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Chapter 272

Section 272.02

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272.02 Exempt property.

Subdivision 1. Exempt property described. All property described in this section to the extent limited in this section shall be exempt from taxation.

Subd. 1a. Limitations on exemptions. The exemptions granted by subdivision 1 are subject to the limits contained in the other subdivisions of this section, section 272.025, and all other provisions of applicable law.

Subd. 2. Public burying grounds. All public burying grounds are exempt.

Subd. 3. Public schoolhouses. All public schoolhouses are exempt.

Subd. 4. Public hospitals. All public hospitals are exempt.

Subd. 5. Education institutions. All academies, colleges, and universities, and all seminaries of learning are exempt.

Subd. 6. Church property. All churches, church property, and houses of worship are exempt.

Subd. 7. Institutions of public charity. Institutions of purely public charity are exempt. In determining whether rental housing property qualifies for exemption under this subdivision, the following are not gifts or donations to the owner of the rental housing:

(1) rent assistance provided by the government to or on behalf of tenants; and

(2) financing assistance or tax credits provided by the government to the owner on condition that specific units or a specific quantity of units be set aside for persons or families with certain income characteristics.

Subd. 8. Property used for public purposes. All public property exclusively used for any public purpose is exempt.

Subd. 9. Personal property; exceptions. Except for the taxable personal property enumerated below, all personal property and the property described in section 272.03, subdivision 1, paragraphs (c) and (d), shall be exempt.

The following personal property shall be taxable:

(a) personal property which is part of an electric generating, transmission, or distribution system or a pipeline system transporting or distributing water, gas, crude oil, or petroleum products or mains and pipes used in the distribution of steam or hot or chilled water for heating or cooling buildings and structures;

(b) railroad docks and wharves which are part of the operating property of a railroad company as defined in section 270.80;

(c) personal property defined in section 272.03, subdivision 2, clause (3);

(d) leasehold or other personal property interests which are taxed pursuant to section 272.01, subdivision 2; 273.124, subdivision 7; or 273.19, subdivision 1; or any other law providing the property is taxable as if the lessee or user were the fee owner;

(e) manufactured homes and sectional structures, including storage sheds, decks, and similar removable improvements constructed on the site of a manufactured home, sectional structure, park trailer or travel trailer as provided in section 273.125, subdivision 8, paragraph (f); and

(f) flight property as defined in section 270.071.

Subd. 10. Personal property used for pollution control. Personal property used primarily for the abatement and control of air, water, or land pollution is exempt to the extent that it is so used, and real property is exempt if it is used primarily for abatement and control of air, water, or land pollution as part of an agricultural operation, as a part of a centralized treatment and recovery facility operating under a permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency pursuant to chapters 115 and 116 and Minnesota Rules, parts 7001.0500 to 7001.0730, and 7045.0020 to 7045.1260, as a wastewater treatment facility and for the treatment, recovery, and stabilization of metals, oils, chemicals, water, sludges, or inorganic materials from hazardous industrial wastes, or as part of an electric generation system. For purposes of this subdivision, personal property includes ponderous machinery and equipment used in a business or production activity that at common law is considered real property.

Any taxpayer requesting exemption of all or a portion of any real property or any equipment or device, or part thereof, operated primarily for the control or abatement of air, water, or land pollution shall file an application with the commissioner of revenue. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency shall upon request of the commissioner furnish information and advice to the commissioner.

The information and advice furnished by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency must include statements as to whether the equipment, device, or real property meets a standard, rule, criteria, guideline, policy, or order of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and whether the equipment, device, or real property is installed or operated in accordance with it. On determining that property qualifies for exemption, the commissioner shall issue an order exempting the property from taxation. The equipment, device, or real property shall continue to be exempt from taxation as long as the order issued by the commissioner remains in effect.

Subd. 11. Wetlands. Wetlands are exempt. For purposes of this subdivision, "wetlands" means: (i) land described in section 103G.005, subdivision 15a; (ii) land which is mostly under water, produces little if any income, and has no use except for wildlife or water conservation purposes, provided it is preserved in its natural condition and drainage of it would be legal, feasible, and economically practical for the production of livestock, dairy animals, poultry, fruit, vegetables, forage and grains, except wild rice; or (iii) land in a wetland preservation area under sections 103F.612 to 103F.616. "Wetlands" under clauses (i) and (ii) include adjacent land which is not suitable for agricultural purposes due to the presence of the wetlands, but do not include woody swamps containing shrubs or trees, wet meadows, meandered water, streams, rivers, and floodplains or river bottoms. Exemption of wetlands from taxation pursuant to this section shall not grant the public any additional or greater right of access to the wetlands or diminish any right of ownership to the wetlands.

Subd. 12. Native prairie. Native prairie lands are exempt. The commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources shall determine lands in the state which are native prairie and shall notify the county assessor of each county in which the lands are located. Pasture land used for livestock grazing purposes shall not be considered native prairie for the purposes of this subdivision. Upon receipt of an application for the exemption provided in this subdivision for lands for which the assessor has no determination from the commissioner of natural resources, the assessor shall refer the application to the commissioner of natural resources who shall determine within 30 days whether the land is native prairie and notify the county assessor of the decision. Exemption of native prairie pursuant to this subdivision shall not grant the public any additional or greater right of access to the native prairie or diminish any right of ownership to it.

Subd. 13. Emergency shelters for victims of domestic abuse. Property used in a continuous program to provide emergency shelter for victims of domestic abuse is exempt, provided the organization that owns and sponsors the shelter is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1992, notwithstanding the fact that the sponsoring organization receives funding under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended.

Subd. 14. Property of senior citizens' groups; local option. If approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the property is located, property not exceeding one acre is exempt if it is owned and operated by any senior citizen group or association of groups that in general limits membership to persons age 55 or older and is organized and operated exclusively for pleasure, recreation, and other nonprofit purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholders; provided the property is used primarily as a clubhouse, meeting facility, or recreational facility by the group or association and the property is not used for residential purposes on either a temporary or permanent basis.

Subd. 15. Property used to generate hydroelectric or hydromechanical power. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 39, and sections 272.01, subdivision 2, and 273.19, subdivision 1, real and personal property used or to be used primarily for the production of hydroelectric or hydromechanical power on a site owned by the federal government, the state, or a local governmental unit and developed and operated pursuant to section 103G.535 is exempt from property tax for all years during which the site is developed and operated under the terms of a lease or agreement authorized by section 103G.535.

Subd. 16. Satellite broadcasting facilities. The following property is exempt if approved by the governing body of the municipality in which the property is located, and if construction is commenced after June 30, 1983:

(a) a "direct satellite broadcasting facility" operated by a corporation licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to provide direct satellite broadcasting services using direct broadcast satellites operating in the 12-ghz. band; and

(b) a "fixed satellite regional or national program service facility" operated by a corporation licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to provide fixed satellite-transmitted regularly scheduled broadcasting services using satellites operating in the 6-ghz. band.

An exemption provided by this subdivision shall apply for a period not to exceed five years. When the facility no longer qualifies for exemption, it shall be placed on the assessment rolls as provided in subdivision 38. Before approving a tax exemption pursuant to this subdivision, the governing body of the municipality shall provide an opportunity to the members of the county board of commissioners of the county in which the facility is proposed to be located and the members of the school board of the school district in which the facility is proposed to be located to meet with the governing body. The governing body shall present to the members of those boards its estimate of the fiscal impact of the proposed property tax exemption. The tax exemption shall not be approved by the governing body until the county board of commissioners has presented its written comment on the proposal to the governing body or 30 days have passed from the date of the transmittal by the governing body to the board of the information on the fiscal impact, whichever occurs first.

Subd. 17. Hot water heat; generation and distribution property. Real and personal property owned and operated by a private, nonprofit corporation exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to United States Code, title 26, section 501(c)(3), primarily used in the generation and distribution of hot water for heating buildings and structures, is exempt.

Subd. 18. State leased lands. Notwithstanding section 273.19, state lands that are leased from the Department of Natural Resources under section 92.46 are exempt.

Subd. 19. Property used to distribute electricity to farmers. Electric power distribution lines and their attachments and appurtenances, that are used primarily for supplying electricity to farmers at retail, are exempt.

Subd. 20. Transitional housing facilities. Transitional housing facilities are exempt. "Transitional housing facility" means a facility that meets the following requirements. (i) It provides temporary housing to individuals, couples, or families. (ii) It has the purpose of reuniting families and enabling parents or individuals to obtain self-sufficiency, advance their education, get job training, or become employed in jobs that provide a living wage. (iii) It provides support services such as child care, work readiness training, and career development counseling; and a self-sufficiency program with periodic monitoring of each resident's progress in completing the program's goals. (iv) It provides services to a resident of the facility for at least three months but no longer than three years, except residents enrolled in an educational or vocational institution or job training program. These residents may receive services during the time they are enrolled but in no event longer than four years. (v) It is owned and operated or under lease from a unit of government or governmental agency under a property disposition program and operated by one or more organizations exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1992. This exemption applies notwithstanding the fact that the sponsoring organization receives financing by a direct federal loan or federally insured loan or a loan made by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency under the provisions of either Title II of the National Housing Act or the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Law of 1971 or rules promulgated by the agency pursuant to it, and notwithstanding the fact that the sponsoring organization receives funding under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended.

Subd. 21. Property used to provide computing resources to University of Minnesota. Real and personal property, including leasehold or other personal property interests, is exempt if it is owned and operated by a corporation of which more than 50 percent of the total voting power of the stock of the corporation is owned collectively by: (i) the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, (ii) the University of Minnesota Foundation, an organization exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1992, and (iii) a corporation organized under chapter 317A, which by its articles of incorporation is prohibited from providing pecuniary gain to any person or entity other than the regents of the University of Minnesota; which property is used primarily to manage or provide goods, services, or facilities utilizing or relating to large-scale advanced scientific computing resources to the regents of the University of Minnesota and others.

Subd. 22. Wind energy conversion systems. All real and personal property of a wind energy conversion system as defined in section 272.029, subdivision 2, is exempt from property tax except that the land on which the property is located remains taxable. If approved by the county where the property is located, the value of the land on which the wind energy conversion system is located shall be valued in the same manner as similar land that has not been improved with a wind energy conversion system. The land shall be classified based on the most probable use of the property if it were not improved with a wind energy conversion system.

Subd. 23. Agricultural containment facilities. Containment tanks, cache basins, and that portion of the structure needed for the containment facility used to confine agricultural chemicals as defined in section 18D.01, subdivision 3, as required by the commissioner of agriculture under chapter 18B or 18C, are exempt.

Subd. 24. Electric power photovoltaic devices. Photovoltaic devices, as defined in section 216C.06, subdivision 16, installed after January 1, 1992, and used to produce or store electric power are exempt.

Subd. 25. Ice arenas; baseball parks. (a) Real and personal property is exempt if it is owned and operated by a private, nonprofit corporation exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to United States Code, title 26, section 501(c)(3), primarily used for an ice arena or ice rink, and used primarily for youth and high school programs.

(b) Real property is exempt if it is owned and operated by a private, nonprofit corporation exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to United States Code, title 26, section 501(c)(3), and primarily used as a baseball park by amateur baseball players.

Subd. 26. Repealed, 1Sp2003 c 21 art 4 s 13

Subd. 27. Superior National Forest; recreational property for use by disabled veterans. Real and personal property is exempt if it is located in the Superior National Forest, and owned or leased and operated by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1992, and primarily used to provide recreational opportunities for disabled veterans and their families.

Subd. 28. Manure pits. Manure pits and appurtenances, which may include slatted floors and pipes, installed or operated in accordance with a permit, order, or certificate of compliance issued by the Minnesota pollution control agency are exempt. The exemption shall continue for as long as the permit, order, or certificate issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency remains in effect.

Subd. 29. Cogeneration systems; certain property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a facility containing a cogeneration system as described in section 216B.166, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), is exempt if the cogeneration system has met the following criteria: (i) the system utilizes natural gas as a primary fuel and the cogenerated steam initially replaces steam generated from existing thermal boilers utilizing coal; (ii) the facility developer is selected as a result of a procurement process ordered by the Public Utilities Commission; and (iii) construction of the facility is commenced after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1997.

Subd. 30. Government property; lease or installment purchases. Real property acquired by a home rule charter city, statutory city, county, town, or school district under a lease purchase agreement or an installment purchase contract during the term of the lease purchase agreement is exempt as long as and to the extent that the property is used by the city, county, town, or school district and devoted to a public use and to the extent it is not subleased to any private individual, entity, association, or corporation in connection with a business or enterprise operated for profit.

Subd. 31. Business incubator property. Property owned by a nonprofit charitable organization that qualifies for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1997, that is intended to be used as a business incubator in a high-unemployment county, is exempt. As used in this subdivision, a "business incubator" is a facility used for the development of nonretail businesses, offering access to equipment, space, services, and advice to the tenant businesses, for the purpose of encouraging economic development, diversification, and job creation in the area served by the organization, and "high-unemployment county" is a county that had an average annual unemployment rate of 7.9 percent or greater in 1997. Property that qualifies for the exemption under this subdivision is limited to no more than two contiguous parcels and structures that do not exceed in the aggregate 40,000 square feet. This exemption expires after taxes payable in 2011.

Subd. 32. Wastewater treatment systems. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, real property that meets the following criteria is exempt:

(i) constitutes a wastewater treatment system that (a) is constructed by a municipality using public funds, (b) operates under a State Disposal System Permit issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency pursuant to chapters 115 and 116 and Minnesota Rules, chapter 700l, and (c) applies its effluent to land used as part of an agricultural operation;

(ii) is located within a municipality of a population of less than 10,000;

(iii) is used for treatment of effluent from a private potato processing facility; and

(iv) is owned by a municipality and operated by a private entity under agreement with that municipality.

Subd. 33. Electric generation facility personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a simple-cycle combustion-turbine electric generation facility that exceeds 250 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(i) not be owned by a public utility as defined in section 216B.02, subdivision 4;

(ii) utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(iii) be located within 20 miles of the intersection of an existing 42-inch (outside diameter) natural gas pipeline and a 345-kilovolt high-voltage electric transmission line; and

(iv) be designed to provide peaking, emergency backup, or contingency services, and have received a certificate of need pursuant to section 216B.243 demonstrating demand for its capacity.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after July 1, 1999, and before July 1, 2003. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 34. Limitations on exemptions. The exemptions granted by subdivisions 1 to 33 are subject to the limits contained in the other subdivisions of this section, section 272.025, or 273.13, subdivision 25, paragraph (c), clause (1) or (2), or paragraph (d), clause (2).

Subd. 35. Treatment of property of certain limited liability companies. For purposes of the exemptions granted by subdivisions 1 to 33, property owned or operated by a limited liability company consisting of a sole member shall be treated as if owned or operated by that member.

Subd. 36. Certain school district property not exempt. Property owned, leased or used by any public elementary or secondary school district for a home, residence or lodging house for any teacher, instructor, or administrator, and any property owned by any public school district which is leased to any person or organization for a nonpublic purpose for one year or more pursuant to section 123B.51, subdivision 4, shall not be included in the exemption provided in subdivisions 1 to 33.

Subd. 37. Certain hospital property not exempt. Property owned or leased by, or loaned to, a hospital and used principally by such hospital as a recreational or rest area for employees, administrators, or medical personnel shall not be included in the exemption provided in subdivisions 1 to 33.

Subd. 38. Conversion to exempt or taxable uses. (a) Any property exempt from taxation on January 2 of any year which, due to sale or other reason, loses its exemption prior to July 1 of any year, shall be placed on the current assessment rolls for that year.

The valuation shall be determined with respect to its value on January 2 of such year. The classification shall be based upon the use to which the property was put by the purchaser, or in the event the purchaser has not utilized the property by July 1, the intended use of the property, determined by the county assessor, based upon all relevant facts.

(b) Property subject to tax on January 2 that is acquired before July 1 of the year is exempt for that assessment year if the property is to be used for an exempt purpose under subdivisions 2 to 8.

(c) Property which forfeits to the state for nonpayment of real estate taxes on or before December 31 in an assessment year, shall be removed from the assessment rolls for that assessment year. Forfeited property that is repurchased, or sold at a public or private sale, on or before December 31 of an assessment year shall be placed on the assessment rolls for that year's assessment.

Subd. 39. Economic development; public purpose. The holding of property by a political subdivision of the state for later resale for economic development purposes shall be considered a public purpose in accordance with subdivision 8 for a period not to exceed eight years, except that for property located in a city of 5,000 population or under that is located outside of the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, the period must not exceed 15 years.

The holding of property by a political subdivision of the state for later resale (1) which is purchased or held for housing purposes, or (2) which meets the conditions described in section 469.174, subdivision 10, shall be considered a public purpose in accordance with subdivision 8.

The governing body of the political subdivision which acquires property which is subject to this subdivision shall after the purchase of the property certify to the city or county assessor whether the property is held for economic development purposes or housing purposes, or whether it meets the conditions of section 469.174, subdivision 10. If the property is acquired for economic development purposes and buildings or other improvements are constructed after acquisition of the property, and if more than one-half of the floor space of the buildings or improvements which is available for lease to or use by a private individual, corporation, or other entity is leased to or otherwise used by a private individual, corporation, or other entity the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to the property. This subdivision shall not create an exemption from section 272.01, subdivision 2; 272.68; 273.19; or 469.040, subdivision 3; or other provision of law providing for the taxation of or for payments in lieu of taxes for publicly held property which is leased, loaned, or otherwise made available and used by a private person.

Subd. 40. Repealed, 2002 c 377 art 10 s 32

Subd. 41. Pollution abatement property. Property, including real property, qualifies as exempt pollution abatement property under subdivision 10, if the following conditions are satisfied.

(a)(1) The property is part of a refuse-derived fuel facility converted from a coal burning electric generation facility and the property consists of:

(i) boiler modifications necessary to efficient handling and burning of refuse-derived fuel and transfer of the heat produced by combustion of the fuel;

(ii) ash handling and storage systems, such as vacuum-pneumatic equipment, conveyors, crushers, and storage buildings to remove, convey, process, and temporarily store bottom and fly ash from the burning of refuse-derived fuel;

(iii) control systems, such as computers, to control the operation of equipment described in clauses (i) to (iv) and other pollution abatement equipment; and

(iv) equipment to monitor emissions into the air and combustion efficiency; or

(2) the property is a solid waste resource recovery mass burn facility.

(b) The facility was constructed and will be operated under a contractual arrangement providing for payment, in whole or part, of the property tax on the property by a political subdivision of the state.

Subd. 42. Property leased to school districts. Property that is leased or rented to a school district is exempt from taxation if it meets the following requirements:

(1) the lease must be for a period of at least 12 consecutive months;

(2) the terms of the lease must require the school district to pay a nominal consideration for use of the building;

(3) the school district must use the property to provide direct instruction in any grade from kindergarten through grade 12; special education for handicapped children; adult basic education as described in section 124D.52; preschool and early childhood family education; or community education programs, including provision of administrative services directly related to the educational program at that site; and

(4) the lease must provide that the school district has the exclusive use of the property during the lease period.

Subd. 43. Personal property; biomass facility. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property, excluding transmission and distribution lines, that is part of a system that generates biomass electric energy that satisfies the mandate, in whole or in part, established in section 216B.2424, or a system that generates electric energy using waste wood, is exempt if it meets the requirements of this subdivision.

(b) The governing bodies of the county, city or town, and school district must each approve, by resolution, the exemption of the personal property under this subdivision. Each of the governing bodies shall file a copy of the resolution with the county auditor. The county auditor shall publish the resolutions in newspapers of general circulation within the county. The voters of the county may request a referendum on the proposed exemption by filing a petition within 30 days after the resolutions are published. The petition must be signed by voters who reside in the county. The number of signatures must equal at least ten percent of the number of persons voting in the county in the last general election. If such a petition is timely filed, the resolutions are not effective until they have been submitted to the voters residing in the county at a general or special election and a majority of votes cast on the question of approving the resolution are in the affirmative. The commissioner of revenue shall prepare a suggested form of question to be presented at the referendum.

(c) The exemption under this subdivision is limited to a maximum of five years, beginning with the assessment year immediately following the year during which the personal property is put in operation.

Subd. 44. Electric generation facility personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a simple-cycle combustion-turbine electric generation facility that exceeds 250 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) be located within 20 miles of parallel existing 16-inch and 12-inch (outside diameter) natural gas pipelines and a 345-kilovolt high-voltage electric transmission line; and

(3) be designed to provide peaking, emergency backup, or contingency services, and have received a certificate of need under section 216B.243 demonstrating demand for its capacity.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2000, and before January 1, 2004. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 45. Biomass electrical generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of an electrical generating facility that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize biomass as established in section 216B.2424 as a primary fuel source; and

(2) be constructed for the purpose of generating power at the facility that will be sold pursuant to a contract approved by the Public Utilities Commission in accordance with the biomass mandate imposed under section 216B.2424.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2000, and before December 31, 2002. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or facility.

Subd. 46. Residential buildings on temporary sites. A newly constructed building that is situated on real property is exempt if it is:

(1) intended for future residential occupancy;

(2) on a temporary foundation and intended to be moved;

(3) not used as a model or for any other business purposes;

(4) not connected to any utilities; and

(5) located on land that will not be sold with the building.

The exemption under this subdivision is allowable for only one assessment year after the date of the initial construction of the building.

Subd. 47. Poultry litter biomass generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of an electrical generating facility that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize poultry litter as a primary fuel source; and

(2) be constructed for the purpose of generating power at the facility that will be sold pursuant to a contract approved by the Public Utilities Commission in accordance with the biomass mandate imposed under section 216B.2424.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2003, and before December 31, 2005. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 48. Waste tire cogeneration facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of an electric generating facility that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize waste tires as a primary fuel source; and

(2) be a cogeneration electric generating facility of 15 to 25 megawatts of installed capacity.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2000, and before January 1, 2004. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 49. Agricultural historical society property. Property is exempt from taxation if it is owned by a nonprofit charitable or educational organization that qualifies for exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 2000, and meets the following criteria:

(1) the property is primarily used for storing and exhibiting tools, equipment, and artifacts useful in providing an understanding of local or regional agricultural history. Primary use is determined each year based on the number of days the property is used solely for storage and exhibition purposes;

(2) the property is limited to a maximum of 20 acres per owner per county, but includes the land and any taxable structures, fixtures, and equipment on the land;

(3) the property is not used for a revenue-producing activity for more than ten days in each calendar year; and

(4) the property is not used for residential purposes on either a temporary or permanent basis.

Subd. 50. Baseball park. Real or personal property acquired, owned, leased, controlled, used, or occupied as a baseball park by a major league professional baseball team is exempt from taxation but the property is subject to special assessments levied by a political subdivision under chapter 429. The baseball park includes parking facilities and land necessary to and part of the use of the baseball park. A use of the property in any manner different from its use as a baseball park must not be considered in determining the special benefit under chapter 429 received by the properties. Notwithstanding section 272.01, subdivision 2, or 273.19, real or personal property on the premises of the baseball park leased by the local government unit that operates the baseball park to another person or entity for uses directly related to the operation of the baseball park is exempt from taxation regardless of the length of the lease. This subdivision expires one month after repayment of the bonds issued to finance the baseball park.

Subd. 51. Electric generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a combined cycle natural gas turbine electric generation facility of between 43 and 46 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) utilize a combined cycle gas turbine generator fueled by natural gas;

(2) be connected to an existing 115-kilovolt high-voltage electric transmission line that is within one mile of the facility;

(3) be located on an underground natural gas storage aquifer;

(4) be designed as an intermediate load facility; and

(5) have received, by resolution, the approval from the governing body of the county for the exemption of personal property under this subdivision.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2002, and before January 1, 2004. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 52. Electric generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a simple-cycle combustion-turbine electric generation facility of more than 40 megawatts and less than 50 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) be located within two miles of parallel existing 36-inch natural gas pipelines and an existing 115-kilovolt high-voltage electric transmission line;

(3) be designed to provide peaking, emergency backup, or contingency services; and

(4) satisfy a resource deficiency identified in an approved integrated resource plan filed under section 216B.2422.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2001, and before January 1, 2005. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 53. Electric generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a 3.2 megawatt run-of-the-river hydroelectric generation facility and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) utilize two turbine generators at a dam site existing on March 31, 1994;

(2) be located on land within 1,500 feet of a 13.8 kilovolt distribution substation; and

(3) be eligible to receive a renewable energy production incentive payment under section 216C.41.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after December 31, 2004, and before January 1, 2007. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 54. Small biomass electric generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of an electrical generating facility that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction the facility must:

(1) have a generation capacity of less than 25 megawatts;

(2) provide process heating needs in addition to electrical generation; and

(3) utilize agricultural by-products from the malting process and other biomass fuels as its primary fuel source.

Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2002, and before January 1, 2006. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or facility.

Subd. 55. Electric generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of an electric generating facility that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must be sited on an energy park that (i) is located on an active mining site, or on a former mining or industrial site where mining or industrial operations have terminated, (ii) is within a tax relief area as defined in section 273.134, (iii) has on-site access to existing railroad infrastructure, (iv) has direct rail access to a Great Lakes port, (v) has sufficient private water resources on site, and (vi) is designed to host at least 500 megawatts of electrical generation.

Construction of the first 250 megawatts of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2002, and before January 1, 2005. Construction of up to an additional 750 megawatts of generation must be commenced before January 1, 2010. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 56. Electric generation facility; personal property. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a combined-cycle combustion-turbine electric generation facility that exceeds 300 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) not be owned by a public utility as defined in section 216B.02, subdivision 4;

(3) be located within five miles of an existing natural gas pipeline and within four miles of an existing electrical transmission substation;

(4) be located outside the metropolitan area as defined under section 473.121, subdivision 2; and

(5) be designed to provide energy and ancillary services and have received a certificate of need under section 216B.243.

(b) Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2007, except that property eligible for this exemption includes any expansion of the facility that also meets the requirements of paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), without regard to the date that construction of the expansion commences. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 57. Comprehensive Health Association. All property owned by the Comprehensive Health Association is exempt to the extent provided in section 62E.10, subdivision 1.

Subd. 58. Private cemeteries. All property owned by private cemeteries is exempt to the extent provided in section 307.09.

Subd. 59. Western Lake Superior Sanitary Board. All property owned, leased, controlled, used, or occupied for public, governmental, and municipal purposes by the Western Lake Superior Sanitary Board is exempt to the extent provided in section 458D.23.

Subd. 60. Unfinished sale or rental projects. Unfinished sale or rental projects are exempt to the extent provided in section 469.155, subdivision 17.

Subd. 61. Pedestrian systems; public parking structures. The pedestrian skyway system, underground pedestrian concourse, the people mover system, and publicly owned parking structures are exempt to the extent provided in section 469.127.

Subd. 62. Municipal recreation facilities. All property acquired and used by a city is exempt to the extent provided in section 471.191, subdivision 4.

Subd. 63. Water and wastewater treatment facilities. Related facilities owned by water and wastewater treatment providers who have contracted with a municipality to provide capital intensive public services to the municipality are exempt to the extent provided in section 471A.05.

Subd. 64. Job opportunity building zone property. (a) Improvements to real property, and personal property, classified under section 273.13, subdivision 24, and located within a job opportunity building zone, designated under section 469.314, are exempt from ad valorem taxes levied under chapter 275.

(b) Improvements to real property, and tangible personal property, of an agricultural production facility located within an agricultural processing facility zone, designated under section 469.314, is exempt from ad valorem taxes levied under chapter 275.

(c) For property to qualify for exemption under paragraph (a), the occupant must be a qualified business, as defined in section 469.310.

(d) The exemption applies beginning for the first assessment year after designation of the job opportunity building zone by the commissioner of employment and economic development. The exemption applies to each assessment year that begins during the duration of the job opportunity building zone. To be exempt, the property must be occupied by July 1 of the assessment year by a qualified business that has signed the business subsidy agreement and relocation agreement, if required, by July 1 of the assessment year. This exemption does not apply to:

(1) the levy under section 475.61 or similar levy provisions under any other law to pay general obligation bonds; or

(2) a levy under section 126C.17, if the levy was approved by the voters before the designation of the job opportunity building zone.

Subd. 65. Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 3 art 7 s 20

Subd. 66. Elderly living facility. An elderly living facility is exempt from taxation if it meets all of the following requirements:

(1) the facility is located in a city of the first class with a population of more than 350,000;

(2) the facility is owned and operated by a nonprofit corporation organized under chapter 317A;

(3) the construction of the facility was commenced after January 1, 2002, and before June 1, 2003;

(4) the facility consists of two buildings, which are connected to a church that is exempt from taxation under subdivision 6;

(5) the land for the facility was donated to the nonprofit corporation by the church to which the facility is connected;

(6) the residents of the facility must be (i) at least 62 years of age or (ii) handicapped;

(7) the facility operates an on-site congregate dining program in which participation by residents is mandatory, and provides assisted living or similar social and physical support services for residents; and

(8) at least 30 percent of the units in the facility are occupied by persons whose annual income does not exceed 50 percent of median family income for the area.

The property is exempt under this subdivision for taxes levied in each year or partial year of the term of the facility's initial permanent financing or 25 years, whichever is later.

Subd. 67. Electric generation facility; personal property. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a combined-cycle combustion-turbine electric generation facility that exceeds 150 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) be owned by an electric generation and transmission cooperative;

(3) be located within ten miles of parallel existing 24-inch and 30-inch natural gas pipelines and a 345-kilovolt high-voltage electric transmission line;

(4) be designed to provide intermediate energy and ancillary services, and have received a certificate of need under section 216B.243, demonstrating demand for its capacity; and

(5) have received by resolution, the approval from the governing body of the county and city in which the proposed facility is to be located for the exemption of personal property under this subdivision.

(b) Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2009. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

(c) The exemption under this section will take effect only if the owner of the facility enters into agreements with the governing bodies of the county and the city in which the facility is located. The agreements may include a requirement that the facility must pay a host fee to compensate the county and city for hosting the facility.

Subd. 68. Electric generation facility; personal property. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a simple-cycle combustion-turbine electric generation facility that exceeds 290 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) not be owned by a public utility as defined in section 216B.02, subdivision 4;

(3) be located within 15 miles of an existing natural gas pipeline and within five miles of an existing electrical transmission substation;

(4) be located outside the metropolitan area as defined under section 473.121, subdivision 2;

(5) be designed to provide peaking capacity energy and ancillary services and have satisfied all of the requirements under section 216B.243; and

(6) have received, by resolution, the approval from the governing body of the county, city, and school district in which the proposed facility is to be located for the exemption of personal property under this subdivision.

(b) Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2005, and before January 1, 2009. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 69. Electric generation facility personal property. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), and section 453.54, subdivision 20, attached machinery and other personal property which is part of an electric generation facility that exceeds 150 megawatts of installed capacity and meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) be owned and operated by a municipal power agency as defined in section 453.52, subdivision 8;

(3) have received the certificate of need under section 216B.243;

(4) be located outside the metropolitan area as defined under section 473.121, subdivision 2; and

(5) be designed to be a combined-cycle facility, although initially the facility will be operated as a simple-cycle combustion turbine.

(b) To qualify under this subdivision, an agreement must be negotiated between the municipal power agency and the host city, for a payment in lieu of property taxes to the host city.

(c) Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2006. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 70. Electric generation facility; personal property. Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of an existing simple-cycle, combustion-turbine electric generation facility that exceeds 300 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of the construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) be owned by a public utility as defined in section 216B.02, subdivision 4, and be located at or interconnected with an existing generating plant of the utility;

(3) be designed to provide peaking, emergency backup, or contingency services;

(4) satisfy a resource need identified in an approved integrated resource plan filed under section 216B.2422; and

(5) have received, by resolution, the approval from the governing body of the county and the city for the exemption of personal property under this subdivision.

Construction of the facility expansion must be commenced after January 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2005. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 71. Electric generation facility; personal property. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of a simple-cycle combustion-turbine electric generation facility that exceeds 150 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) utilize natural gas as a primary fuel;

(2) be owned by an electric generation and transmission cooperative;

(3) be located within five miles of parallel existing 12-inch and 16-inch natural gas pipelines and a 69-kilovolt high-voltage electric transmission line;

(4) be designed to provide peaking, emergency backup, or contingency services;

(5) have received a certificate of need under section 216B.243 demonstrating demand for its capacity; and

(6) have received by resolution the approval from the governing body of the county and township in which the proposed facility is to be located for the exemption of personal property under this subdivision.

(b) Construction of the facility must be commenced after July 1, 2005, and before January 1, 2009. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 72. Electric generation facility personal property. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is part of either a simple-cycle, combustion-turbine electric generation facility, or a combined-cycle, combustion-turbine electric generation facility that does not exceed 325 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) utilize either a simple-cycle or a combined-cycle combustion-turbine generator fueled by natural gas;

(2) be connected to an existing 115-kilovolt high-voltage electric transmission line that is within two miles of the facility;

(3) be located on an underground natural gas storage aquifer;

(4) be designed as either a peaking or intermediate load facility; and

(5) have received, by resolution, the approval from the governing body of the county for the exemption of personal property under this subdivision.

(b) Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2006, and before January 1, 2008. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 73. Property subject to taconite production tax or net proceeds tax. (a) Real and personal property described in section 298.25 is exempt to the extent the tax on taconite and iron sulphides under section 298.24 is described in section 298.25 as being in lieu of other taxes on such property. This exemption applies for taxes payable in each year that the tax under section 298.24 is payable with respect to such property.

(b) Deposits of mineral, metal, or energy resources the mining of which is subject to taxation under section 298.015 are exempt.

Subd. 74. Religious corporations. Personal and real property that a religious corporation, formed under section 317A.909, necessarily uses for a religious purpose is exempt to the extent provided in section 317A.909, subdivision 3.

Subd. 75. Children's homes. Personal and real property owned by a corporation formed under section 317A.907 is exempt to the extent provided in section 317A.907, subdivision 7.

Subd. 76. Housing and redevelopment authority and tribal housing authority property. Property owned by a housing and redevelopment authority described in chapter 469, or by a designated housing authority described in section 469.040, subdivision 5, is exempt to the extent provided in chapter 469.

Subd. 77. Property of housing and redevelopment authorities. Property of projects of housing and redevelopment authorities are exempt to the extent permitted by sections 469.042, subdivision 1, and 469.043, subdivisions 2 and 5.

Subd. 78. Property of regional rail authority. Property of a regional rail authority as defined in chapter 398A is exempt to the extent permitted by section 398A.05.

Subd. 79. Spirit mountain recreation area authority. Property owned by the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area Authority is exempt from taxation to the extent provided in Laws 1973, chapter 327, section 6.

Subd. 80. Installed capacity defined. For purposes of this section, the term "installed capacity" means generator nameplate capacity.

Subd. 81. Certain recreational property for disabled veterans. Real and personal property is exempt if it is located in a county in the metropolitan area with a population of less than 500,000 according to the 2000 federal census, and owned or leased and operated by a nonprofit organization, and primarily used to provide recreational opportunities for disabled veterans and their families.

Subd. 82. Biomass electric generation facility; personal property. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision 9, clause (a), attached machinery and other personal property which is a part of an electric generation facility, including remote boilers that comprise part of the district heating system, generating up to 30 megawatts of installed capacity and that meets the requirements of this subdivision is exempt. At the time of construction, the facility must:

(1) be designed to utilize a minimum 90 percent waste biomass as a fuel;

(2) not be owned by a public utility as defined in section 216B.02, subdivision 4;

(3) be located within a city of the first class and have its primary location at a former garbage transfer station; and

(4) be designed to have capability to provide baseload energy and district heating.

(b) Construction of the facility must be commenced after January 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2008. Property eligible for this exemption does not include electric transmission lines and interconnections or gas pipelines and interconnections appurtenant to the property or the facility.

Subd. 83. International economic development zone property. (a) Improvements to real property, and personal property, classified under section 273.13, subdivision 24, and located within the international economic development zone designated under section 469.322, are exempt from ad valorem taxes levied under chapter 275, if the improvements are:

(1) part of a regional distribution center as defined in section 469.321; or

(2) occupied by a qualified business as defined in section 469.321, that uses the improvements primarily in freight forwarding operations.

(b) The exemption applies beginning for the first assessment year after designation of the international economic development zone. The exemption applies to each assessment year that begins during the duration of the international economic development zone. To be exempt under paragraph (a), clause (2), the property must be occupied by July 1 of the assessment year by a qualified business that has signed the business subsidy agreement by July 1 of the assessment year.

HIST: (1975, 1976) RL s 795; 1911 c 242 s 1; 1913 c 259 s 1; 1925 c 171 s 1; 1935 c 385 s 1; Ex1936 c 66 s 1; 1943 c 41 s 1; 1945 c 44 s 1; 1951 c 639 s 1; 1959 c 610 s 1; 1961 c 481 s 1; 1965 c 514 s 1; Ex1967 c 32 art 4 s 2; art 10 s 1; 1969 c 1064 s 1; 1971 c 25 s 55; 1971 c 570 s 1,2; 1971 c 790 s 1; 1971 c 794 s 3; 1971 c 821 s 1; Ex1971 c 31 art 22 s 3; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1973 c 582 s 3; 1973 c 650 art 24 s 1; 1974 c 316 s 1; 1974 c 545 s 1; 1975 c 199 s 2; 1975 c 352 s 1; 1979 c 303 art 2 s 5,6; art 7 s 12; 1980 c 432 s 1; 1980 c 564 art 13 s 1; 1980 c 607 art 2 s 6; 1981 c 251 s 1; 1981 c 309 s 1; 1Sp1981 c 1 art 8 s 3; art 10 s 5; 1982 c 523 art 27 s 4; 1983 c 213 s 10; 1983 c 342 art 2 s 2; art 9 s 1; 1984 c 502 art 3 s 4,5; 1984 c 548 s 1,2; 1984 c 593 s 1-4; 1984 c 655 art 1 s 45; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1985 c 300 s 4; 1Sp1985 c 14 art 3 s 3; art 4 s 30,31; art 17 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 268 art 6 s 6,7; art 8 s 3; 1987 c 291 s 205; 1988 c 719 art 6 s 3; 1989 c 209 art 2 s 31; 1989 c 277 art 2 s 15; 1Sp1989 c 1 art 3 s 2-4; art 9 s 17; 1990 c 391 art 8 s 32,33; 1990 c 604 art 3 s 7; 1991 c 265 art 5 s 11; 1991 c 291 art 1 s 10; art 12 s 4; 1991 c 315 s 2; 1991 c 354 art 4 s 6; 1992 c 464 art 1 s 33; 1992 c 511 art 2 s 9; 1993 c 375 art 3 s 7,8; art 5 s 3,4; art 8 s 14; 1994 c 416 art 1 s 9; 1994 c 513 s 1; 1994 c 614 s 3; 1994 c 647 art 4 s 39; 1995 c 264 art 3 s 4; 1996 c 462 s 43; 1997 c 31 art 3 s 1; 1997 c 191 art 1 s 9; 1997 c 231 art 2 s 7,8; 1998 c 389 art 3 s 1; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 1999 c 243 art 5 s 3; 1999 c 248 s 2; 2000 c 490 art 5 s 3,4; 1Sp2001 c 5 art 3 s 16-21; art 7 s 13; 2002 c 377 art 4 s 6-11; art 10 s 4; 2002 c 397 s 1; 2003 c 127 art 2 s 5-9; art 5 s 3-9; 1Sp2003 c 4 s 1; 1Sp2003 c 21 art 1 s 1; art 2 s 2; art 4 s 1,2 ; 2005 c 43 s 1; 2005 c 151 art 3 s 1-8; art 5 s 5-13; 2005 c 152 art 2 s 2; 1Sp2005 c 3 art 1 s 3-6; art 7 s 6; art 10 s 1

* NOTE: Subdivision 56, as added by Laws 2003, chapter 127, *article 2, section 8, is effective for assessment year 2005, *taxes payable in 2006, and thereafter. Laws 2003, chapter 127, *article 2, section 8, the effective date.

* NOTE: Subdivision 67, as added by Laws 2003, chapter 127, *article 2, section 9, is effective for assessment year 2005, *taxes payable in 2006, and thereafter. Laws 2003, chapter 127, *article 2, section 9, the effective date.

* NOTE: Subdivision 68, as added by Laws 2005, chapter 151, *article 3, section 4, is effective for assessment year 2006, *taxes payable in 2007, and thereafter. Laws 2005, chapter 151, *article 3, section 4, the effective date.

* NOTE: Subdivision 71, as added by Laws 2005, chapter 151, *article 3, section 7, is effective for assessment year 2006 and *thereafter, for taxes payable in 2007 and thereafter. Laws *2005, chapter 151, article 3, section 7, the effective date.

* NOTE: Subdivision 83, as added by Laws 2005, First Special *Session chapter 3, article 10, section 1, is effective beginning *for property taxes payable in 2008. Laws 2005, First Special *Session chapter 3, article 10, section 1, the effective date.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes