Using Public Land

Last review/updated: May 11, 2004

Approximately 60 per cent of the province's land base is public land. It is managed under an integrated resource management philosophy that supports forest production, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, recreation, oil and gas well sites, agricultural production and industrial development, to mention only a few of the uses.

Public land is divided into two broad land use areas: Green Area and White Area. The Green Area (non-settled) is managed primarily for timber production, but other uses are permitted. Intensive activities involving settlement or agricultural development are restricted because the land base is required for forest production and there is a high cost for providing services such as roads.

In the White Area (settled) the types of acceptable uses are usually less restrictive than in the Green Area. However, it may be difficult to find suitable land that is available.

How To Apply

The steps involved in acquiring public land (sale, lease licence, permit) are generally as follows:
Identify suitable parcel(s) by legal description (quarter section, township, range and meridian or lot, block and plan).
Submit an application and required fee.
Land managers determine if the land is suitable for the intended use.
Most sales and leases are awarded by a public process (usually auction or tender):

  • Land is awarded on basis of highest bid if being sold.
  • Land is awarded on the basis of highest bonus tender if a lease or licence is being granted.
  • Land for surface access for petroleum/natural gas/resource extraction is not awarded by a public process.

For more information, contact the Lands office for the area you are interested in, or either of these offices:

Land Use Operations
9915 - 108 St. NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2G8
Telephone (780) 427 3570

Click here for a map of Land Use offices.

Rangeland Management
J.G. O'Donoghue Building
7000 - 113 St. NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2G8
Telephone (780) 427 3595

Click here for a map of Rangeland Management offices.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and Canadian Citizens or permanent residents of Canada. If the applicant is a corporation then it must have at least 75 per cent Canadian ownership. However, there are no ownership restrictions for resource extraction-related dispositions.