How to Stake a Mining Claim in California
California has 9,540 active mining claims on BLM land, targeting Gold, Silver, Rare Earths, Borates. Staking a new claim requires following federal procedure under the General Mining Law of 1872 plus state-specific filing requirements.
The Staking Process
Verify land status
Use the BLM Mineral & Land Records System to confirm the land is open for mineral entry. Check for withdrawals, existing claims, and overlapping jurisdictions.
BLM MLRS Portal →Determine claim type
Choose one of four claim types based on the mineral deposit and your intended use:
- Lode claim — vein or rock in place deposits (e.g., gold in quartz)
- Placer claim — loose deposits (e.g., stream gold)
- Mill site — up to 5 acres for processing facilities
- Tunnel site — for tunnel-based exploration
Physically stake the land
Place legally recognized boundary monuments at the corners of your claim. GPS coordinates are now standard practice.
California-specific: California mining claim location requirements are governed by the California Public Resources Code, Division 2 (Geology, Mines, and Mining). Federal requirements under 43 CFR 3832 apply on BLM-administered lands. [source]
File Notice of Location
File a Certificate of Location with both the county recorder's office and the BLM state office within 90 days of staking. [source]
Pay required fees
Initial filing costs approximately $274 per claim:
- $25 processing fee
- $49 location fee
- $200 annual maintenance fee
Source: 43 CFR 3833. [source]
Annual renewal
Pay the $200 maintenance fee before September 1 each year, or file a Small Miner Waiver if you hold 10 or fewer claims and perform $100 of assessment work.
Missing the September 1 deadline results in automatic forfeiture with no grace period.
California BLM State Office
BLM California State Office
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1623, Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 978-4400
https://www.blm.gov/office/california-state-officeCounty Recorder Offices
California Claim Statistics
Sourced from BLM MLRS extract (as of Q2 2026).
Top Claim Holders
Mineral Context
California hosts claims primarily targeting Gold, Silver, Rare Earths, Borates.
Notable Districts
Ready to explore California?
See every active mining claim on the interactive map.