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Nevada State Geothermal Lease (3-NV-a)

Information current as of 2022
In Nevada, a geothermal developer may need a lease from the Nevada Division of State Lands (DSL or Registrar) to use public land for the extraction of geothermal resources. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 322.010; Nev. Admin. Code § 322.160. Although the federal government controls 83% of the acreage in Nevada, the majority of existing geothermal power plants are on private land.


The State Land Registrar is charged with keeping records of all lands and interests in lands held by the state of Nevada. NAC § 321.030. The Registrar (Administrator) is the executive officer of the Nevada Division of State Lands and more information can be found at their website.



State Geothermal Lease Process


3-NV-a.1 – Application to Use State Lands

The developer should submit an Application to Use State Lands to DSL to apply for a lease to develop geothermal resources on state lands. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 322.010; Nev. Admin. Code § 322.160.

NRS § 322.010-322.040 provide general authorization and guidelines allowing the Registrar to lease public lands for geothermal resources.

3-NV-a.2 to 3-NV-a.6– Review the Application for Completeness

The DSL must review the Application for administrative and technical completeness. Nev. Admin. Code § 322.160. Once DSL receives a complete Application, they must stamp it with the filing date and time. The DSL must send notice of the Application to the following parties:

  • Owners of adjacent property;
  • Homeowners’ associations and general or special improvement districts which may be affected by the application;
  • Governmental bodies which the State Land Registrar determines should be notified; and
  • Persons who have informed the State Land Registrar of their desire to be so notified.

Anyone can submit public comments on and objections to the Application to the DSL. Nev. Admin. Code § 322.170.

3-NV-a.7 to 3-NV-a.9 – Hold Public Hearing

The DSL must hold a public hearing on the Application within 20 days of the public comment period closing. The DSL must review the Application for approval (i.e., make a final decision on the Application). Nev. Admin. Code § 322.180.

3-NV-a.10 – Geothermal Lease

The following guidelines must be followed by the Registrar in granting leases on public lands:

  1. Parcels may only be 40 acres or greater and 1,280 or less;
  2. Royalties must not be less than ten percent of the gross value of any geothermal resource derived from the lease and five percent of the gross value of any by-product sold or utilized;
  3. Every lease must be negotiated under such terms or rent or royalty that they are not less favorable than similar leaseholds in the vicinity.

The DSL’s decision on an Application is final. Nev. Admin. Code § 322.240.


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Contact Information






Edit Nevada Division of State Lands
State Land Leasing, Exploration, and Well-Development Contact 775.684.7040 Visit Website

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