---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 C.F.R. § 25.503"
title: "7"
number: "25.503"
heading: "Rural areas."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/7/25.503"
---

# §25.503. Rural areas.

- (a) **What constitutes “rural”.** A rural area may consist of any area that lies outside the boundaries of a Metropolitan Area, as designated by the Office of Management and Budget, or, is an area that has a population density less than or equal to 1,000 persons per square mile, the land use of which is primarily agricultural.
- (b) **Exceptions to the definition.** On a case by case basis, the Secretary may grant requests for waiver from the definition of “rural” stated in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section upon a showing of good cause. Applicants seeking to apply for a rural designation who do not satisfy the definition in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must submit a request for waiver in writing to the Deputy Administrator, USDA Office of Community Development, Reporters Building, Room 701, STOP 3203, 300 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024-3202. Requests must include:
  - (1) The name, address and daytime phone number of the contact person for the applicant seeking the waiver; and
  - (2) Sufficient information regarding the area that would support the infrequent exception from the definition.
- (c) **Waiver process.** The Secretary, in consultation with the Department of Commerce, will have discretion to permit rural applications for communities that do not meet the above rural criteria.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 26 U.S.C. 1391; Pub. L. 103-66, 107 Stat. 543; Pub L. 105-34, 111 Stat. 885; Sec. 766, Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681-37; Pub. L. 106-554 [Title I of H.R. 5562], 114 Stat. 2763.

### Source

Source: 63 FR 19114, Apr. 16, 1998, unless otherwise noted.