diff --git a/drivers/hrldas/ConfigVarInTransferMod.F90 b/drivers/hrldas/ConfigVarInTransferMod.F90
index 9dfe4ba7..f71caa17 100644
--- a/drivers/hrldas/ConfigVarInTransferMod.F90
+++ b/drivers/hrldas/ConfigVarInTransferMod.F90
@@ -129,11 +129,12 @@ subroutine ConfigVarInTransfer(noahmp, NoahmpIO)
 
     ! treatment for urban point
     if ( (NoahmpIO%IVGTYP(I,J) == NoahmpIO%ISURBAN_TABLE) .or. (NoahmpIO%IVGTYP(I,J) > NoahmpIO%URBTYPE_beg) ) then
-       noahmp%config%domain%FlagUrban = .true. 
-       if(NoahmpIO%SF_URBAN_PHYSICS == 0 ) then
-           noahmp%config%domain%VegType = NoahmpIO%ISURBAN_TABLE
+       if ( NoahmpIO%SF_URBAN_PHYSICS == 0 ) then
+           noahmp%config%domain%VegType = NoahmpIO%ISURBAN_TABLE  ! treat as bulk urban point
+           noahmp%config%domain%FlagUrban = .true.
        else
-           noahmp%config%domain%VegType = NoahmpIO%NATURAL_TABLE  ! set urban vegetation type based on table natural
+           noahmp%config%domain%VegType = NoahmpIO%NATURAL_TABLE  ! set rural vegetation type based on table natural
+                                                                  ! urban is handled by explicit urban scheme outside Noah-MP
            NoahmpIO%GVFMAX(I,J)         = 0.96 * 100.0            ! unit: %
        endif         
     endif
diff --git a/drivers/hrldas/NoahmpInitMainMod.F90 b/drivers/hrldas/NoahmpInitMainMod.F90
index 339e2a23..af11f3b1 100644
--- a/drivers/hrldas/NoahmpInitMainMod.F90
+++ b/drivers/hrldas/NoahmpInitMainMod.F90
@@ -187,8 +187,13 @@ subroutine NoahmpInitMain(NoahmpIO)
                 NoahmpIO%LAI(I,J)      = 0.0
                 NoahmpIO%LAI(I,J)      = max(NoahmpIO%LAI(I,J), 0.05)                       ! at least start with 0.05 for arbitrary initialization (v3.7)
                 NoahmpIO%XSAIXY(I,J)   = max(0.1*NoahmpIO%LAI(I,J), 0.05)                   ! MB: arbitrarily initialize SAI using input LAI (v3.7)
-                NoahmpIO%LFMASSXY(I,J) = NoahmpIO%LAI(I,J) * 1000.0 / &
-                                         max(NoahmpIO%SLA_TABLE(NoahmpIO%IVGTYP(I,J)),1.0)  ! use LAI to initialize (v3.7)
+                if ( NoahmpIO%SF_URBAN_PHYSICS == 0 ) then
+                   NoahmpIO%LFMASSXY(I,J) = NoahmpIO%LAI(I,J) * 1000.0 / &
+                                            max(NoahmpIO%SLA_TABLE(NoahmpIO%IVGTYP(I,J)),1.0)  ! use LAI to initialize (v3.7)
+                else
+                   NoahmpIO%LFMASSXY(I,J) = NoahmpIO%LAI(I,J) * 1000.0 / &
+                                            max(NoahmpIO%SLA_TABLE(NoahmpIO%NATURAL_TABLE),1.0)! use LAI to initialize (v3.7)
+                endif
                 NoahmpIO%STMASSXY(I,J) = NoahmpIO%XSAIXY(I,J) * 1000.0 / 3.0                ! use SAI to initialize (v3.7)
                 NoahmpIO%RTMASSXY(I,J) = 500.0                                              ! these are all arbitrary and probably should be
                 NoahmpIO%WOODXY(I,J)   = 500.0                                              ! in the table or read from initialization
diff --git a/parameters/NoahmpTable.TBL b/parameters/NoahmpTable.TBL
index d0ecdcd1..c9d37c5b 100644
--- a/parameters/NoahmpTable.TBL
+++ b/parameters/NoahmpTable.TBL
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
  ISCROP       =  2  ! crop land type in USGS
  EBLFOREST    = 13  ! evergreen broadleaf forest land type in USGS
  NATURAL      =  5  ! natural vegation type in urban pixel in USGS
- URBTYPE_beg  = 40  ! land type number above which are urban (e.g., LCZ)
+ URBTYPE_beg  = 50  ! land type number above which are urban (e.g., LCZ)
  LCZ_1        = 51  ! urban local climate zone (LCZ) type 1: compact highrise
  LCZ_2        = 52  ! urban local climate zone (LCZ) type 2: compact midrise
  LCZ_3        = 53  ! urban local climate zone (LCZ) type 3: compact lowrise
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
  ISCROP       = 12  ! crop land type in MODIS
  EBLFOREST    =  2  ! evergreen broadleaf forest land type in MODIS
  NATURAL      = 14  ! natural vegation type in urban pixel in MODIS
- URBTYPE_beg  = 40  ! land type number above which are urban (e.g., LCZ)
+ URBTYPE_beg  = 50  ! land type number above which are urban (e.g., LCZ)
  LCZ_1        = 51  ! urban local climate zone (LCZ) type 1: compact highrise
  LCZ_2        = 52  ! urban local climate zone (LCZ) type 2: compact midrise
  LCZ_3        = 53  ! urban local climate zone (LCZ) type 3: compact lowrise