Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§160c Acquisition of Improved Property

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER XIX — VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK › § 160c

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Secretary buys an improved property in a park, the owner can keep the right to live there for noncommercial residential use. The owner picks either a fixed term up to 25 years or a term that lasts until the owner’s or the owner’s spouse’s death, and this right can pass to heirs or anyone the owner assigns it to. The Secretary pays the owner the property's fair market value at purchase minus the value of the living-right the owner keeps. If the living-right is causing problems for park purposes or the land is needed, the Secretary can end it early and must pay the fair market value of the unused portion. Also, if Minnesota donates park land with an existing lease where a lessee began building a noncommercial home before January 1, 1969, the Secretary may allow that lessee to stay for a time the Secretary decides, but not beyond ten years after the park was established. Definitions: "Improved property" = a detached, noncommercial home started before January 1, 1969, plus the nearby land and accessory buildings the Secretary says are reasonably needed to enjoy the home.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §160c

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Owner’s reservation of right of use and occupancy for residential purposes for life or fixed term of years; election of term; fair market value

Any owner or owners (hereinafter referred to as “owner”) of improved property on the date of its acquisition by the Secretary may, if the Secretary determines that such improved property is not, at the time of its acquisition, required for the proper administration of the park, as a condition of such acquisition, retain for themselves and their successors or assigns a right of use and occupancy of the improved property for noncommercial residential purposes for a definite term not to exceed twenty-five years, or, in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner, or the death of his spouse, whichever is later. The owner shall elect the term to be retained. The Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of such acquisition less the fair market value on such date of the right retained by the owner.

(b)Use and occupancy by lessee of lands donated by State of Minnesota within boundaries of park; term of use and occupancy

If the State of Minnesota donates to the United States any lands within the boundaries of the park subject to an outstanding lease on which the lessee began construction of a noncommercial or recreational residential dwelling prior to January 1, 1969, the Secretary may grant to such lessee a right of use and occupancy for such period of time as the Secretary, in his discretion, shall determine: Provided, That no such right of use and occupancy shall be granted, extended, or continue after ten years from the date of the establishment of the park.

(c)Termination of use and occupancy; tender by Secretary of fair market value of unexpired right

Any right of use and occupancy retained or granted pursuant to this section shall be subject to termination by the Secretary upon his determination that such use and occupancy is being exercised in a manner not consistent with the purposes of this subchapter or upon his determination that the property is required for the proper administration of the park. The Secretary shall tender to the holder of the right so terminated an amount equal to the fair market value of that portion of the right which remains unexpired on the date of termination.

(d)“Improved property” defined

The term “improved property”, as used in this section, shall mean a detached, noncommercial residential dwelling, the construction of which was begun before January 1, 1969, together with so much of the land on which the dwelling is situated, the said land being in the same ownership as the dwelling, as the Secretary shall designate to be reasonably necessary for the enjoyment of the dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use, together with any structures accessory to the dwelling which are situated on the land so designated.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 160c

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110