Payments are due annually on the anniversary of the start date of the surface disposition.
Please contact the Department of Environment and Climate Change at lands@gov.nt.ca or call 1-855-698-5263, if you have any questions.
Changes to lease rent
In August 2023, the Government of the Northwest Territories reduced lease rent rates for all residential and recreational leases to help ease financial pressures and assist with cost-of-living challenges for lease holders.
Changes to Residential Lease Pricing
The percentage of assessed value charged to residential lessees is reduced from 5% to 2.5% on Commissioner’s Land.
Lease rent minimums are also reduced from $840 to $800 annually for all residential lessees on Commissioner’s and Territorial lands.
Changes to Recreational Lease Pricing
A new three-tiered system applies to all recreational leases, reduced from a minimum of $840, to fixed amounts of either $600, $400 or $300 annually depending on access to the leased parcel. This approach will ensure that recreational leases with limited and seasonal access will pay less than those with year-round access.
| Lease Use | Old Rent Rate | New Rent Rate | Old Minimum Lease Rent | Minimum Lease Rent (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Use | ||||
| Commissioner’s Land | 5 % of land value (assessed value) | 2.5 % of land value (assessed value) | $840 | $800 |
| Territorial Land | 10% of land value (appraised value) | No change | $840 | $800 |
| Commercial or Industrial Use | ||||
| Commissioner’s Land | 10 % of land value (assessed Value) | No change | $840 | $800 |
| Territorial Land | 10% of Land Value (appraised Value) | No change | $840 | $800 |
| Recreational Use | ||||
| Tier 1 (less than 1km from highway) | $840 or more | $600 | $840 | Not applicable |
| Tier 2 (1-30kms from highway) | $840 or more | $400 | $840 | Not applicable |
| Tier 3 (30kms or more from highway) | $840 or more | $300 | $840 | Not applicable |
These changes reduce recreational and residential lease rates for all individuals and make rent more comparable between Commissioner’s and Territorial land, until the Public Land Act comes into force and creates a single public land pricing regime.
Existing residential and recreational lessees will see these savings at their next scheduled rent review. These rates also apply to any new surface dispositions issued after August 28, 2023.
Recreational Lease Arrears for Indigenous Lessees
If you are an Indigenous person with a recreational type lease, and if your lease is in an area where you have asserted or established Aboriginal and/or Treaty rights to harvest, and you have lease rent arrears from before August 2023, you may be eligible for the pausing of collection actions and/or the forgiveness of your lease rent arrears. Lessees should contact the Department of Environment and Climate Change to request and confirm eligibility for this program. Please note, property tax arrears are not included in this program.