Region covers roughly the southern half of the State, excluding the southeast “panhandle”. This region includes the Aleutian Chain, the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, the Pribilof Islands, and Anchorage.
Southeast
The Southeast Region consists of the Alaska “panhandle”, and includes Yakutat, Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan.
What is the appropriate authorization?
There are many types of authorizations that can be obtained depending upon use. The table below provides information to help determine the appropriate authorization for your activity.
| Permit | Lease | Easement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical length of time after receiving a complete application for the Division to issue a decision approving or denying the land use request | 30 days | 9-12 months | 6-8 months |
| Time period of authorization | Short-term (up to five years) | Long-term (usually between 10-25 years) | Long-term (25-55 years) or indefinite |
| When can the State revoke this authorization? | At will | With cause | With cause |
| Does this authorization create a property interest in state land? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Does the State require that the authorized infrastructure be removable within 48 hours? | Yes | No | No |
| Is this authorization transferable? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Does the State require a survey before issuance of this authorization? | No | Often | Often |
| Will I be required to provide an appraisal? | No | Sometimes | Only for private exclusive easements |
| Typical examples 1 | Commercial recreation, mooring buoys, cross-country travel, caches, event permits, trapping cabins, non-timber forest products. | Guide and eco-tourism lodges, industrial facilities, docks, grazing, agriculture, shore fish leases, log | Power lines and fiber optic cables, access to private lots, roads and highways, water and sewer lines seafood outfalls, erosion control |
| Links to fact sheets for each type of authorization | Permits Factsheet PDF | Leasing Factsheet PDF | Easements Factsheet PDF |
1 Note that the Division has the flexibility to use different authorization types to approve similar infrastructure. For example, while commercial docks are often authorized under a lease, in certain circumstances a commercial dock may be authorized under a permit or easement. This table is meant to be a general guide, rather than providing definitive answers as to how the Division will authorize the use of state land.
Does Your Activity Require an Authorization?
As provided in 11 AAC 96.020, some uses and activities are "generally allowed" on state land managed by the Alaska Division of Mining, Land and Water. However, this does not apply to special use land as listed in 11 AAC 96.014, state parks, nor to land owned or managed by other state agencies such as the University of Alaska, Alaska Mental Health Trust, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, or the Alaska Railroad. Uses listed as "generally allowed" do not require a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. Before beginning an activity on state land, the user should contact their local office to be sure a permit is not required.
Generally Allowed Uses on State Land Factsheet PDFSpecial Land Use
The department may administratively designate state land for special uses provided by 11 AAC 96.014. The land may have special scenic, historic, archeological, scientific, biological, recreational, or other special resource value warranting additional protection or other special requirements. Based on the designation, some restrictions may apply to generally allowed uses (requiring a permit) or have special permit conditions or restrictions. These restrictions and requirements can be seen at the special use area website.