Land for sale

Image of state land. Land for sale. Find yours.

DNR land sale program

Minnesota is the largest landowner in the state with the DNR managing 5.6 million acres of its land. Continually working to improve the public land through strategic land asset management, the DNR regularly evaluates the state's land holdings, looking for ways to improve conservation, recreation, and economic opportunities.

This active management of our land asset portfolio is one of the ways DNR meets its responsibility to the public and contributes to Minnesota's exceptional quality of life. Land sales are a component of this work. The DNR coordinates the statutory and program requirements to sell state owned lands that no longer meet conservation or recreation needs or are isolated from larger management areas or parcels. The most common way the DNR sells land is by public auction.

The state makes surplus land available for purchase to all persons except current Minnesota Department of Natural Resources employees. Minnesota Statute sec. 92.71

Future land sale opportunities

The DNR plans to sell properties in 2024. Detailed property information will be available on this website 30 days prior to any sale. Subscribe below to receive email notifications of land sale updates and future auctions.

Sign up for land sale updates

Why does the DNR sell land?
  • DNR works to improve its public land asset and sales are an important tool in managing public lands.
  • The DNR sells land because:
    • The land no longer meets conservation or recreation objectives.
    • Sale allows the state to maximize recreation, conservation and economic opportunities for citizens.
    • Sale resolves conflicting management uses.
    • Sale meets DNR’s fiduciary responsibilities on trust lands.
    • The legislature directs DNR to sell land.
  • Proceeds from sales are often re-invested in purchasing higher quality parcels.
How does the DNR sell land?

DNR sells land at public auctions. By following statutory requirements for the public auction the DNR provides a fair and open process to all members of the public.

  • DNR staff select and review parcels prior to sale.
  • The price is determined by appraisal staff or outside appraisers. By law, the price of the parcel cannot be less than the estimated or appraised value.
  • Notices of land sales are provided to other state agencies, local units of government, adjacent landowners and published on DNR’s land sale webpage.
When does the DNR sell land?

Public auctions are held once a year in the fall.

Parcels are advertised at the MN State Fair for the upcoming fall public auction.

Where does the DNR sell land?

Auctions are generally held at DNR or county offices near the parcels to be sold.

The DNR also has authority to sell land via online auction.

Who are the main contacts at the DNR for land sales?
What if I have a question about a specific parcel of land the DNR manages?

Please have the legal description, including the county, township, section, range and forty available. It is also helpful to have a county tax identification number available.

Contact Regional land operations staff in the region where the county is located. See the Lands and Minerals regional contact map to identify your regional contact.

You can also contact the DNR through the land sale email, or land sale phone line, 651-259-5432.

What happens when lands for sale are within tribal boundaries?

Minnesota state law says that tribal nations have the right of first refusal which allows tribes to purchase a specific property offered for sale before that property can be sold to anyone else.

If properties are still available for sale, can I make an offer?

Minnesota Constitution says that trust lands may only be sold by public auction. So, if trust lands do not sell at the auction, DNR can not offer those unsold parcels over the counter. Trust land parcels may be offered for sale again at a future public land sale. The DNR may offer non-trust lands over the counter after a public sale.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and Department of Administration also periodically sell surplus property. Click on the links to find out more.

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