Road crossing easements
Roads crossing state land
Do I need permission to construct a road across state land administered by the DNR to access my property?
Yes, you must have either a lease or easement issued by the state. (An easement grants a long-term right to use or occupy the land for a specific purpose.) The DNR may issue an easement to cross state-owned lands for the purposes of constructing and maintaining roads. However, the DNR is not required to issue easements upon request. Also, DNR staff often request applicants to realign proposed easements to minimize impacts.
If the state-owned land is trust fund land, state law provides that the easements can only be issued to local units of government, not to individuals. Easement fees are often based on a percentage of the appraised value of the area covered by the easement.
It is recommended that you first contact regional Lands and Minerals Division staff to review issues concerning land ownership, planned routes, and existing resource management uses.
Individuals applying for an easement must contact regional Lands and Minerals Division staff for an application fee determination and easement cost estimate.
Application for Easement Across State Land 
(print out and fill in with pen or typewriter, 67Kb)
Instructions for completing this application are contained within the application form. An accurate and complete application will help processing the request as rapidly as possible.
