Annual Mining Claim Cost Breakdown
With Fee Waiver
If you perform $100 worth of assessment work and file the fee waiver form
Without Fee Waiver
BLM maintenance fee per claim paid by September 1st annually
Mining claim ownership comes with annual requirements to maintain your rights. Understanding these costs upfront helps you budget properly and avoid losing your valuable mining claim to abandonment.
The good news? Small miners who actively work their claims can qualify for a complete fee waiver, making claim ownership essentially free. This guide breaks down every cost and shows you how to minimize or eliminate annual fees legally.
The $200 BLM Maintenance Fee
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requires an annual $200 maintenance fee per mining claim or $165 per claim for claimants who own 10 or more claims. This fee is in lieu of performing $100 worth of annual assessment work and filing proof of that work.
Important: The fee is due by September 1st each year for the upcoming claim year (September 1 - August 31). Late payments result in claim abandonment.
1-9 Claims
Per claim annual fee
10+ Claims
Reduced rate per claim
Fee Waiver Option
With assessment work
How to Get the Fee Waiver (Save $200/Year!)
The Small Miner Maintenance Fee Waiver allows claim owners to avoid the $200 fee by performing $100 worth of assessment work and properly documenting it. This is how most recreational and small-scale miners maintain their claims at zero annual cost.
Qualifying for the Fee Waiver
- You must hold 10 or fewer mining claims
- You must not be a corporation
- You must perform at least $100 worth of assessment work per claim
- You must file Form 3830-5 with the BLM by December 30th
What Counts as Assessment Work?
Assessment work is labor or improvements that benefit the claim and show you're actively working it. The BLM values your time at $15-$25/hour depending on the type of work. Here's what qualifies:
- ✓Prospecting and sampling
- ✓Digging test pits or trenches
- ✓Trail building and maintenance
- ✓Brush clearing and cleanup
- ✓Building or maintaining roads
- ✓Building structures or shelters
- ✓Installing equipment or machinery
- ✓Setting up sluice boxes
- ✓Water diversion systems
- ✓Erosion control measures
At $20/hour, you only need 5 hours of legitimate work on your mining claim to meet the $100 requirement:
- • 2 hours clearing brush from access trail = $40
- • 2 hours sampling and test panning = $40
- • 1 hour improving claim markers = $20
- = $100 total - Fee waiver qualifies!
How to Document Your Assessment Work
Proper documentation is crucial for your fee waiver to be accepted. The BLM doesn't inspect your work, but you must file proof that you completed it.
- 1
Keep a Work Log
Record date, hours worked, type of work, and location on claim for each visit
- 2
Take Photos
Before and after photos of work performed with dates/timestamps
- 3
Save Receipts
Keep receipts for materials, fuel, equipment rental - all count toward $100
- 4
File BLM Form 3830-5
Submit your Notice of Intent to Hold Mining Claims by December 30th annually
Pro Tip: Multi-Year Work Credit
Assessment work in excess of $100 can be carried forward to future years (up to $500 total). If you do $300 worth of work in year 1, you can credit $100 to year 2 and $100 to year 3, avoiding work for those years.
Other Mining Claim Costs to Consider
When buying an existing claim, prices vary widely based on location, proven production, and accessibility. Our available mining claims range from a few thousand dollars to $20,000+ for premium locations.
Typical Range: $4,000 - $20,000 for quality recreational claims in proven areas. Claims under $4,000 are often in less productive or remote areas.
When you first record your claim with the county, or when transferring ownership, you'll pay county recording fees.
- • Initial Recording: $15-$45 (varies by county)
- • Transfer Recording: $15-$45 (when you buy/sell)
- • Annual County Filing: $0-$25 (some counties require annual notice)
If you're staking a new claim rather than buying an existing one:
- • BLM Location Fee: $40 per claim (one-time when first staking)
- • Corner Posts & Markers: $50-$150 (materials)
- • Survey (optional but recommended): $500-$2,000
- • County Recording: $15-$45
Learn more about how to stake a mining claim properly.
Budget for prospecting equipment and ongoing operational expenses:
Basic Equipment
- • Gold pan: $10-$30
- • Classifier: $15-$40
- • Sluice box: $100-$500
- • Shovel & picks: $30-$100
- • Snuffer bottle: $5-$15
Ongoing Costs
- • Fuel for travel: $50-$200/year
- • Camping gear: $100-$500
- • Claim maintenance: $50-$200/year
- • Metal detector: $300-$1,000 (optional)
Scenario 1: Fee Waiver (Most Common)
Plus optional equipment and travel costs
Scenario 2: Paying Maintenance Fee
Plus optional equipment and travel costs
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you can avoid the $200 BLM maintenance fee by qualifying for the Small Miner Fee Waiver. This requires performing at least $100 worth of assessment work (about 5 hours at $20/hour) and filing Form 3830-5 by December 30th. Most recreational miners use the fee waiver, making their annual costs $0-$25. Learn more in our buying guide.
Your claim will be considered abandoned and forfeited to the government. You'll lose all rights to the claim, and it becomes available for others to stake. Missing the September 1st maintenance fee deadline or the December 30th waiver filing deadline can cost you your valuable claim. Set calendar reminders!
Physical labor on the claim valued at $15-$25/hour depending on work type, plus costs of materials and improvements. Examples include: prospecting and sampling, trail building and maintenance, brush clearing, building structures, setting up equipment, test pitting, and erosion control. At $20/hour, you need just 5 hours of legitimate work. Keep a log, take photos, and save receipts.
Yes! Assessment work over $100 can be carried forward to future years, up to a maximum of $500 in credit. If you do $300 worth of work in year one, you can use the extra $200 to cover years two and three. This is perfect if you do a major improvement project one year - it can cover you for multiple years.
Some counties require an annual notice filing with a small fee ($10-$25), but many don't. Check with your specific county recorder's office. Beyond that, the only recurring cost is the BLM maintenance fee (or fee waiver filing). There are no property taxes on mining claims since you don't own the land itself - read more about mining claim ownership vs land ownership.