Standard (non-residential) leases

You can apply to the trustee of the land to lease land for any purpose, including:

• commercial activities
• cultural activities
• religious practices
• government services
• public infrastructure.

Costs

The cost for the lease will depend on the size and type of land, and your purpose for leasing it. You’ll negotiate the cost with the trustee.

Who can get a lease?

Anyone can apply for a lease on Indigenous land. You don’t need to be Indigenous to apply.

How to apply

Step 1: contact the trustee

To get a lease, you must apply to the trustee of the land (for example, the local Indigenous council).

Each trustee has their own process for lease applications, so contact them before applying.

Step 2: complete the application form

To apply, complete the appropriate application form and send it to the trustee. You’ll need to use the right form, depending on whether the land is Aboriginal land or Torres Strait Island land.

• Form 2 - Standard lease application - Aboriginal land (PDF, 67.2KB)
• Form 2 - Standard lease application - Torres Strait Island land (PDF, 69.5KB)

What happens next?

If the trustee agrees to the lease, they will give you an agreement to lease. This outlines any conditions you need to meet before the trustee will grant the lease. Depending on what you want the lease for, these conditions could include:

• negotiating an Indigenous land use agreement
• conducting a survey of the land.

The agreement to lease will also state:

• the rent
• any other financial considerations
• any conditions you have to meet after the lease is granted.

Once you have met the conditions, a lease document will be prepared for you and the trustee to sign. This is the final agreement between you and the trustee, and will be used to register the lease.