BLM Grazing Permit Requirements in North Dakota: What Ranchers Need to Know

If you run cattle or sheep in western North Dakota, federal public lands may be one of the most cost-effective grazing resources available to you. The Bureau of Land Management administers roughly 58,500 acres of surface land in North Dakota, and the grazing allotments attached to those acres can meaningfully expand your operation’s carrying capacity — but only if you understand the permit system that controls access to them.

BLM grazing permits come with specific eligibility rules, fee obligations, seasonal restrictions, and compliance requirements that every operator needs to know before turning livestock out on public range. This guide walks you through every stage of the process, from understanding how the system works to what happens when you buy a ranch that already carries a permit.

How BLM Grazing Permits Work and Who Administers Them in North Dakota

BLM grazing permits allow livestock producers to use designated areas of public land, known as allotments, for a specific number of animals during an assigned season. These permits do not convey ownership but rather provide a legal, renewable right of use subject to the rules and oversight of the managing agency, and they specify livestock numbers measured in Animal Unit Months (AUMs).

BLM’s statutory authority to issue term permits arises from the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, and BLM regulations define the eligible livestock species as cattle, sheep, horses, burros, and goats. In FY2024, BLM issued 17,045 authorizations for grazing of various kinds of livestock, with 88% covering cattle, yearlings, and bison collectively.

In North Dakota, grazing permits fall under the jurisdiction of the BLM Montana-Dakotas State Office, with day-to-day administration handled by the BLM North Dakota Field Office located at 99 23rd Ave. West, Dickinson, ND 58601, telephone (701) 227-7725. That office is your primary point of contact for applications, allotment questions, and compliance matters.

The Approved Resource Management Plan provides guidance for managing approximately 58,500 acres of BLM-administered surface and 4.1 million acres of BLM-administered mineral estate, mostly split estate, across North Dakota. Grazing allotments in the state are concentrated in the southwestern Badlands region, where BLM surface acres are most prevalent.

Pro Tip: Before contacting the Dickinson field office about a new permit, use the BLM’s Rangeland Administration System (RAS) map tool to identify vacant allotments in your area. The tool shows forage availability, allotment boundaries, and contact information for the managing office.

Both BLM and the Forest Service issue grazing permits that include management requirements, and both agencies issue annual grazing authorizations that identify the level of grazing use authorized for the respective grazing fee year. Depending on resource conditions, the authorized level might be less than the “permitted use,” and both agencies take permit action and apply penalties for non-compliance with permit terms and conditions.

Eligibility Requirements for a BLM Grazing Permit in North Dakota

Any U.S. citizen or validly licensed business can apply for a BLM grazing permit or lease. To qualify for grazing use on public lands, an applicant must own or control base property and must be a citizen of the United States, and a corporation authorized to conduct business in the state where the grazing use is sought may also qualify.

Base property is private land or water rights owned or controlled by the applicant that is capable of serving as a base of operations for the livestock, and this property must be commensurate with the grazing privileges sought — meaning it must be able to support the livestock when they are not on the public land.

There are two paths to meeting the base property requirement:

• Buy or control existing base property — property that BLM has already legally recognized as having preference for public land grazing privileges.
• Acquire new qualifying property — land capable of serving as base property, then apply to transfer grazing preference from an existing base property to your newly acquired land.

If a permittee loses ownership or control of all or part of the base property, the permit, to the extent it was based upon such lost property, terminates immediately without further notice from the BLM — so it is critical that permittees keep track of their base property and refrain from selling or subdividing it.

The BLM supplemental application also asks you to disclose whether you or any affiliate have had a state or federal grazing permit cancelled for violations within the preceding 36 months, or whether you are barred from holding a federal grazing permit by a court order. The BLM requires that you submit all relevant information it requests to determine that you meet all qualifications, such as documentation of incorporation or of group or business association.

Key Insight: North Dakota ranchers operating as LLCs or family corporations should confirm their entity is in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State before applying. BLM will verify that the business is validly licensed to conduct operations in the state.

How to Apply for a BLM Grazing Permit in North Dakota

Applying for a new BLM grazing permit in North Dakota is a multi-step process that involves both federal forms and a site-specific planning document. Plan for the process to take several months from submission to final decision.

1. Identify an available allotment. The BLM’s web-based map allows ranchers to efficiently locate vacant allotments on public lands suitable for targeted prescribed grazing and provides easy instructions to apply for a permit. Contact the Dickinson field office to confirm availability and current allotment conditions.
2. Complete the application forms. To apply for a BLM grazing permit or lease, you complete BLM Form 4130-001a (Grazing Preference Application), BLM Form 4130-1 (Grazing Schedule), and BLM Form 4130-1b (Grazing Application Supplemental Information), and submit these forms to the BLM with all supporting documents. All required forms are available at your local BLM office.
3. Prepare an Allotment Management Plan (AMP). A central component of the application is the proposed AMP, which specifies the operational details of grazing including the season of use, the maximum number of livestock measured in AUMs, and any planned range improvements like fences or water developments. This plan must demonstrate how the proposed grazing will comply with federal rangeland health standards and protect natural resources.
4. Submit to the Dickinson field office. Once the application package including the AMP is prepared, it is submitted to the local BLM field office, which then undertakes a review process that includes compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed grazing.
5. Public comment and final decision. The BLM issues a draft decision subject to public review, protest, and potential appeal by any interested party. After addressing public comments and completing the NEPA analysis, the BLM issues a final decision to approve, modify, or deny the authorization.

If you are grazing livestock that you do not own under a pasturing agreement, additional steps apply. The agreement must list the kind and number of livestock subject to it, state who owns them, contain the terms for their care and management, specify the duration, and be signed by all parties. The BLM must approve the agreement prior to any grazing use, and any livestock grazed under the agreement are subject to a surcharge.

Grazing Fees and Animal Unit Month (AUM) Calculations in North Dakota

Understanding how AUMs are calculated and what you owe each year is essential to budgeting your operation accurately.

An AUM is the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month. Grazing use is measured in AUMs representing the amount of forage required to sustain one cow-calf pair (or equivalent) for one month, and each permit specifies the number of authorized AUMs and the grazing season.

The federal grazing fee for 2026, as calculated by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, is $1.69 per animal unit month for lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The newly calculated grazing fee took effect March 1, 2026.

Grazing Fee Year	Fee per AUM	Effective Period
2025	$1.35	March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
2026	$1.69	March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027

The federal grazing fee is adjusted annually and is calculated using a formula originally set by Congress in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978. Under this formula, the grazing fee cannot fall below $1.35 per AUM, and any fee increase or decrease cannot exceed 25 percent of the previous year’s level.

Each year, the fee is set using a formula that adjusts a base value by three factors: private land grazing lease rates, beef cattle prices, and livestock production costs. The grazing fee must be paid before grazing use begins, except where “after the grazing season” billing occurs under the terms of an approved allotment management plan or other activity plan.

If you graze livestock under a pasturing agreement, a surcharge applies on top of the base fee. The surcharges vary by state and equal 35 percent of the difference between the grazing fee and the prior year’s private grazing land lease rate for the state where the pasturing agreement occurs.

Important Note: Unauthorized grazing on BLM lands is not simply billed at the permit rate. The value of forage consumed for unauthorized grazing is the average private grazing land lease rate per AUM for the state where the unauthorized grazing occurs, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service publishes the state rates annually in January. This rate is substantially higher than the standard permit fee.

You can look up your allotment’s authorized AUM levels, billing history, and permit details through the BLM Rangeland Administration System (RAS) public reports portal. Allotment information includes allotment identification, size, amount of forage use authorized, and the existence of an allotment management plan. Operator information includes the authorization number, name, address, expiration date, kind and number of livestock, and period of use.

Permit Terms, Renewals, and Modifications in North Dakota

The BLM administers nearly 18,000 permits and leases held by ranchers who graze their livestock, mostly cattle and sheep, at least part of the year on more than 21,000 allotments. Permits and leases generally cover a 10-year period and are renewable if the BLM determines that the terms and conditions of the expiring permit or lease are being met.

The standard 10-year permit is not automatically renewed; the permittee must file a timely renewal application, often required four months before expiration. Renewal is contingent upon a satisfactory rangeland health assessment and continued compliance with the existing authorization terms.

Your permit specifies the grazing allotment name or location, the number and kind of livestock, the class of livestock, and the season of use. It is unlawful to graze livestock on public lands in a time or place not authorized by the permit. Common situations that result in suspension or cancellation include allowing livestock to trespass on other grazing allotments, grazing livestock in the wrong pasture, grazing too early, grazing past the removal date, and grazing too many livestock.

The BLM can also modify your permit mid-term without your request. Land management agencies can impose changes, including reductions in AUMs, altered turn-on dates, or rest requirements during drought or fire recovery. BLM may approve changes to the terms and conditions of the permit, and may provide flexibility to permittees to adjust their grazing operations without prior BLM approval when such flexibility is included in the terms of an allotment management plan.

Livestock grazing use that is different from that authorized by a permit must be applied for prior to the grazing period and must be filed with and approved by the BLM before grazing use can be made. Never assume that verbal approval from a range conservationist is sufficient — always get modifications in writing.

Buying a Ranch With an Existing BLM Grazing Permit in North Dakota

Purchasing a North Dakota ranch that includes BLM grazing privileges adds real value to the transaction, but the permit does not transfer automatically at closing. You need to understand exactly what you are buying and what steps are required before you can legally turn livestock onto the allotment.

Federal grazing permits are not auctioned or granted to the highest bidder. Instead, they are historically tied to the ownership and operation of a base property that has a recognized history of use. When you buy a ranch with an attached federal permit, you are eligible to apply for a transfer of the permit, subject to agency approval.

When base property is sold, the associated grazing preference does not automatically transfer; the new owner must apply for a transfer and meet all qualifications. The transfer process involves submitting BLM Form 4130-001a along with documentation proving your acquisition of the base property and your eligibility as a U.S. citizen or licensed business entity.

The buyer of the base property submits a formal request to transfer the grazing permit. Approval is not guaranteed and may include an agency review of past compliance, range condition, or proposed changes to livestock management.

Before closing on any ranch with attached BLM grazing rights, conduct thorough due diligence:

• Request records on AUM use, rangeland condition assessments, and any instances of non-compliance. Buyers should ensure that the base property and any range improvements (corrals, fences, and water systems) comply with current BLM standards.
• The marginal value of a federal grazing permit, which typically includes 17 acres of federal land and one AUM, is estimated between $2,000 and $3,000. Confirm the total AUM count and verify that authorized AUMs match what the seller is representing.
• Be aware that the number of AUMs and the season of use can change over time. Factor potential reductions into your purchase price and business plan.
• Review the allotment’s current status in the BLM RAS public reports portal to check for any suspended use, pending actions, or active non-compliance flags.

Pro Tip: Contact the Dickinson field office before closing to request a pre-transfer meeting. Staff can walk you through the current allotment management plan, identify any pending range improvements you would inherit, and confirm the timeline for permit transfer approval.

North Dakota Compliance Requirements on Top of Federal Permit Rules

Holding a BLM grazing permit in North Dakota means complying with both federal rangeland regulations and several state-level requirements that apply to any livestock operation in the state. Failing to meet either set of rules can put your permit — and your herd — at risk.

Permit holders must adhere to BLM rangeland health standards, which include maintaining ecological conditions, preventing overgrazing, and protecting riparian areas. Non-compliance or changes in land use policies can lead to adjustments, suspensions, or cancellations of permits.

Permits come with mandatory operating instructions or Allotment Management Plans. These may include required rest periods, herd movement protocols, water system maintenance, and timing constraints. Ranchers must also actively manage erosion control, invasive species, wildlife habitat protection, and cultural or historical site preservation.

On top of federal permit rules, North Dakota imposes its own livestock compliance obligations:

• Brand registration and inspection. North Dakota requires cattle to carry a registered brand, and brand inspections are mandatory when livestock move across county lines or change ownership. If you are moving cattle to or from a BLM allotment, you will likely need a brand inspection certificate. See the full requirements at brand inspection requirements in North Dakota.
• Livestock trailer compliance. Transporting cattle to allotments requires that your trailer meets state safety and equipment standards. Review livestock trailer requirements in North Dakota before moving animals to summer range.
• Livestock trespass and road laws. North Dakota is a fence-out state in most counties, but BLM allotments have specific fencing obligations under your AMP. Livestock that stray onto neighboring allotments or private land can trigger both state trespass liability and federal permit violations.
• Actual use reporting. BLM permit holders must submit actual use reports and adhere to allotment-specific plans. These reports document how many AUMs you actually used versus what was authorized and feed into rangeland health assessments at renewal time.

Grazing authorizations are guided by local BLM Resource Management Plans and periodic allotment evaluations that assess on-the-ground conditions, potentially influencing future grazing levels or conditions. North Dakota’s Approved Resource Management Plan, finalized in January 2025, now governs how the Dickinson field office manages allotments for the next 15 to 20 years — so it is worth reading the sections that apply to your allotment.

If you hunt or fish on your base property or the surrounding public lands during the grazing season, North Dakota’s separate licensing requirements apply independently of your BLM permit. You can review hunting license requirements in North Dakota and fishing license requirements in North Dakota for the rules that apply to public land access.

Staying in good standing with both the BLM and the state is not just about avoiding penalties — it is the foundation of a successful renewal when your 10-year permit comes up for review. Permit holders must comply with agency terms, pay annual fees, submit reports, and complete any required range improvements. Violations can result in reductions, suspension, or cancellation of the permit. Document everything, communicate proactively with your range conservationist, and treat your allotment management plan as a living operational guide rather than a filing cabinet document.