Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73
§431 Limitation as to amount of water; qualifications of applicant
Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - WATER RIGHT APPLICATIONS AND LAND ENTRIES › § 431
Summary
No one may buy water rights for more than one hundred and sixty acres of private land. The buyer must live on or near the land and pay in full before the rights are permanent.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §431
Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
No right to the use of water for land in private ownership shall be sold for a tract exceeding one hundred and sixty acres to any one landowner, and no such sale shall be made to any landowner unless he be an actual bona fide resident on such land, or occupant thereof residing in the neighborhood of said land, and no such right shall permanently attach until all payments therefor are made.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Imperial Irrigation District of California; Nonapplicability of Federal Reclamation LawsNonapplicability of Federal reclamation laws to lands within Imperial Irrigation District of California, see section 4 of Pub. L. 96–570, set out as a note under section 423e of this title. Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands ActProvisions of this section as not amended, modified or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see section 1303 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 431
Title 43 — Public Lands
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73