Chapter IV · Buildings and Construction

Article 7. Towers and Antennas

Sections 4-701 to 4-708 · 8 sections

4-701 Permit required.

No person shall erect or cause to be erected or re--erected, within the city limits, any radio or television tower or antenna, without having first obtained a permit for such construction or erection from the city clerk.

(Code 1984, 4-601; Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)

4-702 Permit application; fee.

Before a permit is issued by the city clerk, the applicant shall sign a written application showing the proposed location, size, nature and detail of construction of the antenna or tower, and any other information which the city clerk may reasonably require in connection therewith. If the antenna or tower to be erected, as shown by such application, conform with the provisions of this article, the city clerk shall issue a permit upon payment of $250.

(Ord. 2012-09-01;Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)

4-703 Isolated towers; construction.

(a)All isolated radio or television towers or masts shall be of metal construction or of pressure treated wood poles with a base diameter of not less than 1/30 of its height. If of steel or iron, they shall be made rust and corrosion resistant shall be set upon foundations of sufficient size to allow for all loads imposed thereon as well as allowance for uplift forces. Unless the structures are designed as free standing, they shall be adequately guyed with not less than three cable guys of six strands, No. 20 gauge cable securely fastened to ground anchors and such guys shall have strain type insulators not more than 40 feet apart and one such insulator shall be installed not less than seven feet above the ground and so as to break contact between the tower and the ground.

(b)No guys shall cross over wires carrying electric current nor any public property or the property of another person. Towers shall not be erected closer than six feet from the electric power lines and when deemed necessary because of high voltage, this distance shall be increased. All such structures shall be equipped with grounds of not less than No. 8 copper or No. 6 aluminum, and shall be installed as set forth in the electric code of National Board of Fire Underwriters, approved lightning arrestor shall be installed on antenna lead-in at its entrance into the building, arrestor must be grounded.

(Code 1984, 4-603; Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)

4-704 Roof towers; construction.

Towers placed upon roofs and supporting radio or television antennae shall be of incombustible materials. These towers shall be placed upon a solid bearing such as a wall or beam, and if placed on rafters they shall be placed so as to cause no excessive strain on the members upon which they rest, but shall not set upon or be supported by chimneys, such structures unless designed as free standing, shall be securely guyed with not less than three cable guys of six strands, No. 20 gauge cable. Guys shall not be attached to chimneys, plumbing vents or other pipes on the building nor shall they cross over any electric wires. All towers shall be equipped with proper grounds, not smaller than No. 8 copper or No. 6 aluminum and installed in a manner set forth in the National Electric Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. An approved lightning arrestor shall be installed on the antenna lead-in at its entrance into the building. The arrestor must be grounded.

(Code 1984, 4-604; Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)

4-705 Inspections; certificate of approval.

(a)The installation of the structures permitted under this article shall be completed within 60 days following the issuance of a permit therefore. Upon completion of the installation the permit holder shall immediately report the fact to the city clerk. Thereupon, the installation shall be finally inspected by the city inspector.

(b)If the installation complies with the provisions of this article then the city inspector shall issue a certificate of approval. If the installation does not comply with the requisites of the application for a permit and this article, then the deficiency shall be corrected forthwith or the installation shall be wholly removed.

(Code 1984, 4-605; Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)

4-706 Same; unsafe conditions; removal.

All radio or television towers shall be at all times subject to the inspection of the city inspector whenever any complaint has been made to him or her or whenever he or she deems such inspection necessary. If the inspector at any time finds such tower insecurely anchored or in any manner unsafe or in such condition that it or any support or part thereof is liable to fall or break, he or she shall have authority to either order the same to be repaired or entirely removed, whichever in his or her opinion is necessary to make the tower safe and secure it from falling. Any person, whether the owner of the tower or the premises on which it is erected, or in charge of such premises as the occupant thereof, or agent, representative, officer or member of any firm or corporation owning such tower or owning or occupying such premises, or in charge thereof, who refuses to comply with such order shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this article.

(Code 1984, 4-606; Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)

4-707 Antennas; safety wire required.

Whenever it is required for performance or mechanical reasons to install an antenna above the street or near power lines, or where damage would be caused by its falling, a separate safety wire must be attached to the antenna, and secured in a direction away from the hazard.

(Code 1984, 4-607; Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)

4-708 Penalty.

Upon conviction for violation of any provision of this article, a person shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $200. Each day’s continuance of any violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense.

(Code 1984, 4-608; Code 2012; Ord. 2016-01)