TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 4: LAND RESOURCES
§ 4303. Persons Eligible to Homestead. Subject to the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto the following persons or groups of persons may enter upon, occupy and improve a tract or tracts of public land for the purpose of homesteading: (a) Any person who is 18 years of age or over, and who is a citizen of the Commonwealth and of Northern Marianas descent; provided, that no person may enter upon or acquire any right in any tract of public land which exceeds the maximum area of a homestead established by the Public Land Corporation in accordance with 2 CMC § 4302; provided further, that no person may enter and acquire more than one homestead, except that a qualified person may enter one village lot in addition to a farm tract; and provided further, that no person who is the owner of lands within the Commonwealth, the amount of which equals or exceeds the maximum area established in accordance with 2 CMC § 4302, shall be permitted to enter and acquire any homestead tract. (b) Any clan, lineage, family or group of persons who collectively possess land rights established by local custom as recognized by the Public Land Corporation; provided, that no clan, lineage, family or group of persons may enter upon or acquire any rights in any tract of public land which exceeds the maximum area of a homestead established by the Public Land Corporation in accordance with 2 CMC § 4302. Homesteads may not be granted to an individual person if clan, lineage, family or group ownership of land is the custom of the specific area in question. (c) No person or persons may be permitted to enter upon or acquire rights to a village homestead unless that person, or persons, have been domiciliaries of the senatorial district in which such homestead is being applied. Source: 67 TTC § 203, modified; amended by PL 6-6, § 2. Commission Comment: With respect to the references to the “Public Land Corporation,” see Executive Order 94-3 (effective August 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001; see also the comment to 2 CMC § 4142.