• Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Campsites
  • Knowledge Base
  • Blog
  • Contact
home/Knowledge Base/Boondocking on BLM Land/Can You Live on BLM Land?
Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree

Can You Live on BLM Land?

6997 views 35

Written by Steve Johnson
December 2, 2019

living on blm landThe immediate answer is “no” you cannot live on BLM land. However, technically, you actually can live on BLM land for an indefinite period. It just involves being mobile, moving from one place to another. In that sense, you could very well live on BLM land indefinitely.

Can You Live on BLM Land?

The BLM doesn’t really want squatters taking up permanent residence on its public lands. They will not tolerate people residing permanently in the same spot forever and ever. Eventually they will make you move. How long you are able to remain camped in the same spot depends on the BLM Field Office in charge of that area. Read our other article, “How Many Days Can You Camp on BLM Land?”

But, if you can move to a new location every two or three weeks, and that location is at least ten or twenty miles away, and still on BLM land, then you could perhaps get away with living on BLM land for an indefinite period.

You’d want to find at least four camping locations on BLM land, each of which being 10-20 miles away from the other locations. If you don’t mind picking up your camp, and moving to each location every 2 to 3 weeks, then you can certainly live permanently on BLM land…

  • You won’t be able to put up any kind of permanent structures, like buildings, fencing, a mailbox.
  • You won’t be able to plant shade trees
  • You won’t be able to keep chickens or other animals.

You will have to remain temporary at each location.

Moreover, you will want to respect the land you’re camped on, taking great care to make sure you don’t leave trash, you don’t damage plants nor animal habitats, you don’t make excessive noise, and you don’t bother other campers. The reason is that you don’t want to give BLM officials any reason to kick you out permanently.

Contact the Local BLM Field Office

Find out which BLM Field Office has jurisdiction over where you are hoping to remain camped. (Directory of BLM field offices)

Contact them and ask what is the maximum length of stay you are allowed to remain camped in the same place. Also ask them how far away you have to move camp, and for how many days you must be away, before you can come back again.

Some field offices establish these rules, though others do not.

Was this helpful?

35 Yes  1 No
Related Articles
  • Do You Need a Permit to Camp in Arizona?
  • Is it Legal to Camp Anywhere in a National Forest?
  • Camping on Alaska State Trust Land
  • Camping on State Trust Lands
  • Camping on Washington State Trust Lands
  • Camping on Utah State Trust Lands
1 thought on “Can You Live on BLM Land?”
  • DANIEL D DUBOIS says:
    Reply

    You might want to check the Bishop, California BLM field office rules. The allow 14 days PER YEAR on BLM lands managed by that field office and they manage a huge area. In one instance someone mentioned that one real nice spot is 60 miles from the other but you cannot stay there for at least a year once you’ve stayed at another location in their system. Kinda sucks if you ask me – Way too restrictive. Staying 14 days or even 30 days outside their system would seem to me a more “fair” system. I could understand if it was a small area being overused … but most of this area is wide open .. hundreds of square miles…

    March 7, 2020 at 12:56 am
Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Boondocking on BLM Land
  • Can You Live on BLM Land?
  • How to Find Free BLM Camping with Google Maps
  • Where Can I Camp on BLM Land?
  • How Long Can You Boondock on BLM Land?
  • Is BLM Land Free to Camp On?
  • Can You Camp For Free on BLM Land?
View All 14  
Popular Articles
  • Is it Illegal to Live in a Tent in Your Backyard?
  • Can I Run My RV Air Conditioner on Battery Power?
  • What Do the Different Colors Mean on Google Maps?
  • Is Nude Camping Legal on Federal Lands?
  • Do I Need a Generator for Boondocking?
KB Categories
  • Getting Started With Boondocking
  • Costs
  • How to Find Boondocking Sites
  • Outfitting Your RV
  • Boondocking Safety
  • Boondocking Myths
  • Boondocking in National Forests
  • Boondocking in National Parks
  • Boondocking Etiquette
  • Boondocking Rules
  • Boondocking on BLM Land
  • Boondocking on National Wildlife Refuges
  • Boondocking on Bureau of Reclamation Lands
  • Boondocking and Off-Road Vehicles
  • Boondocking Water and Sewage
  • Overnight Parking
  • Boondocking Electrical
  • Boondocking Tips
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Idaho Department of Transportation
These Dealers Sell Boondocking Trailers
custom outfitters
boondockers bible logo

We answer your questions about Boondocking, Free Camping, and Overnight Parking using facts and actual experiences. Dispell the myths of boondocking and arm yourself with the laws and truths. Elevate your RVing and car-camping and become a boondocker!

Useful Help Links
  • Weekly Boondocking Series
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • © 2019-2021 Too Much Tina. All Rights Reserved.

Popular Search:Solar Panels, Battery Banks, Joshua Tree
Rugged, lightweight boondocking trailers...
Go!