Title 54, National Park Service and Related ProgramsRelease 119-110

§101335 Housing Programs

Title 54 › Subtitle I — National Park System › CHAPTER 1013 — EMPLOYEES › SUBCHAPTER III — HOUSING IMPROVEMENT › § 101335

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Lets the Secretary lease federal land (and interests) or non-federal land to qualified people so they can build housing for field employees for up to 50 years, if the needed money is approved in advance. Leases for federal land must be awarded through public, competitive bidding or negotiation. Each lease must say who will run and maintain the housing (the lessee, the employees, or the federal government), require building to meet the agency’s rules and local codes, and include protections like rent limits, maintenance rules, and utility arrangements. Leases can be below market value if they improve housing. The Secretary may also pay or give in-kind help to lower planning or construction costs, if funds are approved. The Secretary may put a written guarantee on occupancy for units built or rehabbed under such leases, but the guarantee can cover no more than 75% of the units and cannot exceed rental rates set under section 5911 of title 5. All outstanding guarantees together cannot exceed $3,000,000. Guarantees require that the lessee allow the government to use the guaranteed units for housing. A lease becomes void if the lessee fails to keep up proper operation and maintenance.

Full Legal Text

Title 54, §101335

National Park Service and Related Programs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Joint Public-Private Sector Housing Program.—
(1)Lease-to-build program.—
Subject to the appropriation of necessary funds in advance, the Secretary may lease—
(A)Federal land and interests in land to qualified persons for the construction of field employee quarters for any period not to exceed 50 years; and
(B)developed and undeveloped non-Federal land for providing field employee quarters.
(2)Competitive leasing.—
Each lease under paragraph (1)(A) shall be awarded through the use of publicly advertised, competitively bid, or competitively negotiated contracting procedures.
(3)Terms and conditions.—
Each lease under paragraph (1)(A)—
(A)shall stipulate whether operation and maintenance of field employee quarters is to be provided by the lessee, field employees, or the Federal Government;
(B)shall require that the construction and rehabilitation of field employee quarters be done in accordance with the requirements of the Service and local applicable building codes and industry standards;
(C)shall contain additional terms and conditions as may be appropriate to protect the Federal interest, including limits on rents that the lessee may charge field employees for the occupancy of quarters, conditions on maintenance and repairs, and agreements on the provision of charges for utilities and other infrastructure; and
(D)may be granted at less than fair market value if the Secretary determines that the lease will improve the quality and availability of field employee quarters.
(4)Contributions by federal government.—
The Secretary may make payments, subject to appropriations, or contributions in kind, in advance or on a continuing basis, to reduce the costs of planning, construction, or rehabilitation of quarters on or off Federal land under a lease under this subsection.
(b)Rental Guarantee Program.—
(1)General authority.—
Subject to the appropriation of necessary funds in advance, the Secretary may enter into a lease-to-build arrangement as set forth in subsection (a) with further agreement to guarantee the occupancy of field employee quarters constructed or rehabilitated under the lease. A guarantee made under this paragraph shall be in writing.
(2)Limitations on guarantees.—
(A)Specific guarantees.—
The Secretary may not guarantee—
(i)the occupancy of more than 75 percent of the units constructed or rehabilitated under the lease; and
(ii)at a rental rate that exceeds the rate based on the reasonable value of the housing in accordance with requirements applicable under section 5911 of title 5.
(B)Total of outstanding guarantees.—
Outstanding guarantees shall not be in excess of $3,000,000.
(3)Agreement to rent to federal government employees.—
A guarantee may be made under this subsection only if the lessee agrees to permit the Secretary to utilize for housing purposes any units for which the guarantee is made.
(4)Operation and maintenance.—
A lease shall be void if the lessee fails to maintain a satisfactory level of operation and maintenance.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 101335(a)16 U.S.C. 17o(7).Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title VIII, § 814(a)(7), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4190; Pub. L. 106–176, title I, § 120(a)(1)(B), Mar. 10, 2000, 114 Stat. 28. 101335(b)16 U.S.C. 17o(8).Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title VIII, § 814(a)(8), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4192.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

54 U.S.C. § 101335

Title 54, National Park Service and Related Programs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110