Home Site Leasing...
The Home Site Leasing Technician is responsible for
maintaining over 1,000 home site/residential leases for Tribal
members on the Flathead Reservation. In addition to processing
new leases, the Technician processes lease cancellations,
re-assignments, relinquishments, and modifications. As land
prices have skyrocketed over the past several years, the
Technician had to develop a waiting list for new leases, which
is organized according to the various geographical areas on the
Reservation, such as Arlee, St. Ignatius, Ronan/Pablo, and so
on. As existing or new lots become available, the Technician
notifies the next person on the list that is interested in
leasing a lot in that particular geographical area. Please refer
to the information below for application forms and a broader
description of the leasing process.
Available Documents:
HOME SITE LEASE PROCESS
(November 2005 Update)
Upon completion of your application, you will be placed on the waiting list. The number of
applications to lease Tribal land for home site purposes has tripled over the last few years.
We now receive over 100 applications per year and we currently have a backlog of
approximately 350 requests. When a home site becomes available, it will be leased to the
applicant who has priority status and has been waiting the longest for that area. Priority
status was determined by the Tribal Council to be those with the greatest need (dire need
families, homeless, elders, other families with minor children, and families or individuals with
the financial means to develop a site) and those waiting longer than three years. More than
80 applicants have priority status and are being served on a first-come, first-served basis
(according to Tribal Land Ordinance 45B); however, only about 50 lots become available
each year, on average. It is important that you notify the Tribal Lands Department if any
information you have given should change to assure that you will be prioritized correctly and
you will not be moved down the list due to the inability to contact you. You will be required
to update your application annually or risk your name being removed from the
home site waiting list.
Lands staff are working to see that current Lessees are using their sites. If a lessee is not
permanently living on a site within 15 months of receiving a home site
lease, his or her lease can be cancelled and assigned to another Tribal member. Lands staff are also working to
create more lots.
Creating a New Site
A new home site must be on 100% Tribal trust land, or on a parcel of individually-owned
trust land in which the applicant has permission from the owners to set up a
home site. The Tribal Council asks that we not develop Tribal fee tracts, irrigated tracts or prime farmland if
possible. A new site is checked for building and sewage treatment suitability, irrigation conflicts, and
distance to surface waters, power and road access. If no community water system is
available, Tribal staff members make every reasonable effort to determine if the site has
enough water for a domestic well, but cannot guarantee availability due to cost constraints.
Tribal Historic Preservation, Housing, Natural Resources, Forestry and Law and Order staff
are also asked to review each site. Their comments are included in an Environmental
Assessment (EA) that is presented to the Tribal Council. If approved, the BIA
Superintendent signs a decision notice for advertisement in the newspaper. Federal law
requires that all leases that involve a change in land use must undergo this process.
If the Superintendent’s decision to lease the property is not appealed, a lease is written and
signed by the applicant, appropriate Tribal officials, and the Superintendent. The lease is
then recorded at the Tribe’s Title Plant. You must have a completely signed lease in hand
before work can begin on the lease.
Improvements
All improvements to the site, such as fencing, access, power, drainage and sewer and water
development are the responsibility of the Lessee. The lease may have conditions that must
be followed before development, and irrigation fees may apply on some sites.
Home Site Rental Rates
Rental rates for individually-owned trust lands are determined by the owner(s). Owners may
consent to a minimal rate, or they may require Fair Market Value, as determined by a
professional appraiser. Each owner must consent to a rental rate.
On 100% Tribal land, lot rental is due for five years in advance. Lots smaller than 1.26 acres
rent for $25 per year ($125 for five years). Lots larger than 1.25 and up to 2.5 acres lease
for $125 per year ($625 for 5 years). Sites larger than 2.5 acres lease for $250 per year
($1,250 for 5 years). Rental is waived for the disabled and those older than 59.
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