Agricultural Leases on Individual Indian and Tribal Lands

You may need to obtain a lease from an American Indians and Alaska Native Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for development projects on lands held in trust or restricted status by the federal government for Native people.

Agricultural lands include grazing, croplands, and those watered by flood, sprinkler, or drip irrigation systems and so-called dry farmlands that rely on natural precipitation.

General BIA regulations for leases are in 25 CFR 162, but specific policies for agricultural leases are in:

• Subpart B: Agricultural Leases

There may also be more regulations that pertain to specific Tribes and resources.

Agency or Tribal staff are generally responsible for obtaining documentation that supports a lease and reviewing the proposed lease terms, conditions, and provisions.

For more information about completing the application documents needed to obtain an agricultural lease, please contact DRES or your BIA regional office.