End of homesteading The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ended homesteading; by that time, federal government policy had shifted to retaining control of western public lands. The only exception to this new policy was in Alaska, for which the law allowed homesteading until 1986.
The new law established a three-fold homestead acquisition process: file an application, improve the land, and file for deed of title. Any U.S. citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. Government could file an application and lay claim to 160 acres of surveyed Government land.
FULTON. COUNTY. Homestead Exemption. Application Deadline: April 1. APPLY ONLINE. .fultonassessor. CALL US AT. 404-612-6440 x4. HOMESTEAD. EXEMPTION GUIDE. A Homestead Exemption is a legal provision, established by state law, that may reduce the assessed value on owner-occupied homes.
Requirements of the Homestead Act Land titles could also be purchased from the government for $1.25 per acre following six months of proven residency. Additional requirements included five years of continuous residence on the land, building a home on it, farming the land and making improvements.
To help develop the American West and spur economic growth, Congress passed the Homestead Act of 1862, which provided 160 acres of federal land to anyone who agreed to farm the land.