Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§460u–3 “improved Property” and “appropriate Map” Defined; Terms and Conditions for Rights of Use and Occupancy

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LXXIX — INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK › § 460u–3

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines what counts as an "improved property" and which map is the "appropriate map" for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. An improved property is a detached, one-family house that: was begun before the date shown on the matching map; lies inside that map’s boundaries; and is not inside any earlier-dated map. It also includes the land the owner has with the house if the Secretary says up to 3 acres are reasonably needed for noncommercial residential use, and any accessory buildings. The Secretary may leave out beaches or nearby land needed for public access. The maps are on file for public inspection, and use or occupancy is subject to conditions the Secretary sets. "Appropriate map" means the Boundary Map—Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (or "A Proposed Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore" for houses begun before January 4, 1965) with these dates and numbers: October 1992 No. 626–80,039–C (construction before October 1, 1991); October 1986 No. 626–80,033–B (before February 1, 1986); December 1980 No. 626–91014 (before January 1, 1981); September 1976 No. 626–91007 (before February 1, 1973); September 1966 No. LNPNE–1008–ID (before January 4, 1965).

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §460u–3

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this subchapter, the term “improved property” means a detached, one-family dwelling which meets each of the following criteria:
(1)The construction of the dwelling began before the date (shown in the table contained in this section) corresponding to the appropriate map.
(2)The property is located within the boundaries delineated on the map described in such table which corresponds to such date.
(3)The property is not located within the boundaries of any other map referred to in such table which bears an earlier date.
The term “appropriate map”, means a map identified as “Boundary Map—Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore” (or “A Proposed Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore” in the case of a dwelling the construction of which was begun before January 4, 1965) which is dated and numbered as provided in the following table.
Property within boundaries of map | Construction began before
Dated October 1992, No. 626–80,039–C | October 1, 1991
Dated October 1986, No. 626–80,033–B | February 1, 1986
Dated December 1980, No. 626–91014 | January 1, 1981
Dated September 1976, No. 626–91007 | February 1, 1973
Dated September 1966, No. LNPNE–1008–ID | January 4, 1965
The term “improved property” also includes the lands on which the dwelling is situated which meets both of the following criteria:
(A)The land is in the same ownership as the dwelling.
(B)The Secretary has designated the lands as reasonably necessary for the enjoyment of the dwelling for the sole purpose of noncommercial residential use.
Such term also includes any structures accessory to the dwelling which are situated on the lands so designated. The maps referred to in this section shall be on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Director of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Secretary shall designate the land referred to in subparagraph (B). The amount of land so designated shall in every case be not more than three acres in area, and in making such designation the Secretary shall take into account the manner of noncommercial residential use in which the dwelling and land have customarily been enjoyed: Provided, That the Secretary may exclude from the land so designated any beach or waters, together with so much of the land adjoining such beach or waters, as he may deem necessary for public access thereto or public use thereof. All rights of use and occupancy shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate to assure the use of such property in accordance with the purposes of this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–430 amended table generally. Prior to amendment, table read as follows: “Property Within Boundaries of Map

Construction

Began Before Dated October 1986, #626–80,033–B
February 1, 1986 Dated December 1980, #626–91014
January 1, 1981 Dated September 1976, #626–91007
February 1, 1973 Dated September 1966, #LNPNE–1008–ID
January 4, 1965”. 1986—Pub. L. 99–583 substituted provisions defining “improved property” and “appropriate map” for former provisions which read as follows: “The term “improved property”, whenever used in this subchapter, shall mean a detached, one-family dwelling,

Construction

of which was begun before
January 1, 1981 or, in the case of improved property located within the boundaries delineated on a map identified as “Boundary Map, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore”, dated September 1976 and bearing the number 626–91007, before
February 1, 1973, or, in the case of improved property located within the boundaries delineated on a map identified as “A Proposed Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore”, dated September 1966, and bearing the number “LNPNE–1008–ID”, which map is on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Director of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, before
January 4, 1965, 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 lands so designated.” 1980—Pub. L. 96–612 inserted “
January 1, 1981 or, in the case of improved property located within the boundaries delineated on a map identified as ‘Boundary Map, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore’, dated September 1976 and bearing the number 626–91007, before” after “begun before”. 1976—Pub. L. 94–549 struck out subsec. (a) which related to the suspension of the authority of the Secretary to acquire improved property by condemnation when an appropriate zoning agency had in force a valid zoning ordinance, designated subsec. (b) as the entire provision, and in the entire provision as so designated, inserted provision including in definition of “improved property” a one-family dwelling the

Construction

of which was begun before February 1, 1973, or in the case of improved property located within the boundaries of the map bearing the number “LNPNE–1008–ID”, property the

Construction

of which was begun before January 4, 1965, and provision which subjected all rights of use and occupancy to terms and conditions the Secretary deems appropriate.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 460u–3

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110