25 U.S.C. § 415
Leases of restricted lands
United States · Title 25 — INDIANS · Status: effective
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- 25 U.S.C. § 415, Leases of restricted lands, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/459799
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Any restricted Indian lands, whether tribally, or individually owned, may be leased by the Indian owners, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, for public, religious, educational, recreational, residential, or business purposes, including the development or utilization of natural resources in connection with operations under such leases, for grazing purposes, and for those farming purposes which require the making of a substantial investment in the improvement of the land for the production of specialized crops as determined by said Secretary. All leases so granted shall be for a term of not to exceed twenty-five years, except leases of land located outside the boundaries of Indian reservations in the State of New Mexico, leases of land on the Agua Caliente (Palm Springs) Reservation, the Dania Reservation, the Pueblo of Santa Ana (with the exception of the lands known as the “Santa Ana Pueblo Spanish Grant”), the reservation of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Moapa Indian Reservation, the Swinomish Indian Reservation, the Southern Ute Reservation, the Fort Mojave Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Burns Paiute Reservation, the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation, the Kalispel Indian Reservation and land held in trust for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the pueblo of Cochiti, Ohkay Owingeh pueblo, the pueblo of Pojoaque, the pueblo of Santa Clara, the pueblo of Tesuque, the pueblo of Zuni, the Hualapai Reservation, the Spokane Reservation, the San Carlos Apache Reservation, the Yavapai-Prescott Community Reservation, the Pyramid Lake Reservation, the Gila River Reservation, the Soboba Indian Reservation, the Viejas Indian Reservation, the Tulalip Indian Reservation, the Navajo Reservation, the Cabazon Indian Reservation, the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation and land held in trust for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation with respect to a lease between an entity established by the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians and the Minnesota Historical Society, leases of the land comprising the Moses Allotment Numbered 8 and the Moses Allotment Numbered 10, Chelan County, Washington, and lands held in trust for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe of Indians, and lands held in trust for the Twenty-nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, and lands held in trust for the Reno Sparks Indian Colony, lands held in trust for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, lands held in trust for the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians of the Guidiville Indian Rancheria, lands held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, lands held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, land held in trust for the Coquille Indian Tribe, land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, land held in trust for the Klamath Tribes, and land held in trust for the Burns Paiute Tribe, and lands held in trust for the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, land held in trust for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, lands held in trust for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, land held in trust for the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribes, land held in trust for the Yurok Tribe, land held in trust for the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of the Hopland Rancheria, lands held in trust for the Yurok Tribe, lands held in trust for the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of the Hopland Rancheria, lands held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, lands held in trust for the Cahuilla Band of Indians of California, lands held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, and the lands held in trust for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Montana, and leases to the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe, or any organization of such tribe, of land on the Devils Lake Sioux Reservation, land held in trust for the Crow Tribe of Montana, land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, and which may be for a term of not to exceed ninety-nine years, and except leases of land held in trust for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians which may be for a term of not to exceed 50 years, and except leases of land for grazing purposes which may be for a term of not to exceed ten years. Leases for public, religious, educational, recreational, residential, or business purposes (except leases the initial term of which extends for more than seventy-four years) with the consent of both parties may include provisions authorizing their renewal for one additional term of not to exceed twenty-five years, and all leases and renewals shall be made under such terms and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. Prior to approval of any lease or extension of an existing lease pursuant to this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall first satisfy himself that adequate consideration has been given to the relationship between the use of the leased lands and the use of neighboring lands; the height, quality, and safety of any structures or other facilities to be constructed on such lands; the availability of police and fire protection and other services; the availability of judicial forums for all criminal and civil causes arising on the leased lands; and the effect on the environment of the uses to which the leased lands will be subject.
Any lease by the Tulalip Tribes, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, or the Kalispel Tribe of Indians under subsection (a) of this section, except a lease for the exploitation of any natural resource, shall not require the approval of the Secretary of the Interior (1) if the term of the lease does not exceed fifteen years, with no option to renew, (2) if the term of the lease does not exceed thirty years, with no option to renew, and the lease is executed pursuant to tribal regulations previously approved by the Secretary of the Interior, or (3) if the term does not exceed seventy-five years (including options to renew), and the lease is executed under tribal regulations approved by the Secretary under this clause (3).
Notwithstanding subsection (a), a lease of land by the Hopi Tribe to Navajo Indians on the Hopi Partitioned Lands may be for a term of 75 years, and may be extended at the conclusion of the term of the lease.
For purposes of this section—
the term “individually owned Navajo Indian allotted land” means a single parcel of land that—
was—
the term “individually owned allotted land” means a parcel of land that—
Any leases by the Navajo Nation for purposes authorized under subsection (a), and any amendments thereto, including a lease for the exploration, development, or extraction of any mineral resources, shall not require the approval of the Secretary if the lease is executed under the tribal regulations approved by the Secretary under this subsection and the term of the lease does not exceed—
in the case of a lease for the exploration, development, or extraction of any mineral resource (including geothermal resources), 25 years, except that—
If the Navajo Nation has executed a lease pursuant to tribal regulations under paragraph (1), the Navajo Nation shall provide the Secretary with—
If the Secretary seeks to remedy a violation described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—
Any contract, including a lease or construction contract, affecting land within the Gila River Indian Community Reservation may contain a provision for the binding arbitration of disputes arising out of such contract. Such contracts shall be considered within the meaning of “commerce” as defined and subject to the provisions of section 1 of title 9. Any refusal to submit to arbitration pursuant to a binding agreement for arbitration or the exercise of any right conferred by title 9 to abide by the outcome of arbitration pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1 of title 9, sections 1 through 14, shall be deemed to be a civil action arising under the Constitution, laws or treaties of the United States within the meaning of section 1331 of title 28.
Notwithstanding subsection (a) and any regulations under part 162 of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), subject to paragraph (2), the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation may lease to the Northern Border Pipeline Company tribally-owned land on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation for 1 or more interstate gas pipelines.
A lease entered into under paragraph (1)—
shall specify in the terms of the lease an annual rental rate—
At the discretion of any Indian tribe, any lease by the Indian tribe for the purposes authorized under subsection (a) (including any amendments to subsection (a)), except a lease for the exploration, development, or extraction of any mineral resources, shall not require the approval of the Secretary, if the lease is executed under the tribal regulations approved by the Secretary under this subsection and the term of the lease does not exceed—
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any lease of individually owned Indian allotted land.
The Secretary shall have the authority to approve or disapprove any tribal regulations issued in accordance with paragraph (1).
The Secretary shall approve any tribal regulation issued in accordance with paragraph (1), if the tribal regulations—
provide for an environmental review process that includes—
a process for ensuring that—
The Secretary may provide technical assistance, upon request of the Indian tribe, for development of a regulatory environmental review process under subparagraph (B)(ii).
The technical assistance to be provided by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (C) may be made available through contracts, grants, or agreements entered into in accordance with, and made available to entities eligible for, such contracts, grants, or agreements under the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.).33 See References in Text note below.
Not later than 120 days after the date on which the tribal regulations described in paragraph (1) are submitted to the Secretary, the Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove the regulations.
If the Secretary disapproves the tribal regulations described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include written documentation with the disapproval notification that describes the basis for the disapproval.
The deadline described in subparagraph (A) may be extended by the Secretary, after consultation with the Indian tribe.
Notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and (4), if an Indian tribe carries out a project or activity funded by a Federal agency, the Indian tribe shall have the authority to rely on the environmental review process of the applicable Federal agency rather than any tribal environmental review process under this subsection.
If an Indian tribe executes a lease pursuant to tribal regulations under paragraph (1), the Indian tribe shall provide the Secretary with—
The United States shall not be liable for losses sustained by any party to a lease executed pursuant to tribal regulations under paragraph (1).
Pursuant to the authority of the Secretary to fulfill the trust obligation of the United States to the applicable Indian tribe under Federal law (including regulations), the Secretary may, upon reasonable notice from the applicable Indian tribe and at the discretion of the Secretary, enforce the provisions of, or cancel, any lease executed by the Indian tribe under paragraph (1).
An interested party, after exhausting of any applicable tribal remedies, may submit a petition to the Secretary, at such time and in such form as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, to review the compliance of the applicable Indian tribe with any tribal regulations approved by the Secretary under this subsection.
If, after carrying out a review under subparagraph (A), the Secretary determines that the tribal regulations were violated, the Secretary may take any action the Secretary determines to be necessary to remedy the violation, including rescinding the approval of the tribal regulations and reassuming responsibility for the approval of leases of tribal trust lands.
If the Secretary determines that a violation of the tribal regulations has occurred and a remedy is necessary, the Secretary shall—
prior to the exercise of any remedy, the rescission of the approval of the regulation involved, or the reassumption of lease approval responsibilities, provide the applicable Indian tribe with—
Nothing in this subsection shall affect subsection (e) or any tribal regulations issued under that subsection.
Legislative history
The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone. The law that originally enacted this section predates the public laws loaded here, so only later amendments are listed.
- A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (69 Stat. 539) (25 U. S. C. 415), as amended, to authorize a ninety-nine year lease for the Moses Allotment No. 10, Chelan County, Washington.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- An act to provide for certain lands to be held in trust for the Moapa Band of Paiute and to be considered to be part of the Moapa Indian Reservation.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Indian Land Consolidation ActHouse: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- An act to authorize the Twenty-nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation to lease for ninety-nine years certain lands held in trust.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A bill to declare that the United States holds certain lands in trust for the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Cherokee Leasing ActHouse: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A bill to declare that the United States holds certain lands in trust of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1987, and for other purposes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A bill to authorize certain transfers affecting the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico, and for other purposes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- To authorize the Rumsey Indian Rancheria to convey a certain parcel of land.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- To make technical amendments to certain Federal Indian statutes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- To make certain technical corrections, and for other purposes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute Settlement Act of 1996House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- To make certain technical corrections in laws relating to Native Americans, and for other purposes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- To authorize leases for terms not to exceed 99 years on land held in trust for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians of the Guidiville Indian Rancheria.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Omnibus Indian Advancement ActHouse: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Regarding the use of the trust land and resources of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- To amend the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the leasing of restricted Indian lands for public, religious, educational, recreational, residential, business, and other purposes requiring the grant of long-term leases", approved August 9, 1955, to provide for binding arbitration clauses in leases and contracts related to reservation lands of the Gila River Indian Community.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Indian Financing Amendments Act of 2002House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004
- To allow binding arbitration clauses to be included in all contracts affecting land within the Gila River Indian Community Reservation.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Native American Technical Corrections Act of 2006House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Albuquerque Indian School ActHouse: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to modify a provision relating to leases involving certain Indian tribes.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955, to authorize the Coquille Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, the Klamath Tribes, and the Burns Paiute Tribe to obtain 99-year lease authority for trust land.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A bill to authorize leases of up to 99 years for lands held in trust for Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- HEARTH Act of 2012House: 400–0Senate: no recorded tally
- A bill to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 to clarify the use of amounts in the WMAT Settlement Fund.House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
- A bill to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.House: 377–42Senate: no recorded tally