Laws and Regulations

Public lands in the Northwest Territories (NWT) are managed pursuant to the Northwest Territories Lands Act and its related Regulations. In the NWT, sub-surface lands include hard-rock minerals, precious gems and coal.

The rights to these materials are administered through the Mining Regulations, the Coal Regulations and the Dredging Regulations.

ITI has adopted the modernized NWT Mining Regulations from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. The amendments were intended to simplify, clarify and modernize the regulations rather than changing the fundamental principles upon which the regulations are based. These regulations deal with mineral tenure and royalties on mining production.

For more information on the administration of subsurface rights and mineral tenures, including issuance of prospector's licences, prospecting permits, minerals claims, claim tags, claim maps, minerals leases, or for information on mineral rights records and mineral disposition reports, please contact the Mining Recorders Office.