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How to stake a mining claim in Arizona
Lode and placer claims on federal land in Arizona follow the federal mining law and A.R.S. 27-201 to 27-210. Here is what Arizona requires, from discovery to the annual filings.
Lay out a Arizona 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 signed location notice in or on a location monument on the centerline of the claim (A.R.S. 27-202).
- Erect a location monument on the centerline (stones at least 3 feet high, or a post projecting at least 4 feet), and six boundary monuments: one at each corner and one at the center of each end line. Posts project at least 4 feet above ground and are at least 1½ inches in cross section; stone monuments are at least 3 feet high. Mark each to identify the corner or end center of the claim (A.R.S. 27-202, 27-204).
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.
- Post the location notice on a separate location monument at one corner of the claim, inside its boundaries (A.R.S. 27-205).
- Post the notice on a separate location monument at one corner inside the claim, and monument only the corners or angle points: posts projecting at least 4 feet and at least 1½ inches in cross section, or stone monuments at least 3 feet high (A.R.S. 27-205).
Monument markings
Mark each monument with the name of the claim and the corner or end center it marks (for example "NE Corner Patricia #1"). Monument types Arizona accepts:
- post at least 1½ inches in cross section projecting at least 4 feet above the ground
- stone monument at least 3 feet high
- capped (closed-top), unperforated metal post at least 1½ inches in diameter projecting at least 4 feet above the ground
The notice or certificate of location
The notice states the claim name, the locator's name and address, the date of location, the length and width in feet and the distance from the location monument to each end, the general course, and the locality with section, township and range (A.R.S. 27-202).
Recording with the County Recorder
Within 90 days after location, record a signed copy of the location notice, with the map attached, with the County Recorder, and monument the claim (A.R.S. 27-203). Failure is abandonment.
Fees: $30 per instrument, map included (A.R.S. 11-475).
Notarization
Title 27 does not require a notary, but A.R.S. 33-411(B) says an instrument is not "lawfully recorded" unless acknowledged, so acknowledging the notice is recommended.
Document format
- Caption stating the nature of the instrument; original signatures; type no smaller than 10 point; no larger than 8½ × 14 inches (A.R.S. 11-480).
- A top margin of at least 2 inches on page 1 reserved for recording; the left 3½ inches of it may show who requested recording and the return address. At least ½-inch margins elsewhere.
Claim map
Attach a map no larger than 8½ × 14 inches at a scale of 1 inch = 2,000 feet or larger, showing the claim name and type, the section/township/range with a course-and-distance tie from a corner to a public land survey monument, the scale, county, north arrow, the type of corner and location monuments, and the bearing and distance between corners (A.R.S. 27-203). Aliquot-part placers may show the legal description instead of the tie and bearings.
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
Arizona does not require an annual county filing when you pay the BLM maintenance fee (an affidavit is optional, A.R.S. 27-208). Small miners on a waiver must record the federal affidavit of assessment work or notice of intent to hold with the County Recorder.
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 Arizona
- Lode claims need end-center monuments as well as corners, plus a location monument on the centerline: 7 monuments in all.
- The placer location monument is separate from the corner monuments.
- The map must be attached to the recorded notice and fit on legal-size paper.
- The 90-day deadline covers both recording and monumenting.
Sources
- A.R.S. Title 27, Chapter 2 (location of claims)
- A.R.S. 27-203 (recording, map)
- A.R.S. 11-480 (recording format)
- BLM Arizona mining claim forms