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Real estate

Fall leaves on trees with small lake in the foreground

Real estate

While most of the 4.6 million acres of DNR-managed public lands are dedicated as state forests, parks, recreation areas, water access sites, and wildlife areas, some may be available for sale or exchange. We will consider selling or exchanging these lands when doing so provides a public benefit including: increasing operating efficiency and opportunities for natural resource management and consolidating current land holdings and providing access to them. 

When land sales occur, they are usually done by an advertised sealed-bid auction. The Department auctions land only after it has been reviewed, posted for public notice, and approved for disposal. Learn more about how the DNR identifies lands for disposal in the Managed Public Land Strategy.

Land auctions and sales

Auction parcels not sold in recent auctions are relisted for direct sale on the BuyNow page.

Land exchange

We are authorized to conduct land exchanges when the private lands offered for exchange are equal to or better than the desired state lands.

Easements

Easements authorize a specific long-term use of public land, such as rights-of-way for state highways, county roads, utility lines and similar uses.

Land transactions

For questions about land transaction activities, including the purchase of private land, the exchange of state-managed land for private land, the sale of surplus state-managed land, and the granting of easements across state-managed land, call 517-881-2264.