Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73

§562 Appraisal and sale of town lots

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XV— - TOWN SITES, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND SCHOOL SITES › § 562

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior must have the surveyed lots appraised and sell them at public auction for cash to the highest bidders, but never for less than their appraised value. If some lots don’t sell, the Secretary can later sell them under his rules, still not for less than the appraisal. Reclamation funds may pay the needed costs of appraisal and sale, and the money from the sales must be returned to the reclamation fund.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §562

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The lots so surveyed shall be appraised under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior and sold under his direction at not less than their appraised value at public auction to the highest bidders, from time to time, for cash, and the lots offered for sale and not disposed of may afterwards be sold at not less than the appraised value under such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe. Reclamation funds may be used to defray the necessary expenses of appraisement and sale, and the proceeds of such sales shall be covered into the reclamation fund.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 562

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73