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How to stake a mining claim in Alaska
Lode and placer claims on federal land in Alaska follow the federal mining law and AS 27.10 (federal claims); AS 40.17 and 11 AAC 06 (recording). Here is what Alaska requires, from discovery to the annual filings.
Lay out a Alaska claim on the map
Lode claims
A lode claim may be up to 1,500 feet long and 600 feet wide (300 feet on each side of the middle of the vein), with parallel end lines.
- Post the notice at the northeast corner of the claim (AS 27.10.030).
- Monument each corner or angle of the claim with a substantial stone monument or a post not less than 3 feet high and 3 inches in diameter, hewn and marked with the name of the claim, the number or position of the monument, and the direction of the boundary lines; cut out, blaze or mark the boundary lines so they can be readily traced. Where a corner cannot be set in its true position, set a witness monument marked to show the true position (AS 27.10.030).
Placer claims
Placer claims are 20 acres per locator, up to 160 acres for an association of 8, described by aliquot parts of at least 10 acres and complete lots. An individual precious-metal placer in Alaska may not be longer than 1,320 feet.
- Post the notice on one of the corner posts or monuments (AS 27.10.040).
- Monument each corner or angle of the claim with a substantial monument or post not less than 3 feet high and 3 inches in diameter, hewn and marked with the name of the claim, the number or position of the monument, and the direction of the boundary lines; cut out, blaze or mark the boundary lines so they can be readily traced (AS 27.10.040).
Monument markings
Mark each monument with the name of the claim, the number of the monument, and the direction of the boundary lines. Monument types Alaska accepts:
- post not less than 3 feet high and 3 inches in diameter, hewn and marked
- substantial monument of stone
- capped (closed-top), unperforated metal post not less than 3 feet high and 3 inches in diameter
The notice or certificate of location
The certificate must contain the name or number of the claim, its length and width in feet, the date of discovery and of posting the notice, the locators' names, and a description tied to a natural object or permanent monument (AS 27.10.050). BLM also requires each locator's mailing address.
Recording with the State Recorder's Office (Department of Natural Resources) for the recording district
Record the certificate with the recorder for the recording district within 90 days after the earliest of discovery, posting of the notice, and location (AS 27.10.050; 30 U.S.C. 49c; 43 CFR 3833.1). Late recording is abandonment (AS 27.10.060).
Fees: Recorder: $20 for the first page and $5 for each additional page (11 AAC 05.200); $2 for each name over six in the index.
Notarization
Acknowledgment is not required for a location certificate; an acknowledged document does carry statutory presumptions (AS 40.17.090(b)). Affidavits of labor must be sworn (jurat).
Document format
- Paper: opaque white, no larger than 8½ × 14 inches; type no smaller than 10 point.
- At least 2 inches of blank space across the top of page 1 and 1-inch margins elsewhere; the return-to name and address must be inside the margins, not in the top space ($50 non-standard fee otherwise).
- State the recording district (for example "Fairbanks Recording District") and a legal description of at least section, township, range and meridian.
- Printed names of all parties to be indexed; original signatures.
Claim map
Alaska does not require a map with the certificate; BLM does. BLM Alaska asks for GPS coordinates of the corners.
Filing with BLM
Within 90 days of location, file a copy of the recorded notice, a map, and the processing, location and initial maintenance fees ($274 per lode claim or per 20 acres of placer, as of October 11, 2026) with the BLM State Office or online in MLRS.
Every year
If you pay the BLM maintenance fee there is no Alaska annual filing. Small miners who do assessment work instead record an affidavit of labor in the recording district within 90 days after September 1 (about November 30) and file a copy with BLM by December 30 (AS 27.10.160; 30 U.S.C. 49e).
Federally, pay the $200 maintenance fee per claim by September 1, or file a small miner waiver and the annual affidavit or notice of intent to hold by December 30.
What is different in Alaska
- Claims are recorded by recording district (34 districts, two offices: Anchorage and Fairbanks), not by county or borough.
- The lode notice goes at the NORTHEAST corner, with the approximate bearings and distances between the corners.
- The certificate needs both the date of discovery and the date of posting.
- Individual precious-metal placer claims may not be longer than 1,320 feet (AS 27.10.100).
- Small miners must do $100 of labor per 20 acres on precious-metal placers (AS 27.10.130).
- Lands selected by Alaska Native corporations, and beds of navigable waters, are not open to federal location.
- Use the federal certificate, not the state-land (MTRSC) form, for claims on federal land.
Sources
- AS 27.10 (location of claims on the federal public domain)
- AS 40.17 (recording)
- DNR Recorder's Office: preparing documents
- BLM Alaska mining claim guide (2026)