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How to stake a mining claim in Wyoming
Lode and placer claims on federal land in Wyoming follow the federal mining law and W.S. 30-1-101 to 30-1-125. Here is what Wyoming requires, from discovery to the annual filings.
Lay out a Wyoming 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. In Wyoming a lode claim may not extend more than 300 feet on each side of the discovery shaft, and the discovery must be equally distant from the side lines (W.S. 30-1-125).
- Post at the point of discovery a plain sign with the name of the lode, the name of the discoverer and locator, and the date of discovery (W.S. 30-1-103).
- Mark the surface boundaries with six substantial stone monuments or posts, hewed or marked on the sides facing the claim and sunk in the ground: one at each corner and one at the center of each side line (W.S. 30-1-103).
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.
- Securely fix on the claim a notice with the claim name, the locators, the date of discovery and the feet or acres claimed (W.S. 30-1-110).
- Designate the surface boundaries by substantial posts or stone monuments at each corner (W.S. 30-1-110).
Monument markings
Mark each monument with marked on the sides facing the claim, with the claim name and corner. Monument types Wyoming accepts:
- substantial wooden post, hewed or marked on the sides facing the claim, sunk in the ground
- substantial stone monument
- capped (closed-top), unperforated metal post sunk in the ground, marked on the sides facing the claim
The notice or certificate of location
The lode certificate states the name of the claim, the locators, the date of location, the length of the claim and the general course of the vein, the amount of surface ground claimed, and a description by reference to natural or fixed objects or, on surveyed land, to section or quarter-section corners (W.S. 30-1-101). The placer certificate states the name (designated a placer), the locators, the date, the feet or acres claimed and a description by natural or fixed objects (W.S. 30-1-110). One claim per certificate.
Recording with the County Clerk
Within 90 days after discovery, record a location certificate with the County Clerk (W.S. 30-1-101, 30-1-110). Post and monument before you record. A certificate missing a required item is void.
Fees: $12 for the first page and $3 for each additional page; $1 for each claim name over five (W.S. 18-3-402).
Notarization
Wyoming law does not require acknowledgment of a location certificate, but county clerks commonly require documents to be notarized.
Document format
- Counties commonly require a 2-inch top margin on page 1 and 1 inch elsewhere, 12-point type, printed names under signatures and the document type as the title.
Claim map
Wyoming does not require a map with the certificate (maps "required to be recorded" must be made by a licensed surveyor, so an optional sketch is safest filed with BLM only).
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
Within 60 days after paying the BLM fee or completing the assessment work (about October 31 for a September 1 payment), record an affidavit with the County Clerk (W.S. 30-1-115).
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 Wyoming
- The discovery must be centered between the side lines: no more than 300 feet on each side of the discovery shaft.
- Lode claims need six monuments (corners and side-line centers); placers need four.
- The 90-day recording clock runs from DISCOVERY.
- Salting a claim is a felony; shafts and pits must be covered or fenced.
- An annual affidavit is due within 60 days of paying the BLM fee.