Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China

中华人民共和国土地管理法

Promulgating Institution:      Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

Document Number:   Order No. 8 of the President of the People's Republic of China

Promulgating Date:         08/29/1998

Effective Date:        01/01/1999

Revision History： Amended for the second time in accordance with the Decision on Revising the Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China made by the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress at its 11st Meeting held on August 28, 2004.

颁布机关:       全国人民代表大会常务委员会

文    号:     中华人民共和国主席令第八号

颁布时间:       08/29/1998

实施时间:       01/01/1999

修订记录：    根据2004年8月28日发布的全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于修改《中华人民共和国土地管理法》的决定，此文件已被修订。

Text

正文

Order of the President of the People's Republic of China

No. 8

The Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, revised and adopted at the 4th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on August 29, 1998, is hereby promulgated and shall go into effect as of January 1, 1999.

Jiang Zemin

President of the People's Republic of China

August 29, 1998

中华人民共和国主席令

第八号

《中华人民共和国土地管理法》已由中华人民共和国第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第四次会议于1998年8月29日修订通过,现将修订后的《中华人民共和国土地管理法》公布,自1999年1月1日起施行。

中华人民共和国主席 江泽民

1998年8月29日

Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China

(Adopted at the 16th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress on June 25, 1986, amended in accordance with the Decision on Revising the Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China made by the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress at its 5th Meeting held on December 29, 1988, and revised at the 4th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on August 29, 1998)

中华人民共和国土地管理法

（1986年6月25日第六届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十六次会议通过 根据1988年12月29日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第五次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国土地管理法〉的决定》修正 1998年8月29日第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第四次会议修订通过 1998年8月29日中华人民共和国主席令第八号公布 自1999年1月1日起施行）

Chapter 1: General Provisions

第一章 总则

  Article 1   This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution for the purpose of strengthening land administration, maintaining the socialist public ownership of land, protecting and developing land resources, making rational use of land, effectively protecting cultivated land and promoting sustainable development of the society and the economy.

    第一条 为了加强土地管理,维护土地的社会主义公有制,保护、开发土地资源,合理利用土地,切实保护耕地,促进社会经济的可持续发展,根据宪法,制定本法。

  Article 2   The People's Republic of China practises socialist public ownership of land, namely, ownership by the whole people and collective ownership by the working people.

Ownership by the whole people means that the right of ownership in State-owned land is exercised by the State Council on behalf of the State.

No units or individuals may encroach on land or illegally transfer it through buying, selling or other means. However, the right to the use of land may be transferred in accordance with law.

The State may, in the interest of the public, lawfully requisition land owned by collectives.

The State applies, in accordance with law, a system of compensated use of State-owned land, with the exception of land the right to the use of which is allocated by the State within the provisions of laws.

    第二条 中华人民共和国实行土地的社会主义公有制,即全民所有制和劳动群众集体所有制。

   全民所有,即国家所有土地的所有权由国务院代表国家行使。

   任何单位和个人不得侵占、买卖或者以其他形式非法转让土地。土地使用权可以依法转让。

   国家为公共利益的需要,可以依法对集体所有的土地实行征用。

   国家依法实行国有土地有偿使用制度。但是,国家在法律规定的范围内划拨国有土地使用权的除外。

  Article 3   To value land highly, use land rationally and protect cultivated land effectively is China's basic policy. People's governments at all levels shall take measures, draw up overall plans, tighten control, protect and develop land resources, and prevent unlawful occupation and use of land.

    第三条 十分珍惜、合理利用土地和切实保护耕地是我国的基本国策。各级人民政府应当采取措施,全面规划,严格管理,保护、开发土地资源,制止非法占用土地的行为。

  Article 4   The State applies a system of control over the purposes of use of land.

The State formulates overall plans for land utilization in which to define the purposes of use of land and classify land into land for agriculture, land for construction and unused land. It shall rigidly restrict conversion of land for agriculture to land for construction, keep the total area of the land for construction under control and give special protection to cultivated land.

Land for agriculture as referred to in the preceding paragraph means land that is directly used for agricultural production, including cultivated land, forest land, grassland, land for irrigation and water conservancy, and water surfaces for aquaculture; land for construction means land for constructing buildings and other structures, including land for housing in urban and rural areas, for public utilities, for factories and mines, for communications and water conservancy, for tourism and for military installations; and unused land means land other than land for agriculture and construction.

All units and individuals shall use land in strict compliance with the purposes of use defined in the overall plans for land utilization.

    第四条 国家实行土地用途管制制度。

   国家编制土地利用总体规划,规定土地用途,将土地分为农用地、建设用地和未利用地。严格限制农用地转为建设用地,控制建设用地总量,对耕地实行特殊保护。

   前款所称农用地是指直接用于农业生产的土地,包括耕地、林地、草地、农田水利用地、养殖水面等;建设用地是指建造建筑物、构筑物的土地,包括城乡住宅和公共设施用地、工矿用地、交通水利设施用地、旅游用地、军事设施用地等;未利用地是指农用地和建设用地以外的土地。

   使用土地的单位和个人必须严格按照土地利用总体规划确定的用途使用土地。

  Article 5   The land administration department under the State Council shall be in charge of unified administration of and supervision over the land throughout the country.

The establishment and duties of the land administration departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be decided by people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State Council.

    第五条 国务院土地行政主管部门统一负责全国土地的管理和监督工作。

   县级以上地方人民政府土地行政主管部门的设置及其职责,由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府根据国务院有关规定确定。

  Article 6   All units and individuals shall have the obligation to observe the laws and regulations governing land administration and shall have the right to report against or accuse any violations of such laws or regulations.

    第六条 任何单位和个人都有遵守土地管理法律、法规的义务,并有权对违反土地管理法律、法规的行为提出检举和控告。

  Article 7   The people's governments shall reward the units or individuals that achieve outstanding successes in protecting and developing land resources, using land rationally and carrying out relevant scientific research.

    第七条 在保护和开发土地资源、合理利用土地以及进行有关的科学研究等方面成绩显著的单位和个人,由人民政府给予奖励。

Chapter 2: Ownership of Land and Right to the Use of Land

第二章 土地的所有权和使用权

  Article 8   Land in the urban areas of cities is owned by the State.

Land in rural and suburban areas is owned by peasant collectives, except for those portions of land which belong to the State as provided for by law; house sites and private plots of cropland and hilly land are owned by peasant collectives.

    第八条 城市市区的土地属于国家所有。农村、城市郊区的土地除有关法律规定的以外,属于农民集体所有;宅基地和自留地、自留山,属于农民集体所有。

  Article 9   State-owned land and land owned by peasant collectives may be lawfully determined to be used by units or individuals. Units and individuals that use land shall have the obligation to protect and manage the land and make rational use of it.

    第九条 国有土地和农民集体所有的土地,可以依法确定给单位或者个人使用。使用土地的单位和个人,有保护、管理和合理利用土地的义务。

  Article 10   Land owned by peasant collectives that belongs lawfully to peasant collectives of a village shall be operated and managed by collective economic organizations of the village or by villagers' committees; land already owned by different peasant collectives that belong to two or more different collective economic organizations in the village shall be operated and managed by the rural collective economic organizations in the village or by villagers' groups; land already owned by a peasant collective of a township (town) shall be operated and managed by the rural collective economic organization of the township (town).

    第十条 农民集体所有的土地依法属于村农民集体所有的,由村集体经济组织或者村民委员会经营、管理;已经分别属于村内两个以上农村集体经济组织的农民集体所有的,由村内各该农村集体经济组织或者村民小组经营、管理;已经属于乡(镇)农民集体所有的,由乡(镇)农村集体经济组织经营、管理。

  Article 11   Land owned by peasant collectives shall be registered with and recorded by people's governments at the county level, which shall, upon verification, issue certificates to confirm the ownership of such land.

Land owned by peasant collectives to be lawfully used for non-agricultural construction shall be registered with and recorded by people's governments at the county level, which shall, upon verification, issue certificates to confirm the right to the use of the land for such construction.

State-owned land to be lawfully used by units or individuals shall be registered with and recorded by people's governments at or above the county level, which shall, upon verification, issue certificates to confirm their right to the use of such land. The specific organs for registration and issue of certificates for State-owned land to be used by central or State organs shall be determined by the State Council.

Ownership or the right to the use of forest land or grassland and the right to the use of water surfaces or tidal flats for aquaculture shall be confirmed respectively in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Forestry Law, the Grassland Law and the Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China.

    第十一条 农民集体所有的土地,由县级人民政府登记造册,核发证书,确认所有权。

   农民集体所有的土地依法用于非农业建设的,由县级人民政府登记造册,核发证书,确认建设用地使用权。

   单位和个人依法使用的国有土地,由县级以上人民政府登记造册,核发证书,确认使用权;其中,中央国家机关使用的国有土地的具体登记发证机关,由国务院确定。

   确认林地、草原的所有权或者使用权,确认水面、滩涂的养殖使用权,分别依照《中华人民共和国森林法》、《中华人民共和国草原法》和《中华人民共和国渔业法》的有关规定办理。

  Article 12   Any change to be lawfully made in land ownership, in the right to the use of land or in the purpose of use of land shall be registered.

    第十二条 依法改变土地权属和用途的,应当办理土地变更登记手续。

  Article 13   The lawfully registered ownership of land and right to the use of land shall be protected by law and may not be infringed upon by any units or individuals.

    第十三条 依法登记的土地的所有权和使用权受法律保护,任何单位和个人不得侵犯。

  Article 14   Land owned by peasant collectives shall be operated under a contract by members of the economic organizations of the peasant collectives for crop cultivation, forestry, animal husbandry or fishery. The duration of such contract is 30 years. The party that gives out a contract and the party that undertakes it shall sign a contract in which to stipulate the rights and obligations of both parties. A peasant who undertakes to operate a piece of land under a contract shall have the obligation to protect the land and rationally use it in conformity with the purposes of use provided for in the contract. The right of a peasant to operate land under a contract shall be protected by law.

Within the duration of the contract for operation of land, any appropriate readjustment of the land between individual contractors shall be made with the agreement of at least two-thirds of the members of the villagers assembly or of the representatives of villagers and the matter shall be submitted to the township (town) people's government and the agriculture administration department of the people's government at the county level for approval.

    第十四条 农民集体所有的土地由本集体经济组织的成员承包经营,从事种植业、林业、畜牧业、渔业生产。土地承包经营期限为三十年。发包方和承包方应当订立承包合同,约定双方的权利和义务。承包经营土地的农民有保护和按照承包合同约定的用途合理利用土地的义务。农民的土地承包经营权受法律保护。

   在土地承包经营期限内,对个别承包经营者之间承包的土地进行适当调整的,必须经村民会议三分之二以上成员或者三分之二以上村民代表的同意,并报乡(镇)人民政府和县级人民政府农业行政主管部门批准。

  Article 15   State-owned land may be operated under a contract by units or individuals for crop cultivation, forestry, animal husbandry or fishery. Land owned by peasant collectives may be operated under a contract for crop cultivation, forestry, animal husbandry or fishery by units or individuals that do not belong to the economic organizations of the said collectives. The party that gives out the contract and the party that undertakes it shall sign a contract in which to stipulate the rights and obligations of both parties. The duration of such contract shall be provided for by the contract. The units or individuals that contract to operate the land shall have the obligation to protect such land and make rational use of it in conformity with the purposes of use provided for in the contract.

Land owned by peasant collectives shall be operated under a contract by units or individuals that do not belong to the economic organizations of the said collectives, with the agreement of at least two-thirds of the members of the villagers assembly or of the representatives of villagers, and the matter shall be submitted to the township (town) people's government for approval.

    第十五条 国有土地可以由单位或者个人承包经营,从事种植业、林业、畜牧业、渔业生产。农民集体所有的土地,可以由本集体经济组织以外的单位或者个人承包经营,从事种植业、林业、畜牧业、渔业生产。发包方和承包方应当订立承包合同,约定双方的权利和义务。土地承包经营的期限由承包合同约定。承包经营土地的单位和个人,有保护和按照承包合同约定的用途合理利用土地的义务。

   农民集体所有的土地由本集体经济组织以外的单位或者个人承包经营的,必须经村民会议三分之二以上成员或者三分之二以上村民代表的同意,并报乡(镇)人民政府批准。

  Article 16   Disputes over ownership of land or the right to the use of land shall be solved through consultation between the parties. If such consultation fails, the disputes shall be handled by the people's government.

Disputes between units shall be handled by people's governments at or above the county level. Disputes between individuals or between individuals and units shall be handled by people's governments at the township level or at or above the county level.

If a party refuses to accept the decision made by the relevant people's government, it may file a suit in a People's Court within 30 days from the date of receiving notification of the decision.

Before a dispute over ownership of land or the right to the use of land is solved, no party may alter the condition in which the land is being used.

    第十六条 土地所有权和使用权争议,由当事人协商解决;协商不成的,由人民政府处理。

   单位之间的争议,由县级以上人民政府处理;个人之间、个人与单位之间的争议,由乡级人民政府或者县级以上人民政府处理。

   当事人对有关人民政府的处理决定不服的,可以自接到处理决定通知之日起三十日内,向人民法院起诉。

   在土地所有权和使用权争议解决前,任何一方不得改变土地利用现状。

Chapter 3: Overall Plans for Land Utilization

第三章 土地利用总体规划

  Article 17   People's governments at all levels shall draw up overall plans for land utilization on the basis of the requirements of the plans for national economic and social development, the need for improvement of national land and for protection of the natural resources and the environment, the capacity of land supply, and the demand for land by various construction projects.

The duration of an overall plan for land utilization shall be prescribed by the State Council.

    第十七条 各级人民政府应当依据国民经济和社会发展规划、国土整治和资源环境保护的要求、土地供给能力以及各项建设对土地的需求,组织编制土地利用总体规划。

   土地利用总体规划的规划期限由国务院规定。

  Article 18   The overall plan for land utilization at a lower level shall be drawn up on the basis of such a plan drawn up at the next higher level.

The total area of land for construction in the overall plan for land utilization drawn up by local people's governments at different levels shall not exceed the control norm set in such a plan by the people's government at the next higher level and the area of cultivated land reserved shall not be smaller than the control norm set in the overall plan for land utilization of the people's government at the next higher level.

In drawing up their overall plans for land utilization, the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall see that the total area of the cultivated land within their own administrative regions is not reduced.

    第十八条 下级土地利用总体规划应当依据上一级土地利用总体规划编制。

   地方各级人民政府编制的土地利用总体规划中的建设用地总量不得超过上一级土地利用总体规划确定的控制指标,耕地保有量不得低于上一级土地利用总体规划确定的控制指标。

   省、自治区、直辖市人民政府编制的土地利用总体规划,应当确保本行政区域内耕地总量不减少。

  Article 19   Overall plans for land utilization shall be drawn up in accordance with the following principles:

(1) strictly protecting the capital farmland and keeping land for agriculture under control lest it should be occupied and used for non-agricultural construction;

(2) increasing the land utilization ratio;

(3) making overall plans for the use of land for different purposes and in different areas;

(4) protecting and improving ecological environment and guaranteeing the sustainable use of land; and

(5) maintaining balance between the area of cultivated land used for other purposes and the area of land developed and reclaimed.

    第十九条 土地利用总体规划按照下列原则编制:

   (一)严格保护基本农田,控制非农业建设占用农用地;(二)提高土地利用率;(三)统筹安排各类、各区域用地;(四)保护和改善生态环境,保障土地的可持续利用;(五)占用耕地与开发复垦耕地相平衡。

  Article 20   In the overall plans for land utilization at the county level, land shall be zoned and the purposes of its use defined.

In the overall plans for land utilization at the township (town) level, land shall be zoned and the purposes of use of each plot defined in light of the condition of the land to be used, both of which shall be made known to the general public.

    第二十条 县级土地利用总体规划应当划分土地利用区,明确土地用途。乡(镇)土地利用总体规划应当划分土地利用区,根据土地使用条件,确定每一块土地的作用,并予以公告。

  Article 21   The overall plans for land utilization shall be examined for approval at different levels.

The overall plans for land utilization drawn up by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall be submitted to the State Council for approval.

The overall plans for land utilization drawn up by cities, where people's governments of provinces or autonomous regions are located or where the population is over one million, and cities earmarked by the State Council shall be examined for consent by people's governments of the provinces or autonomous regions, before they are submitted to the State Council for approval.

The overall plans for land utilization other than the ones mentioned in the second and third paragraph of this Article shall be submitted for approval level by level up to the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government. Among these, the ones drawn up by townships (towns) may be submitted for approval to the people's governments of cities, that are divided into districts, or the autonomous prefectures, as are authorized by people's governments at the provincial level.

Once an overall plan for land utilization is approved, it shall be strictly carried out.

    第二十一条 土地利用总体规划实行分级审批。省、自治区、直辖市的土地利用总体规划,报国务院批准。省、自治区人民政府所在地的市、人口在一百万以上的城市以及国务院指定的城市的土地利用总体规划,经省、自治区人民政府审查同意后,报国务院批准。本条第二款、第三款规定以外的土地利用总体规划,逐级上报省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准;其中,乡(镇)土地利用总体规划可以由省级人民政府授权的设区的市、自治州人民政府批准。土地利用总体规划一经批准,必须严格执行。

  Article 22   The area of land to be used for urban construction shall conform to the norm set by State regulations. Attention shall be paid to making full use of the existing land earmarked for construction and using little or no land earmarked for agriculture.

The overall plans of cities and the plans of villages and towns shall be dovetailed with the overall plan for land utilization, and the area of land to be used for construction fixed in the former shall not exceed the area fixed in the latter for the cities, villages and towns.

In areas covered by the plans of cities, villages and towns, the area of land to be used for construction shall conform to the area as is fixed in such plans.

    第二十二条 城市建设用地规模应当符合国家规定的标准,充分利用现有建设用地,不占或者尽量少占农用地。城市总体规划、村庄和集镇规划,应当与土地利用总体规划相衔接,城市总体规划、村庄和集镇规划中建设用地规模不得超过土地利用总体规划确定的城市和村庄、集镇建设用地规模。在城市规划区内、村庄和集镇规划区内,城市和村庄、集镇建设用地应当符合城市规划、村庄和集镇规划。

  Article 23   Plans for all-round harnessing of rivers and lakes and for their development and utilization shall be dovetailed with the overall plan for land utilization. Within areas of the rivers, lakes and reservoirs under control and protection and areas for flood storage or detention, land shall be used in conformity with the plan for all-round harnessing of rivers and lakes and for their development and utilization and with the requirements of flood diversion and storage and water transmission from the rivers and lakes.

    第二十三条 江河、湖泊综合治理和开发利用规划,应当与土地利用总体规划相衔接。在江河、湖泊、水库的管理和保护范围以及蓄洪滞洪区内,土地利用应当符合江河、湖泊综合治理和开发利用规划,符合河道、湖泊行洪、蓄洪和输水的要求。

  Article 24   People's governments at all levels shall exercise close supervision over the plans for land utilization and keep control over the total area of land to be used for construction.

The annual plans for land utilization shall be drawn up in accordance with the plan for national economic and social development, the industrial policies of the State, the overall plan for land utilization and the actual condition of land to be used for construction and land to be utilized. The procedure for examination and approval of annual plans for land utilization is the same as that for overall plans for land utilization. Once the annual plans for land utilization are approved and made known to lower levels, they shall be strictly carried out.

    第二十四条 各级人民政府应当加强土地利用计划管理,实行建设用地总量控制。土地利用年度计划,根据国民经济和社会发展计划、国家产业政策、土地利用总体规划以及建设用地和土地利用的实际状况编制。土地利用年度计划的编制审批程序与土地利用总体规划的编制审批程序相同,一经审批下达,必须严格执行。

  Article 25   People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall include the implementation of the annual plans for land utilization in their report on the implementation of the plan for national economic and social development to be delivered to the people's congresses at the corresponding level.

    第二十五条 省、自治区、直辖市人民政府应当将土地利用年度计划的执行情况列为国民经济和社会发展计划执行情况的内容,向同级人民代表大会报告。

  Article 26   Any revision of an approved overall plan for land utilization shall be subject to approval by the organ that originally approved the plan; without such approval, no change may be made in the purposes of land use as defined in the overall plan for land utilization. Where a change needs to be made in an overall plan for land utilization to meet the demand for land for the construction of such large infrastructure projects as energy, communications or water conservancy projects that have been approved by the State Council, it shall be made in accordance with the document of approval issued by the State Council.

Where a change needs to be made in an overall plan for land utilization to meet the demand for land for the construction of such infrastructure projects as energy, communications or water conservancy projects that have been approved by people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government and the plan is within the limits of the approval authority of a people's government at the provincial level, the change shall be made in accordance with the document of approval issued by such government.

    第二十六条 经批准的土地利用总体规划的修改,须经原批准机关批准;未经批准,不得改变土地利用总体规划确定的土地用途。经国务院批准的大型能源、交通、水利等基础设施建设用地,需要改变土地利用总体规划的,根据国务院的批准文件修改土地利用总体规划。经省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准的能源、交通、水利等基础设施建设用地,需要改变土地利用总体规划的,属于省级人民政府土地利用总体规划批准权限内的,根据省级人民政府的批准文件修改土地利用总体规划。

  Article 27   The State shall establish a land survey system. Land administration departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with the departments concerned at the same level, conduct land survey. Land owners and users shall cooperate in the work and provide relevant materials.

    第二十七条 国家建立土地调查制度。县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门会同同级有关部门进行土地调查。土地所有者或者使用者应当配合调查,并提供有关资料。

  Article 28   Land administration departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall, in conjunction with the departments concerned at the same level, grade land on the basis of the result of land survey, the planned purposes for the use of land and the uniform standards formulated by the State.

    第二十八条 县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门会同同级有关部门根据土地调查成果、规划土地作用和国家制定的统一标准,评定土地等级。

  Article 29   The State shall establish a land statistics system. Land administration departments and statistics departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall work together to draw up plans for statistics and survey, lawfully prepare land statistics, and publish materials of such statistics at regular intervals. Land owners and users shall provide relevant materials; they may not fabricate or conceal such materials, refuse to provide them, or delay providing them.

Statistics of the areas of land published jointly by land administration departments and statistics departments shall provide the basis for people's governments at all levels in drawing up their overall plans for land utilization.

    第二十九条 国家建立土地统计制度。县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门和同级统计部门共同制定统计调查方案,依法进行土地统计,定期发布土地统计资料。土地所有者或者使用者应当提供有关资料,不得虚报、瞒报、拒报、迟报。土地行政主管部门和统计部门共同发布的土地面积统计资料是各级人民政府编制土地利用总体规划的依据。

  Article 30   The State shall establish a national land administration information network to monitor developments in land utilization.

    第三十条 国家建立全国土地管理信息系统,对土地利用状况进行动态监测。

Chapter 4: Protection of Cultivated Land

第四章 耕地保护

  Article 31   The State protects cultivated land and strictly restricts conversion of cultivated land to non-cultivated land. The State applies the system of compensation for use of cultivated land for other purposes. The principle of "reclaiming the same area of land as is used" shall be applied to any unit that, with approval, uses cultivated land for construction of non-agricultural projects, that is, the unit shall be responsible for reclaiming the same area and quality of the cultivated land it uses. If conditions for such reclamation do not exist or if the reclaimed land fails to meet the requirements, the unit shall pay expenses for reclamation in accordance with the regulations set by people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the money shall exclusively be used for reclamation. People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall formulate plans for land reclamation, see that the unit that uses cultivated land reclaims land according to plan or arranges reclamation according to plan, and conduct inspection before acceptance.

    第三十一条 国家保护耕地,严格控制耕地转为非耕地。国家实行占用耕地补偿制度。非农业建设经批准占用耕地的,按照“占多少,垦多少"的原则,由占耕地的单位负责开垦与所占用耕地的数量和质量相当的耕地;没有条件开垦或者开垦的耕地不符合要求的,应当按照省、自治区、直辖市的规定缴纳耕地开垦费,专款用于开垦新的耕地。省、自治区、直辖市人民政府应当制定开垦耕地计划,监督占用耕地的单位按照计划开垦耕地或者按照计划组织开垦耕地,并进行验收。

  Article 32   Local people's governments at or above the county level may require the units that wish to use cultivated land to move the arable layer of cultivated land to the reclaimed land or to land of inferior quality, or to other cultivated land for improving soil.

    第三十二条 县级以上地方人民政府可以要求占用耕地的单位将所占用耕地耕作层的土壤用于新开垦耕地、劣质地或者其他耕地的土壤改良。

  Article 33   People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall strictly implement the overall plans and annual plans for land utilization and take measures to ensure that the total area of cultivated land within their administrative regions remains unreduced. Where the total area of cultivated land is reduced, the State Council shall order the government concerned to reclaim land, within a time limit, of the same quality and area as is reduced, and the land administration department together with the agriculture administration department under the State Council shall inspect the land reclaimed before acceptance. Where individual governments of provinces or municipalities directly under the Central Government, for lack of land reserves, cannot reclaim enough land to make up for the cultivated land they used for additional construction projects, they shall apply to the State Council for approval of their reclaiming less or no land within their own administrative regions and of their reclaiming land in other regions.

    第三十三条 省、自治区、直辖市人民政府应当严格执行土地利用总体规划和土地利用年度计划,采取措施,确保本行政区域内耕地总量不减少;耕地总量减少的,由国务院责令在规定期限内组织开垦与所减少耕地的数量与质量相当的耕地,并由国务院土地行政主管部门会同农业行政主管部门验收。个别省、直辖市确因土地后备资源匮乏,新增建设用地后,新开垦耕地的数量不足以补偿所占用耕地的数量的,必须报经国务院批准减免本行政区域内开垦耕地的数量,进行易地开垦。

  Article 34   The State applies a system of protection for capital farm- land. Cultivated land of the following categories shall be included in the protected capital farmland in accordance with the overall plan for land utilization and be placed under strict control:

(1) cultivated land within bases of grain, cotton and oil crops production, which are designated as such with the approval of the departments concerned under the State Council or of the people's governments at or above the county level;

(2) cultivated land with good irrigation and water and soil conservation facilities as well as medium- and low-yield fields that are under improvement according to plan or that can be improved;

(3) vegetable production bases;

(4) pilot fields for scientific research or teaching of agriculture; and

(5) other cultivated land that should be included in the protected capital farmland according to regulations of the State Council.

The capital farmland designated as such by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall account for at least 80 percent of the total cultivated land in their administrative regions respectively. The area of protected capital farmland shall be demarcated with the township (town) as a unit and such demarcation shall be arranged by the land administration department together with the agriculture administration department of a people's government at the county level.

    第三十四条 国家实行基本农田保护制度。下列耕地应当根据土地利用总体规划划入基本农田保护区,严格管理:(一)经国务院有关主管部门或者县级以上地方人民政府批准确定的粮、棉、油生产基地内的耕地;(二)有良好的水利与水土保持设施的耕地,正在实施改造计划以及可以改造的中、低产田;(三)蔬菜生产基地;(四)农业科研、教学试验田;(五)国务院规定应当划入基本农田保护区的其他耕地。各省、自治区、直辖市划定的基本农田应当占本行政区域内耕地的百分之八十以上。基本农田保护区以乡(镇)为单位进行划区定界,由县级人民政府土地行政主管部门会同同级农业行政主管部门组织实施。

  Article 35   People's governments at all levels shall take measures to protect irrigation and drainage facilities, improve soil, increase soil fertility and prevent desertification, salinization, and soil erosion and contamination.

    第三十五条 各级人民政府应当采取措施,维护排灌工程设施,改良土壤,提高地力,防止土地荒漠化、盐渍化、水土流失和污染土地。

  Article 36   In non-agricultural construction, attention shall be paid to economizing on the use of land. Where wasteland can be used, no cultivated land may be used; where land of inferior quality can be used, no land of superior quality may be used. It is forbidden to use cultivated land for building kilns and graves and to build houses, dig sand, quarry, mine or collect earth on or from cultivated land without authorization. It is forbidden to use capital farmland for planting forest or fruit trees or to turn such land into ponds for raising fish.

    第三十六条 非农业建设必须节约使用土地,可以利用荒地的,不得占用耕地;可以利用劣地的,不得占用好地。禁止占用耕地建窑、建坟或者擅自在耕地上建房、挖砂、采石、采矿、取土等。禁止占用基本农田发展林果业和挖塘养鱼。

  Article 37   All units and individuals are forbidden to leave cultivated land unused or let it lie waste. Where a stretch of cultivated land, for which the formalities of examination and approval have been gone through for its use for non-agricultural construction projects but which can still be cultivated and yield crops, is not used for one year, its cultivation shall be resumed by the original collectives or individuals or may be arranged by the land user. If construction is not started for over one year, the land user shall, in accordance with the regulations of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, pay charges for leaving the land unused. If the land is not used for two years running, the people's government at or above the county level shall, with the approval of the original approving organ, take back the user's right to the use of the land without compensation. If the said land is originally owned by peasant collectives, it shall be returned to the original collective economic organization of the village for resumption of cultivation. Land in an area covered by city planning, the right to use which is assigned for development of real estate and that is left unused, shall be dealt with in accordance with the relevant provisions in the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Urban Estate. Where a unit or individual that contracts to operate cultivated land but lets the land lie waste for two years running, the original unit that gave out the contract shall terminate the contract and take back the land under contract.

    第三十七条 禁止任何单位和个人闲置、荒芜耕地。已经办理审批手续的非农业建设占用耕地,一年内不用而又可以耕种并收获的,应当由原耕种该幅耕地的集体或者个人恢复耕种,也可以由用地单位组织耕种;一年以上未动工建设的,应当按照省、自治区、直辖市的规定缴纳闲置费;连续两年未使用的,经原批准机关批准,由县级以上人民政府无偿收回用地单位的土地使用权;该幅土地原为农民集体所有的,应当交由原农村集体经济组织恢复耕种。在城市规划区范围内,以出让方式取得土地使用权进行房地产开发的闲置土地,依照《中华人民共和国城市房地产管理法》的有关规定办理。承包经营耕地的单位或者个人连续两年弃耕抛荒的,原发包单位应当终止承包合同,收回发包的耕地。

  Article 38   The State encourages units and individuals to develop unused land in accordance with the overall plans for land utilization, on condition that the ecological environment is protected and improved and soil erosion and desertification are prevented. Priority shall be given to the development of such land for agricultural purposes where conditions permit. The State protects the lawful rights and interests of such developers in accordance with law.

    第三十八条 国家鼓励单位和个人按照土地利用总体规划,在保护和改善生态环境、防止水土流失和土地荒漠化的前提下,开发未利用的土地;适宜开发为农用地的,应当优先开发成农用地。国家依法保护开发者的合法权益。

  Article 39   Unused land shall be reclaimed on the basis of scientific confirmation and evaluation, within the reclaimable area designated as such in an overall plan for land utilization and with lawful approval. It is forbidden to reclaim cultivated land by destroying forests or grasslands, to reclaim land from lakes and to encroach on tidal-flat areas of rivers. Where land is reclaimed from forests, grasslands or lakes at the expense of the ecological environment, it shall gradually be returned to the forests, grasslands and lakes according to plan.

    第三十九条 开垦未利用的土地,必须经过科学论证和评估,在土地利用总体规划划定的可开垦的区域内,经依法批准后进行。禁止毁坏森林、草原开垦耕地,禁止围湖造田和侵占江河滩地。根据土地利用总体规划,对破坏生态环境开垦、围垦的土地,有计划有步骤地退耕还林、还牧、还湖。

  Article 40   Units or individuals that wish to develop State-owned barren hills, wastelands or waste tidal flats, the land-use right of which is not yet established, for crop cultivation, forestry, animal husbandry or fishery shall be subject to lawful approval by people's governments at or above the county level, which may decide that such land be used by the said units or individuals for a long time.

    第四十条 开发未确定使用权的国有荒山、荒地、荒滩从事种植业、林业、畜牧业、渔业生产的,经县级以上人民政府依法批准,可以确定给开发单位或者个人长期使用。

  Article 41   The State encourages land revitalization. County and township (town) people's governments shall make arrangements for rural collective economic organizations to conduct, in accordance with overall plans for land utilization, all-round improvement of the fields, water conservancy, roads and forests and development of the villages in order to improve the quality of the cultivated land, increase the efficient area of cultivated land and better the conditions of agricultural production and the ecological environment. Local people's governments at all levels shall take measures to transform the medium- and low-yield fields and improve idle and waste land.

    第四十一条 国家鼓励土地整理。县、乡(镇)人民政府应当组织农村集体经济组织,按照土地利用总体规划,对田、水、路、林、村综合整治,提高耕地质量,增加有效耕地面积,改善农业生产条件和生态环境。地方各级人民政府应当采取措施,改造中、低产田,整治闲散地和废弃地。

  Article 42   Land users that cause damage to land as a result of digging, subsiding or crumbling under heavy weight shall be responsible for recultivating the land in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State. Where conditions do not permit such recultivation or the land recultivated does not meet the requirements, the user shall pay charges for recultivation, which shall exclusively be used for the purpose. The land recultivated shall first be used for agriculture.

    第四十二条 因挖损、塌陷、压占等造成土地破坏,用地单位和个人应当按照国家有关规定负责复垦;没有条件复垦或者复垦不符合要求的,应当缴纳土地复垦费,专项用于土地复垦。复垦的土地应当优先用于农业。

Chapter 5: Land to Be Used for Construction

第五章 建设用地

  Article 43   All units and individuals that need land for construction purposes shall, in accordance with law, apply for the use of State-owned land, with the exception of the collective economic organizations and peasants of such organizations that have lawfully obtained approval of using the land owned by peasant collectives of these organizations to build township or town enterprises or to build houses for villagers and the units and individuals that have lawfully obtained approval of using the land owned by peasant collectives to build public utilities or public welfare undertakings of a township (town) or village. "The State-owned land" mentioned in the preceding paragraph includes land owned by the State and land originally owned by peasant collectives but requisitioned by the State.

    第四十三条 任何单位和个人进行建设,需要使用土地的,必须依法申请使用国有土地;但是,兴办乡镇企业和村民建设住宅经依法批准使用本集体经济组织农民集体所有的土地的,或者乡(镇)村公共设施和公益事业建设经依法批准使用农民集体所有的土地的除外。前款所称依法申请使用的国有土地包括国家所有的土地和国家征用的原属于农民集体所有的土地。

  Article 44   Where land for agriculture is to be used for construction purposes, the formalities of examination and approval shall be gone through for the conversion of use.

Where land for agriculture is to be converted to land for the construction of road, pipeline or large infrastructure projects, for which approval has been obtained from people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, or for the construction of projects for which approval has been obtained from the State Council, the conversion shall be subject to approval by the State Council.

Where land for agriculture is to be converted to land for construction of projects in order to carry out the overall plan for land utilization within the limits of the area of land fixed in the plan for construction projects of cities, villages or towns, the conversion of use of land shall, in accordance with the annual plan for land utilization, be subject to approval in batches by the organ that originally approved the overall plan for land utilization. Land to be used for construction of specific projects within the limits of the area of land for agriculture, conversion of the use of which has been approved, may be subject to approval by people's governments of cities or counties.

Where land for agriculture is to be converted to land for construction projects other than what is provided for in the second and third paragraphs of this Article, the conversion shall be subject to approval by people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

    第四十四条 建设占用土地，涉及农用地转为建设用地的，应当办理农用地转用审批手续。省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准的道路、管线工程和大型基础设施建设项目、国务院批准的建设项目占用土地，涉及农用地转为建设用地的，由国务院批准。在土地利用总体规划确定的城市和村庄、集镇建设用地规模范围内，为实施该规划而将农用地转为建设用地的，按土地利用年度计划分批次由原批准土地利用总体规划的机关批准。现已批准的农用地转用范围内，具体建设项目用地可以由市、县人民政府批准。本条第二款、第三款规定以外的建设项目的占用土地，涉及农用地转为建设用地的，由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准。

  Article 45   Requisition of the following land shall be subject to approval by the State Council:

(1) capital farmland;

(2) cultivated land, not included in capital farmland, that exceeds 35 hectares; and

(3) other land that exceeds 70 hectares.

Requisition of land other than that provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be subject to approval by the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and be submitted to the State Council for the record.

Land for agriculture shall be requisitioned after conversion of use of the land is examined and approved in accordance with the provisions in Article 44 of this Law. Where conversion of use of such land is subject to approval by the State Council, requisition of the land shall be examined and approved at the same time, and there is no need to go through the formalities of examination and approval for the requisition separately. Where conversion of use of land is subject to approval by people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government within the limits of their approval authority over the requisition of land, requisition of the land shall be examined and approved at the same time, and there is no need to go through the formalities of examination and approval for the requisition separately; if the land to be requisitioned is beyond the limits of their approval authority, it shall be examined and approved separately in accordance with the provisions of the first paragraph in this Article.

    第四十五条 征用下列土地的，由国务院批准:（一）基本农田;（二）基本农田以外的耕地超过三十五公顷的;（三）其他土地超过七十公顷的。征用前款规定以外的土地的，由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准，并报国务院备案。征用农用地的，应当依照本法第四十四条的规定先行办理农用地转用审批。其中，经国务院批准农用地转用的，同时办理征地审批手续，不再另行办理征地审批;经省、自治区、直辖市人民政府在征地批准权限内批准农用地转用的，同时办理征地审批手续，不再另行办理征地审批，超过征地批准权限的，应当依照本条第一款的规定另行办理征地审批。

  Article 46   Where land is to be requisitioned by the State, the requisition shall, after approval is obtained through legal procedure, be announced by people's governments at or above the county level, which shall help execute the requisition. Units and individuals that own or have the right to the use of the land under requisition shall, within the time limit fixed in the announcement, register for compensation with the land administration department of the local people's government by presenting their certificates of land ownership or land-use right.

    第四十六条 国家征用土地的，依照法定程序批准后，由县级以上地方人民政府予以公告并组织实施。被征用土地的所有权人、使用权人应当在公告规定期限内，持土地权属证书到当地人民政府土地行政主管部门办理征地补偿登记。

  Article 47   Land requisitioned shall be compensated for on the basis of its original purpose of use. Compensation for requisitioned cultivated land shall include compensation for land, resettlement subsidies and compensation for attachments and young crops on the requisitioned land. Compensation for requisitioned of cultivated land shall be six to ten times the average annual output value of the requisitioned land, calculated on the basis of three years preceding such requisition. Resettlement subsidies for requisitioned cultivated land shall be calculated according to the agricultural population needing to be resettled. The agricultural population needing to be resettled shall be calculated by dividing the area of requisitioned cultivated land by the average area of the original cultivated land per person of the unit the land of which is requisitioned. The standard resettlement subsidies to be divided among members of the agricultural population needing resettlement shall be four to six times the average annual output value of the requisitioned cultivated land calculated on the basis of three years preceding such requisition. However, the maximum resettlement subsidies for each hectare of the requisitioned cultivated land shall not exceed fifteen times its average annual output value calculated on the basis of three years preceding such requisition.

Rates of land compensation and resettlement subsidies for requisition of other types of land shall be prescribed by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government with reference to the rates of compensation and resettlement subsidies for requisition of cultivated land.

Rates of compensation for attachments and young crops on requisitioned land shall be prescribed by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.For requisition of vegetable plots in city suburbs, the land users shall pay towards a development and construction fund for new vegetable plots in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State.

If land compensation and resettlement subsidies paid in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph in this Article are still insufficient to enable the peasants needing resettlement to maintain their original living standards, the resettlement subsidies may be increased upon approval by people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. However, the total land compensation and resettlement subsidies shall not exceed 30 times the average annual output value of the requisitioned land calculated on the basis of three years preceding such requisition.

The State Council may, in light of the level of social and economic development and under special circumstances, raise the rates of land compensation and resettlement subsidies for requisition of cultivated land.

    第四十七条 征用土地的，按照被征用土地的原用途给予补偿。征用耕地的补偿费用包括土地补偿费、安置补助费以及地上附着物和青苗的补偿费。征用耕地的土地补偿费，为该耕地被征用前三年平均年产值的六至十倍。征用耕地的安置补助费，按照需要安置的农业人口数计算。需要安置的农业人口数，按照被征用的耕地数量除以征地前被征用单位平均每人占有耕地的数量计算。每一个需要安置的农业人口的安置补助费标准，为该耕地被征用前三年平均年产值的四至六倍。但是，每公顷被征用耕地的安置补助费，最高不得超过被征用前三年平均年产值的十五倍。征用其他土地的土地补偿费和安置补助费标准，由省、自治区、直辖市参照征用耕地的土地补偿费和安置补助费的标准规定。被征用土地上的附着物和青苗的补偿标准，由省、自治区、直辖市规定。征用城市郊区的菜地，用地单位应当按照国家有关规定缴纳新菜地开发建设基金。依照本条第二款的规定支付土地补偿费和安置补助费，尚不能使需要安置的农民保持原有生活水平的，经省、自治区、直辖市人民政府批准，可以增加安置补助费。但是，土地补偿费和安置补助费的总和不得超过土地被征用前三年平均年产值的三十倍。国务院根据社会、经济发展水平，在特殊情况下，可以提高征用耕地的土地补偿费和安置补助费的标准。

  Article 48   Once a plan for compensation and resettlement subsidies for requisitioned land is decided on, the local people's government concerned shall make it known to the general public and solicit comments and suggestions from the collective economic organizations, the land of which is requisitioned, and the peasants.

    第四十八条 征地补偿安置方案确定后，有关地方人民政府应当公告，并听取被征地的农村集体经济组织和农民的意见。

  Article 49   The rural collective economic organization, the land of which is requisitioned, shall accept supervision by making known to its members the income and expenses of the compensation received for land requisition. The compensation and other charges paid to the unit for its land requisitioned is forbidden to be embezzled or misappropriated.

    第四十九条 被征地的农村集体经济组织应当将征用土地的补偿费用的收支状况向本集体经济组织的成员公布，接受监督。禁止侵占、挪用被征用土地单位的征地补偿费用和其他有关费用。

  Article 50   Local people's governments at all levels shall support the rural collective economic organizations, the land of which is requisitioned, and the peasants in their efforts to engage in development or business operation or to start enterprises.

    第五十条 地方各级人民政府应当支持被征地的农村集体经济组织和农民从事开发经营，兴办企业。

  Article 51   The rate of compensation for requisition of land to build large or medium-sized water conservancy or hydroelectric projects and the measures for resettling relocated people shall be prescribed separately by the State Council.

    第五十一条 大中型水利、水电工程建设征用土地的补偿费标准和移民安置办法，由国务院另行规定。

  Article 52   During the feasibility study of a construction project, land administration department may, in accordance with the overall plan for land utilization, the annual plan for land utilization and the standard area of land for the use of construction, examine the matters related to land for construction and offer its comments and suggestions.

    第五十二条 建设项目可行性研究论证时，土地行政主管部门可以根据土地利用总体规划、土地利用年度计划和建设用地标准，对建设用地有关事项进行审查，并提出意见。

  Article 53   Where a construction unit needs to use State-owned land for construction of an approved project, it shall apply to the land administration department of the people's government at or above the county level that has the approval authority by presenting the relevant documents as required by laws and regulations. The said department shall examine the application before submitting it to the said people's government for approval.

    第五十三条 经批准的建设项目需要使用国有建设用地的，建设单位应当持法律、行政法规规定的有关文件，向有批准权的县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门提出建设用地申请，经土地行政主管部门审查，报本级人民政府批准。

  Article 54   A construction unit that wishes to use State-owned land shall get it by such means of compensation as assignment. However, land to be used for the following purposes may be allocated with the lawful approval of a people's government at or above the county level:

(1) for State organs or military purposes;

(2) for urban infrastructure projects or public welfare undertakings;

(3) for major energy, communications, water conservancy and other infrastructure projects supported by the State; and

(4) other purposes as provided for by laws or administrative regulations.

    第五十四条 建设单位使用国有土地，应当以出让等有偿使用方式取得;但是，下列建设用地，经县级以上人民政府依法批准，可以以划拨方式取得:（一）国家机关用地和军事用地;（二）城市基础设施用地和公益事业用地;（三）国家重点扶持的能源、交通、水利等基础设施用地;（四）法律、行政法规规定的其他用地。

  Article 55   A construction unit that obtains right to the use of State-owned land by such means of compensation as assignment shall, in accordance with the rates and measures prescribed by the State Council, pay, among other charges, compensation for use of land such as charges for the assignment of land-use right, before it can use the land.

Beginning from the date of implementation of this Law, 30 percent of the compensation paid for the use of additional land for construction shall go to the Central Government and 70 percent to the local people's governments concerned, both of which shall exclusively be used for developing cultivated land.

    第五十五条 以出让等有偿使用方式取得国有土地使用权的建设单位，按照国务院规定的标准和办法，缴纳土地使用权出让金等土地有偿使用费和其他费用后，方可使用土地。自本法施行之日起，新增建设用地的土地有偿使用费，百分之三十上缴中央财政，百分之七十留给有关地方人民政府，都专项用于耕地开发。

  Article 56   A construction unit that uses State-owned land shall do so in agreement with the stipulations of the contract governing compensation for the use of land such as the assignment of the land-use right or with the provisions in the documents of approval for allocation of the land-use right. Where it is definitely necessary to change the purposes of construction on this land, the matter shall be subject to agreement by the land administration department of the people's government concerned and be submitted for approval to the people's government that originally approved the use of land. Where the land the purposes of use of which need to be changed is located in the area under city planning, the matter shall be subject to agreement by the city planning administration department concerned before it is submitted for approval.

    第五十六条 建设单位使用国有土地的，应当按照土地使用权出让等有偿使用合同的约定或者土地使用权划拨批准文件的规定使用土地;确需改变该幅土地建设用途的，应当经有关人民政府土地行政主管部门同意，报原批准用地的人民政府批准。其中，在城市规划区内改变土地用途的，在报批前，应当先经有关城市规划行政主管部门同意。

  Article 57   Where land owned by the State or by peasant collectives needs to be used temporarily for construction of projects or for geologic prospecting, the matter shall be subject to approval by the land administration department of a people's government at or above the county level. However, if the land to be temporarily used is located in the area covered by city planning, the matter shall be subject to agreement by the city planning administration department concerned before it is submitted for approval. The land user shall, depending on who owns the land and who has the land-use right, enter into a contract for the temporary use of the land with the land administration department concerned, or the rural collective economic organization, or the villagers committee, and pay compensation for it in accordance with the provisions of the contract.

The temporary land user shall use the land for purposes stipulated in the contract for temporary use of the land and may not build permanent structures on it.

Generally, the period for temporary use of land shall not exceed two years.

    第五十七条 建设项目施工和地质勘查需要临时使用国有土地或者农民集体所有的土地的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门批准。其中，在城市规划区内的临时用地，在报批前，应当先经有关城市规划行政主管部门同意。土地使用者应当根据土地权属，与有关土地行政主管部门或者农村集体经济组织、村民委员会签订临时使用土地合同，并按照合同的约定支付临时使用土地补偿费。临时使用土地的使用者应当按照临时使用土地合同约定的用途使用土地，并不得修建永久性建筑物。临时使用土地期限一般不超过两年。

  Article 58   Under any of the following circumstances, the land administration department of the people's government concerned may, with the approval of the people's government that has originally approved the use of land or that possesses the approval authority, take back the right to the use of the State-owned land:

(1) The land is needed for the benefits of the public;

(2) The use of the land needs to be readjusted for renovating the old urban area according to city planning;

(3) At the expiration of the period stipulated in the contract for use of the land by such means of compensation as land assignment, the land user has not applied for extending the period or, if he has, the application is not approved;

(4) The use of the originally allocated State-owned land is terminated because, among other things, the unit that uses the land is dissolved or moved away; or

(5) The highways, railways, airports or ore fields are abandoned with approval.

The user granted with the land-use right shall be compensated appropriately when its right to the use of State-owned land is taken back according to the provisions of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) in the preceding paragraph.

    第五十八条 有下列情形之一的，由有关人民政府土地行政主管部门报经原批准用地的人民政府或者有批准权的人民政府批准，可以收回国有土地使用权:（一）为公共利益需要使用土地的;（二）为实施城市规划进行旧城区改建，需要调整使用土地的;（三）土地出让等有偿使用合同约定的使用期限届满，土地使用者未申请续期或者申请续期未获批准的;（四）因单位撤销、迁移等原因，停止使用原划拨的国有土地的;（五）公路、铁路、机场、矿场等经核准报废的。依照前款第（一）项、第（二）项的规定收回国有土地使用权的，对土地使用权人应当给予适当补偿。

  Article 59   Township and town enterprises, public utilities and public welfare undertakings of townships (towns) and villages, villagers' residences, etc. shall be built in accordance with the planning of the villages and towns and the principles of rational geographical distribution, comprehensive development and completeness. Land to be used for such construction shall be in keeping with the overall plan and annual plan for land utilization of the townships (towns) and shall be subject to examination and approval in accordance with the provisions in Articles 44, 60, 61 and 62 of this Law.

    第五十九条 乡镇企业、乡（镇）村公共设施、公益事业、农村村民住宅等乡（镇）村建设，应当按照村庄和集镇规划，合理布局，综合开发，配套建设;建设用地，应当符合乡（镇）土地利用总体规划和土地利用年度计划，并依照本法第四十四条、第六十条、第六十一条、第六十二条的规定办理审批手续。

  Article 60   A rural collective economic organization that wishes to set up enterprises by using land for construction, designated as such in the township (town) overall plan for land utilization, or does so with other units or individuals by investing its land-use right as shares or through joint operation shall, by presenting the relevant documents of approval, submit an application to the land administration department of the local people's government at or above the county level, and the matter shall be subject to approval by the said people's government within the limits of its approval authority as defined by the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. However, if land for agriculture is to be used for the purpose, the matter shall be subject to examination and approval in accordance with the provisions in Article 44 of this Law.

Land for construction to be used for setting up enterprises in accordance with the provisions in the preceding paragraph shall be kept under strict control. Provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government may, in light of the different industries pursued by township or town enterprises and their scale of operation, fix different limits for the area of land to be used.

    第六十条 农村集体经济组织使用乡（镇）土地利用总体规划确定的建设用地兴办企业或者与其他单位、个人以土地使用权入股、联营等形式共同创办企业的，应当持有关批准文件，向县级以上地方人民政府土地行政主管部门提出申请，按照省、自治区、直辖市规定的批准权限，由县级以上地方人民政府批准;其中，涉及占用农用地的，依照本法第四十四条的规定办理审批手续。按照前款规定兴办企业的建设用地，必须严格控制。省、自治区、直辖市可以按照乡镇企业的不同行业和经营规模，分别规定用地标准。

  Article 61   Where land is to be used for the construction of township (town) or village public utilities or public welfare undertakings, the matter shall be subject to examination and verification by the township (town) people's government, which shall submit an application to the land administration department of the local people's government at or above the county level for approval by the said people's government within the limits of its approval authority as defined by the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government. However, if land for agriculture is to be used for the purpose, the matter shall be subject to examination and approval in accordance with the provisions in Article 44 of this Law.

    第六十一条 乡（镇）村公共设施、公益事业建设，需要使用土地的，经乡（镇）人民政府审核，向县级以上地方人民政府土地行政主管部门提出申请，按照省、自治区、直辖市规定的批准权限，由县级以上地方人民政府批准;其中，涉及占用农用地的，依照本法第四十四条的规定办理审批手续。

  Article 62   For villagers, one household shall only have one house site, the area of which may not exceed the limits fixed by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Villagers shall build residences in keeping with the township (town) overall plan for land utilization and shall be encouraged to use their original house sites or idle lots in the village as much as possible.

Land to be used by villagers to build residences shall be subject to examination and verification by the township (town) people's government and approval by the county people's government. However, if land for agriculture is to be used for the purpose, the matter shall be subject to examination and approval in accordance with the provisions in Article 44 of this Law.

Applications for other house sites made by villagers who have sold or leased their houses shall not be approved.

    第六十二条 农村村民一户只能拥有一处宅基地，其宅基地的面积不得超过省、自治区、直辖市规定的标准。农村村民建住宅，应当符合乡（镇）土地利用总体规划，并尽量使用原有的宅基地和村内空闲地。农村村民住宅用地，经乡（镇）人民政府审核，由县级人民政府批准;其中，涉及占用农用地的，依照本法第四十四条的规定办理审批手续。农村村民出卖、出租住房后，再申请宅基地的，不予批准。

  Article 63   No right to the use of land owned by peasant collectives may be assigned, transferred or leased for non-agricultural construction, with the exception of enterprises that have lawfully obtained land for construction in conformity with the overall plan for land utilization but have to transfer, according to law, their land-use right because of bankruptcy or merging or for other reasons.

    第六十三条 农民集体所有的土地的使用权不得出让、转让或者出租用于非农业建设;但是，符合土地利用总体规划并依法取得建设用地的企业，因破产、兼并等情形致使土地使用权依法发生转移的除外。

  Article 64   No buildings or structures built before the overall plan for land utilization is drawn up and at variance with the purposes defined in such a plan may be rebuilt or expanded.

    第六十四条 在土地利用总体规划制定前已建的不符合土地利用总体规划确定的用途的建筑物、构筑物，不得重建、扩建。

  Article 65   Under any of the following circumstances, a rural collective economic organization may, with the approval of the people's government that originally approved the use of land, take back the land-use right:

(1) The land is needed for constructing township (town) or village public utilities or public welfare undertakings;

(2) The land is used at variance with the approved purposes; or

(3) The use of land is terminated because, among other things, the unit concerned is dissolved or moved away.

The user granted with the land-use right shall be compensated appropriately when the land owned by the peasant collective is taken back according to the provisions of sub-paragraph (1) of the preceding paragraph in this Article.

    第六十五条 有下列情形之一的，农村集体经济组织报经原批准用地的人民政府批准，可以收回土地使用权:（一）为乡（镇）村公共设施和公益事业建设，需要使用土地的;（二）不按照批准的用途使用土地的;（三）因撤销、迁移等原因而停止使用土地的。依照前款第（一）项规定收回农民集体所有的土地的，对土地使用权人应当给予适当补偿。

Chapter 6: Supervision and Inspection

第六章 监督检查

  Article 66   Land administration department of the people's government at or above the county level shall supervise and inspect violations of the laws and regulations governing land administration.

Supervisors and inspectors for land administration shall be familiar with the laws and regulations governing land administration and they shall be devoted to their duties and impartial in enforcing laws.

    第六十六条 县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门对违反土地管理法律、法规的行为进行监督检查。土地管理监督检查人员应当熟悉土地管理法律、法规，忠于职守、秉公执法。

  Article 67   In performing their duties of supervision and inspection, members of the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall have the right to take the following measures:

(1) to require the unit or individual under inspection to provide documents and materials related to land ownership or land-use right in order to examine them or have them duplicated;

(2) to require the unit or individual under inspection to make explanations on questions concerning land ownership or land-use right:

(3) to enter the very plot of land illegally used by the unit or individual under inspection to conduct survey; and

(4) to order the unit or individual that illegally uses land to stop violating the laws and regulations governing land administration.

    第六十七条 县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门履行监督检查职责时，有权采取下列措施:（一）要求被检查的单位或者个人提供有关土地权利的文件和资料，进行查阅或者予以复制;（二）要求被检查的单位或者个人就有关土地权利的问题作出说明;（三）进入被检查单位或者个人非法占用的土地现场进行勘测;（四）责令非法占用土地的单位或者个人停止违反土地管理法律、法规的行为。

  Article 68   Where supervisors and inspectors for land administration, in order to perform their duties, need to enter the very plot of land to conduct survey, or to require the unit or individual concerned to provide documents and materials or make explanations, they shall produce their papers for supervision and inspection for land administration.

    第六十八条 土地管理监督检查人员履行职责，需要进入现场进行勘测、要求有关单位或者个人提供文件、资料和作出说明的，应当出示土地管理监督检查证件。

  Article 69   The units and individuals concerned shall assist in, cooperate with and provide convenience to the work of the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level when the latter conduct supervision over and inspection of violations of the laws and regulations governing land administration; they may not refuse to accept or obstruct supervision and inspection for land administration when the supervisors and inspectors perform their duties in accordance with law.

    第六十九条 有关单位和个人对县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门就土地违法行为进行的监督检查应当支持与配合，并提供工作方便，不得拒绝与阻碍土地管理监督检查人员依法执行职务。

  Article 70   Where, in the course of supervision and inspection, land administration departments of the people's government at or above the county level find any violations by State functionaries and believe that administrative sanctions need be given to such functionaries, they shall deal with such violations in accordance with law; if they have no right to do so, they shall propose in writing to the administrative supervision departments of the people's governments at the corresponding or a higher level that administrative sanctions be given to the functionaries, and the administrative supervision departments concerned shall deal with the violations in accordance with law.

    第七十条 县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门在监督检查工作中发现国家工作人员的违法行为，依法应当给予行政处分的，应当依法予以处理;自己无权处理的，应当向同级或者上级人民政府的行政监察机关提出行政处分建议书，有关行政监察机关应当依法予以处理。

  Article 71   Where land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level, in the course of supervision and inspection, find that violations of the laws and regulations governing land administration constitute crimes, they shall transfer the cases to the departments concerned, which shall conduct investigation for criminal responsibility in accordance with law; if the violations are not serious enough to constitute crimes, the said departments shall impose administrative penalties in accordance with law.

    第七十一条 县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门在监督检查工作中发现土地违法行为构成犯罪的，应当将案件移送有关机关，依法追究刑事责任;不构成犯罪的，应当依法给予行政处罚。

  Article 72   Where a land administration department fails to impose administrative penalties on violators as is required by the provisions of this Law, the land administration department of the people's government at a higher level shall have the right to order the former to decide on imposition of administrative penalties or directly impose the penalties itself and give administrative sanctions to the persons in charge of the former.

    第七十二条 依照本法规定应当给予行政处罚，而有关土地行政主管部门不给予行政处罚的，上级人民政府土地行政主管部门有权责令有关土地行政主管部门作出行政处罚决定或者直接给予行政处罚，并给予有关土地行政主管部门的负责人行政处分。

Chapter 7: Legal Responsibility

第七章 法律责任

  Article 73   If units or individuals illegally transfer land through buying, selling or other means, their unlawful gains shall be confiscated by the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level, or if afterwards they, in violation of the overall plan for land utilization, convert land for agriculture to land for construction, they shall demolish, within a time limit, the structures and installations built on the illegally transferred land and put the land back to its original state, if the conversion happens to conform to the overall plan for land utilization, the structures and installations built on the land shall be confiscated, and the units or individuals in each case may also be fined; the persons directly in charge and the other persons directly responsible shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law. If the violations constitute crimes, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with law.

    第七十三条 买卖或者以其他形式非法转让土地的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门没收违法所得;对违反土地利用总体规划擅自将农用地改为建设用地的，限期拆除在非法转让的土地上新建的建筑物和其他设施，恢复土地原状，对符合土地利用总体规划的，没收在非法转让的土地上新建的建筑物和其他设施;可以并处罚款;对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员，依法给予行政处分;构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

  Article 74   Units or individuals that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, build kilns or graves on cultivated land or, without authorization, build houses, dig sand, quarry, mine or collect earth on or from the cultivated land, thus damaging the conditions for crop cultivation, or develop land, thus causing desertification or salinization, shall be ordered by the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level to set it right or bring desertification or salinization under control within a time limit, and they may also be fined. If the violations constitute crimes, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with law.

    第七十四条 违反本法规定，占用耕地建窑、建坟或者擅自在耕地上建房、挖砂、采石、采矿、取土等，破坏种植条件的，或者因开发土地造成土地荒漠化、盐渍化的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令限期改正或者治理，可以并处罚款;构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

  Article 75   Units or individuals that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, refuse to fulfill their obligation of land recultivation shall be ordered by the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level to do it within a time limit. If they fail to do so, they shall be ordered to pay charges for recultivation, which shall exclusively be used for the purpose, and they may be fined.

    第七十五条 违反本法规定，拒不履行土地复垦义务的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令限期改正;逾期不改正的，责令缴纳复垦费，专项用于土地复垦，可以处以罚款。

  Article 76   Units or individuals that illegally occupy and use land without approval or with approval obtained by fraudulent means shall be ordered by the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level to return such land; the ones that, in violation of the overall plan for land utilization, convert land for agriculture to land for construction shall be ordered to demolish the structures and installations built on the illegally occupied land within a time limit and put the land back to its original state; with regard to the ones that convert land for agriculture to land for construction, which happens to conform to the overall plan for land utilization, the structures and installations built on such land shall be confiscated, and they may also be fined; and the persons directly in charge of the said units and other persons directly responsible for the violations shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law; if the violations constitute crimes, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with law.

Where the land used exceeds the area approved, the excessive portion shall be treated as land illegally used and punishment shall be meted out accordingly.

    第七十六条 未经批准或者采取欺骗手段骗取批准，非法占用土地的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令退还非法占用的土地，对违反土地利用总体规划擅自将农用地改为建设用地的，限期拆除在非法占用的土地上新建的建筑物和其他设施，恢复土地原状，对符合土地利用总体规划的，没收在非法占用的土地上新建的建筑物和其他设施，可以并处罚款;对非法占用土地单位的直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员，依法给予行政处分;构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。超过批准的数量占用土地，多占的土地以非法占用土地论处。

  Article 77   Villagers who illegally occupy and use land to build residences thereon without approval or with approval obtained by fraudulent means shall be ordered by the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level to return such land and demolish, within a time limit, the houses built on the land.

Where the land used exceeds the limits fixed by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, it shall be treated as land illegally used and punishment shall be meted out accordingly.

    第七十七条 农村村民未经批准或者采取欺骗手段骗取批准，非法占用土地建住宅的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令退还非法占用的土地，限期拆除在非法占用的土地上新建的房屋。超过省、自治区、直辖市规定的标准，多占的土地以非法占用土地论处。

  Article 78   Where units or individuals that have no authority to approve requisition or use of land unlawfully approve the use of land, or they do so by overstepping their authority of approval, or they approve the use of land at variance with the purposes defined in the overall plan for land utilization, or they approve the requisition or use of land in violation of the procedure prescribed by law, the documents of such approval shall be void and the persons directly in charge of such units and the other persons directly responsible for illegally approving such requisition and use of land shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law. If the violations constitute crimes, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with law. The land illegally approved for use shall be taken back. If the parties concerned refuse to return the land, they shall be regarded as illegal land users and punished as such.

Units or individuals that cause losses to the parties by illegally approving requisition or use of land shall bear the liability to pay compensation in accordance with law.

    第七十八条 无权批准征用、使用土地的单位或者个人非法批准占用土地的，超越批准权限非法批准占用土地的，不按照土地利用总体规划确定的用途批准用地的，或者违反法律规定的程序批准占用、征用土地的，其批准文件无效，对非法批准征用、使用土地的直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员，依法给予行政处分;构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。非法批准、使用的土地应当收回，有关当事人拒不归还的，以非法占用土地论处。非法批准征用、使用土地，对当事人造成损失的，依法应当承担赔偿责任。

  Article 79   Whoever embezzles or misappropriates the compensation or other relevant charges paid to a unit whose land is requisitioned, if the violation constitutes a crime, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law; if the violation is not serious enough to constitute a crime, he shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law.

    第七十九条 侵占、挪用被征用土地单位的征地补偿费用和其他有关费用，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任;尚不构成犯罪的，依法给予行政处分第八十条依法收回国有土地使用权当事人拒不交出土地的，临时使用土地期满拒不归还的，或者不按照批准的用途使用国有土地的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令交还土地，处以罚款。

  Article 80   If the parties that have the right to the use of State-owned land refuse to surrender the land when it is to be taken back in accordance with law, or refuse to return the land at the expiration of the period for its temporary use, or fail to use the land in keeping with the purposes approved, the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall order them to return the land and impose a fine on them.

   第八十条 依法收回国有土地使用权当事人拒不交出土地的，临时使用土地期满拒不归还的，或者不按照批准的用途使用国有土地的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令交还土地，处以罚款。

  Article 81   Where units or individuals, without authorization, assign, transfer or lease the right to the use of land owned by peasant collectives for construction of non-agricultural projects, the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level shall order them to set it right within a time limit, confiscate their illegal gains and impose a fine on them.

    第八十一条 擅自将农民集体所有的土地的使用权出让、转让或者出租用于非农业建设的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令限期改正，没收违法所得，并处罚款。

  Article 82   Units or individuals that, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fail to register changes in land ownership, land-use right or the purpose of use of land shall be ordered by the land administration departments of the people's governments at or above the county level to register the changes within a time limit.

    第八十二条 不依照本法规定办理土地变更登记的，由县级以上人民政府土地行政主管部门责令其限期办理。

  Article 83   Construction units or individuals that are ordered, in accordance with the provisions of this Law, to demolish within a time limit the structures or installations built on illegally used land shall stop construction immediately and do the demolishing themselves. With regard to the ones that continue to construct, the organ that decides to impose the penalty on them shall have the right to stop them. Where construction units or individuals refuse to accept the administrative penalty decision of demolishing the structures or installations within a time limit, they may file a suit in a People's Court within 15 days from the date of receiving the decision. If they neither file a suit nor do the demolishing at the expiration of the time limit, the organ that makes the penalty decision shall, in accordance with law, apply to the People's Court for compulsory enforcement, and the expenses entailed shall be borne by the violators.

    第八十三条 依照本法规定，责令限期拆除在非法占用的土地上新建的建筑物和其他设施的，建设单位或者个人必须立即停止施工，自行拆除;对继续施工的，作出处罚决定的机关有权制止。建设单位或者个人对责令限期拆除的行政处罚决定不服的，可以在接到责令限期拆除决定之日起十五日内，向人民法院起诉;期满不起诉又不自行拆除的，由作出处罚决定的机关依法申请人民法院强制执行，费用由违法者承担。

  Article 84   Members of land administration departments who neglect their duty, abuse their power or conduct malpractice for personal gain, if the violations constitute crimes, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law; if the violations are not serious enough to constitute crimes, they shall be given administrative sanctions in accordance with law.

    第八十四条 土地行政主管部门的工作人员玩忽职守、滥用职权、徇私舞弊，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任;尚不构成犯罪的，依法给予行政处分。

Chapter 8: Supplementary Provisions

第八章 附则

  Article 85   This Law shall be applicable to land used by Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, Chinese-foreign contractual joint ventures and foreign-capital enterprises. Where laws provide otherwise, the provisions in such laws shall prevail.

    第八十五条 中外合资经营企业、中外合作经营企业、外资企业使用土地的，适用本法;法律另有规定的，从其规定。

  Article 86   This Law shall go into effect as of January 1, 1999.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY THE GENERAL OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS.

LICENSED FOR USE AS OF MARCH 2009.

    第八十六条 本法自1999年1月起施行。