Regulations · Fixed sources
D.S. N°14/2024: the new noise standard for fixed sources
Published on February 27, 2026, it replaces D.S. N°38/2011 and redefines how noise from industrial, energy and infrastructure projects is assessed and enforced in Chile. It phases in gradually: projects entering the SEIA are governed by it from August 27, 2027.
Entry-into-force timeline
February 27, 2026 — Publication in the Official Gazette. The transition period begins; D.S. N°38/2011 remains fully in force.
August 27, 2027 (18 months) — The new standard applies to all projects entering the SEIA from the publication date. This is the milestone that now defines how to design your acoustic baseline.
August 27, 2028 (30 months) — General entry into force for all remaining fixed sources. From this point, D.S. N°38/2011 is repealed.
What changes compared with D.S. N°38/2011
| Aspect | D.S. N°38/2011 (in force during the transition) | D.S. N°14/2024 (new standard) |
|---|---|---|
| Rural areas | Limited treatment of background noise | Expanded background-noise measurement and a tiered limit system based on the existing rural background level |
| Wind farms | No specific methodology | Dedicated methodology (characterization by L90 percentile and extended continuous monitoring) |
| Applicable corrections | For background noise, for maximum level, and for doors or windows (indoor measurements only) | For residual noise, for impulsive noise, and for doors or windows (indoor measurements only) |
| Urban zoning | Zones I–IV with limits by time of day | Land-use combinations per zone are clarified, and Zone IV is corrected to recognize industrial areas |
Reference limits from D.S. N°38/2011 (dB(A), daytime 7–21 h / nighttime 21–7 h): Zone I 55/45, Zone II 60/50, Zone III 65/55, Zone IV 70/70. The new standard keeps the urban-zone logic and concentrates its main changes in rural areas, wind farms and measurement methodologies.
Is my project assessed under the old standard or the new one?
The general rule depends on when your project enters the SEIA:
- You enter the SEIA on or after August 27, 2027: D.S. N°14/2024 applies. Your baseline and modeling must be built with the new methodologies.
- You entered before that date: your assessment is governed by D.S. N°38/2011, which remains in force during the transition.
- Fixed sources outside the SEIA: the new standard reaches them only on August 27, 2028.
The gray area lies in projects being designed today to enter close to the 18-month milestone: it’s worth anticipating the new methodology so you don’t have to redo the baseline midway.
Already hold an RCA under D.S. N°38/2011?
For projects with receptors in rural areas, the applicable background-noise level will be the one established during environmental assessment or in the corresponding Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA). This provides regulatory certainty during the transition, but it’s worth reviewing case by case how your existing commitments interact with the new enforcement requirements.
Why we know this standard first-hand
We developed South America’s first wind-farm noise study for the Ministry of the Environment and contributed background information for the revision of this standard. It’s the same methodology used to assess wind-turbine noise in Chile today. If your project enters the SEIA within the next two years, we can anticipate exactly what D.S. N°14/2024 will require of you.
Free resources
Download our practical guides to prepare your project for D.S. N°14/2024 and SEIA submission. You receive them in your inbox instantly.
Checklist: what you need before submitting your acoustic component to the SEIA
2 pages. The background information, measurements and modeling the reviewer checks, in an actionable list.
D.S. N°14/2024 preparation guide
What changes compared with D.S. N°38/2011, the entry-into-force deadlines, and how to get ahead.
Entering the SEIA soon? Get ready before the standard catches up with you.
Book a 20-minute call: we run a preliminary diagnosis of your regulatory exposure and deliver a free technical proposal within 1 to 5 business days.
Informational content; it does not constitute legal advice. Prepared from public sources (Official Gazette, February 27, 2026; Ministry of the Environment; industry analysis) and updated to August 2026. Deadlines are counted from the standard’s publication date.