The noise area classification is based on the land use activity at the location of the receiver and determines the noise standards applicable to that land use activity unless an exception is applied under subpart 3.
The noise area classifications and the activities included in each classification are listed below:
Noise Area Classification | Land Use Activities |
1 | Household Units (includes farm houses) |
Hotels, motels, or other overnight lodging | |
Mobile home parks or courts | |
Other residential units | |
Motion picture production | |
Medical and other health services | |
Correctional institutions | |
Educational services | |
Religious activities | |
Cultural activities and nature exhibitions | |
Entertainment assembly | |
Camping and picnicking areas (designated) | |
Resorts and group camps | |
Other cultural, entertainment, and recreational activities. | |
2 | Railroad terminals (passenger and freight) |
Rapid rail transit and street railway passenger terminals | |
Bus passenger terminals (intercity and local) | |
Other motor vehicle transportation | |
Airport and flying field terminals (passenger and freight) | |
Marine terminals (passenger and freight) | |
Automobile parking | |
Transportation services and arrangements | |
Wholesale trade | |
Retail trade, including restaurants and bars | |
Finance, insurance, and real estate services | |
Personal services | |
Business, legal, or other professional services | |
Repair services | |
Contract construction services | |
Governmental services (except correctional institutions) | |
Miscellaneous services (except religious activities) | |
Public assembly (except entertainment assembly and race tracks) | |
Amusements (except fairgrounds and amusement parks) | |
Recreational activities (except designated camping and picnicking areas) | |
Parks | |
3 | Manufacturing |
Transportation (except passenger terminals) | |
Highway and street right-of-way | |
Communication | |
Utilities | |
Race tracks | |
Fairgrounds and amusement parks | |
Agricultural and related activities | |
Forestry activities and related services (including commercial forest land, timber production, and other related activities) | |
Fishing activities and related services | |
Mining activities and related services | |
Other resource production and extraction | |
All other activities not otherwise listed. | |
4 | Undeveloped and unused land area |
Noncommercial forest development | |
Water areas | |
Vacant floor area | |
Under construction |
The noise area classification for a land use may be changed in the following ways if the applicable conditions are met.
The daytime standards for noise area classification 1 shall be applied to noise area classification 1 during the nighttime if the land use activity does not include overnight lodging.
The standards for a building in a noise area classification 2 shall be applied to a building in a noise area classification 1 if the following conditions are met:
the building is constructed in such a way that the exterior to interior sound level attenuation is at least 30 dB(A);
The standards for a building in a noise area classification 3 shall be applied to a building in a noise area classification 1 if the following conditions are met:
the building is constructed in such a way that the exterior to interior sound level attenuation is at least 40 dB(A);
11 SR 43; 18 SR 614; 41 SR 763
January 27, 2017
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes