In accordance with the Vice PM Yuri Trutnev’s order, a legal bill allowing Russians to receive free land in the Arctic region of up to a single hectare has been issued.

The land will be given for use for five years, and after that it will have to be registered as property or long-term rental. The land can be used as a residential or economic and commercial area, including a household agricultural economy or services such as tourism.

The land sites will be turned in in compliance with the Federal Law of 01.05.2016 № 119-FL (Edited 18.07.2019) “On Nuances of Granting Citizens Land in Government or Municipal Possession Situated Within the Federal Subjects of Russia and Belonging to the Far Eastern Federal District, and on Passing Amendments to Specific Laws of the Russian Federation” which is the one to pass amendments to.

Land sites will be available only on the inland part of Arctica. This includes the following three regions: Murmansk Oblast, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and 23 municipal districts of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Republics of Komi and Karelia. The Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and arctic municipalities of Yakutia do not account for this as land there is distributed by the Russian Far East regulations.

The Arctic region of Russia is inhabited by 2.5 million people, with 90% of those living in large cities like Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Norilsk. Recently, these territories have been depopulating while retaining the infrastructure which is a good opportunity to develop the individual household growth.