Agoura Hills Municipal Code Part 10 Special Accessory Use Development Standards

The purpose of the following standards are to establish specific criteria for ancillary uses related to both residential and commercial use structures.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 03-320, § 16, adopted May 28, 2003, deleted § 9288.1, which pertained to granny flat dwelling units. This section bore no history note.

All exterior lights shall be directed down and away from adjacent property.

Since satellite dish antennas of any configuration have the important purpose of screening and/or transmitting communication or other signals from and/or to orbiting satellites, but also have an effect on property values, the level of attractiveness of the community and the public peace, safety and general welfare, the following standards shall be met for all installations of satellite dishes:

A. All ground mounted dish antennas shall be located in the rear yard and conform to the following setbacks for accessory buildings:

Rear yard: Five (5) feet;

Side yard: Five (5) feet;

Maximum height: Fifteen (15) feet or the height of an adjacent building on the same lot, whichever is less.

All dish antennas shall not exceed a maximum of twenty-five (25) percent of the required rear yard setback.

B. All roof mounted dish antennas shall be located in a roofwell or at a location screened by a parapet wall so as not to be seen from any adjacent streets; however, such antennas shall not exceed the height of the existing roof.

C. All dish antennas shall be color coordinated to harmonize with the dominant background materials and colors.

D. All accessory equipment related to dish antennas shall conform to the same provisions as the antennas.

E. Satellite dishes located on parcels adjacent to public streets shall be screened from view to block sightlines from any point within such adjacent public streets.

F. Prior to the installation of all satellite antennas, the location and design shall be subject to the approval of the director of planning and community development after an on-site inspection.

G. The provisions of this section 9288.3. shall not be applied in such a manner as to preclude reception of signals by dish antennas.

Cross reference— Satellite dish standards, § 9394.1.

Amateur radio antennas, structures and masts that comply with the development standards specified in section 9288.6 are permitted as accessory use in all residential zoning districts subject to the issuance of any other appropriate permits. Amateur radio antennas, structures and masts which do not conform to section 9288.6 shall require a variance.

(Ord. No. 235, § 1, 8-4-93)

A. Amateur radio antenna shall mean any antenna which is used for the purpose of transmitting and receiving radio signals in conjunction with an amateur radio station license by the Federal Communications Commission.

B. Antenna structure refers collectively to an antenna and its supporting mast or tower, if any.

C. Mast shall mean a pole of wood or metal, or a tower fabricated of metal, used to support an amateur radio antenna and maintain it at the proper elevation.

D. Whip antenna shall mean an antenna consisting of a single, slender, rod-like element, less than one (1) wave length long, which is supported only at or near its base.

(Ord. No. 235, § 1, 8-4-93)

A. Lowering device. All amateur radio antennas, capable of a maximum extended height in excess of forty-five (45) feet, with the exception of whip antennas, shall be equipped with a motorized device or mechanical device, capable of lowering the antenna to the maximum permitted height when not in operation.

B. Permitted height.

(1) The height of an antenna shall be measured from the finished grade at the point the mast touches, or if extended would touch, the ground.

(2) When in operation, no part of any amateur radio antenna, may extend to a height of more than sixty-five (65) feet above the finished grade of the site on which the antenna is installed.

(3) When not in operation, no part of any amateur radio antenna, excepting whip antennas, shall extend to a height of more than forty (40) feet measured above the finished grade of the site on which the antenna is installed or ten (10) feet above the highest point of the roof if mounted on a building.

C. Number of support structures permitted. One (1) ground mounted amateur radio antenna support structure shall be permitted on each building site.

D. Siting/setbacks. The antenna structure shall be located on the site in a manner which will minimize the extent to which the structure is visible to nearby residents and members of the general public. No portion of any antenna, antenna structure or mast shall be located in the area between the front property line and the house. All ground mounted antenna support structures shall be located in the buildable area of the lot.

E. Safety/radio frequency interference. All antenna structures shall meet minimum standards of the Uniform Building Code, National Electrical Code, and the manufacturer's installation specifications. Every antenna must be adequately grounded.

F. Colors. Antenna support structures and appurtenant structural surfaces shall have subdued colors which blend with surroundings.

(Ord. No. 235, § 1, 8-4-93)

Amateur radio antennas, antenna structures, and masts in existence as of the effective date of sections 9288.4 through 9288.7 may continue to be used without complying with the provisions of section 9288.4 through 9288.7 except as herein provided and shall be considered a legal nonconforming use. Amateur radio antennas, antenna structures, and masts that are a legal nonconforming use shall comply with the provisions of section 9288.6 B (Permitted height) to the extent that they are capable of doing so without modification. Amateur radio antennas, antenna structures, and masts may be enlarged, expanded or relocated only if brought into compliance with the provisions of sections 9288.4 through 9288.7.

(Ord. No. 235, § 1, 8-4-93)