Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Aeronautics and Aviation

Meteorological Towers

What is not a stand-alone meteorological tower?

Windmills

Photo by Shawna Diemer

A stand-alone meteorological tower does not include:

  • a structure that is affixed or adjacent to a building, including a house, barn, or utility station,
  • an electric transmission or distribution line,
  • a streetlight erected or maintained by a governmental entity,
  • a wind energy conversion system, as defined in section 216F.01, subdivision 4, that has rotor blades with a length of more than six feet,
  • a facility registered with the Federal Communications Commission as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 47, section 20.3, or
  • a utility pole located in the public right-of-way.

Notification is not required for towers located within the curtilage of a farmstead, or in a statutory or home rule charter city or town.

Towers over 200 feet requires a permit in most situations.