Article 2 — Antennas

The purpose of this article is to identify the regulations and permit requirements for antennas. (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97)

The regulations of this article shall apply to satellite dish, amateur radio and communication antennas. These antennas are permitted as either accessory uses or conditional uses and are subject to the development standards contained in this article.

• (a) Exemption. Antennas meeting all of the following criteria are exempt from the regulations of this article:

  • (1) The antenna and associated support structure are supported primarily by attachment to a building.

  • (2) The antenna, including associated support structure, does not weigh more than 80 pounds.

  • (3) The antenna, excluding associated support structure, does not exceed 4.4 square feet in effective wind load area.

  • (4) Attachment of the antenna and associated support structure to a building does not require modification or reinforcement of load bearing elements of the building in order to support the antenna and associated support structure at wind speeds up to 70 miles per hour.

  • (5) The environmental radio frequency radiation generated by the antenna does not exceed ANSI/IEEE standards, except as categorically excluded by the Federal Communications Commission.

• (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97)

Table 13-141 indicates whether a proposed antenna is a permitted accessory use or whether a minor conditional use permit is required, pursuant to section 13-144 , Minor conditional use permit requirements. Building permits shall be required prior to installation of any antenna unless the antenna is exempt from this article.

• 1 Subject to compliance with the development standards in section 13-142 , Development standards; proposed antennas not in compliance with the applicable development standards shall require the approval of a minor conditional use permit.

• 2 Subject to compliance with the development standards in section 13-142 , Development standards.

• 3 For the purposes of this table, the symbols shall have the following meaning: P= Permitted; MC= Minor Conditional Use Permit; • = Prohibited.

• (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 02-4, § 1k, 3-18-02)

Table 13-142 identifies the development standards for antennas. Proposed antennas not in compliance with the applicable development standards shall require the approval of a minor conditional use permit pursuant to section 13-144 , Minor conditional use permit requirements.

(click here to view the full table)

(Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 98-5, § 23, 3-2-98; Ord. No. 21-20, § 1, 12-7-21; Ord. 2025-07, 10/21/2025)

• (a) Satellite dish antennas. Any satellite dish antenna in existence as of May 4, 1994 for which valid building permits have been issued, shall be considered legal non-conforming, and may be maintained, enlarged, expanded or changed in accordance with the provisions of this article.

• (b) Amateur radio antennas.

  • (1) Any amateur radio antenna that was in existence as of September 7, 1989, may continue as a nonconforming development and need not comply with the development standards contained in section 13-142 , Development standards, provided that a record of its size, location, height and any other information deemed necessary by the development services director is on file with the planning division. In order to secure any right under this section, the amateur radio antenna owner must have established this record by May 7, 1990. The amateur radio antenna owner is responsible for providing the necessary information to the city for inclusion in the record of nonconforming amateur radio antennas.

  • (2) Replacement of an amateur radio antenna support structure shall be subject to all applicable regulations and issuance of appropriate permits. However, the supported antenna, including the array, may be replaced without issuance of a new building permit, provided the replacement antenna does not exceed the maximum weight, dimensions or wind load area specified in the current building permit or record on file with the planning division.

  • (3) Nonconforming amateur radio antennas which have been registered with the city as of May 7, 1990, may be enlarged, expanded or relocated only if the enlargement, expansion or relocation does not result in a greater nonconformity with the development standards specified in this article, or with the NCRP and the 1992 ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation, except as categorically excluded by the Federal Communications Commission.

  • (4) Nonconforming amateur radio antennas which have not been registered with the city as of May 7, 1990, may be enlarged, expanded, changed in use, increased in power, or relocated provided that the enlargement, expansion, change in use, or increase in power, is in compliance with the NCRP and the 1992 ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation, except as categorically excluded by the Federal Communications Commission and the antenna complies with applicable provisions of this article.

• (c) Communication antennas.

  • (1) Any communication antenna in existence as of May 4, 1994 for which valid building permits have been issued, shall be considered legal and may be maintained, enlarged, expanded or changed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) .

• (2) A nonconforming communication antenna with valid building permits may be enlarged, expanded or relocated only if the enlargement, expansion or relocation does not result in a greater nonconformity with the development standards specified in this article, and provided the antenna complies with the NCRP and the 1992 ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation. A nonconforming communication antenna with valid building permits may be changed in use and/or power, and/or converted to a transmitting antenna provided that ANSI/IEEE regulations regarding environmental radiofrequency radiation are complied with in addition to compliance with applicable requirements of this article, including Table 13-141, Antenna Review Requirements.

• (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 98-5, §§ 24, 25, 3-2-98)

All requests for installation of antennas not satisfying the criteria identified in section 13-142 , Development standards, may be approved by minor conditional use permit consistent with the requirements of this section and Chapter III, Planning Applications.

• (a) Requirements. An application for a minor conditional use permit shall be made and processed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter III, Planning Applications, with the following exceptions:

  • (1) The application fee shall not be applicable for amateur radio antennas.

  • (2) Applications for a minor conditional use permit where the proposed antenna(s) will not conform with applicable development standards shall include statements of the reasons why strict conformance with the development standards specified will:

    • a. Unreasonably limit, or prevent, reception or transmission of signals;

    • b. Result in excessive expense in light of the cost of purchase, installation and operation of the antenna(s).

  • (3) When a proposed FCC-regulated transmitting facility will expose the public or workers to levels that exceed ANSI/IEEE RF radiation standards, the FCC-required environmental evaluation must be submitted with the minor conditional use permit application.

• (b) Findings. In addition to the findings specified in section 13-29(g)(2), Conditional use permit and minor conditional use permit findings, the following findings shall be made:

  • (1) Strict conformance with the development standards specified will unreasonably limit, or prevent, reception or transmission of signals, or result in excessive expense in light of the cost of purchase, installation and operation of the antenna(s).

  • (2) The deviation from applicable development standards represents the minimum adjustment necessary to prevent unreasonable limitations on the reception or transmission of signals.

• (c) Conditions. In approving a minor conditional use permit, the final review authority may impose reasonable conditions necessary to minimize the impact of the installation or operation of the antenna(s) on the public or other properties or improvements within the immediate vicinity of the antenna(s), consistent with this article.

• (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97)

Notwithstanding the regulations contained in this article, the provisions of this Code shall comply with the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, as may be amended, that apply to satellite, amateur radio or communication antennas. A franchisee under the provisions of Title 19 pertaining to cable television franchises shall comply with the regulations in this article. (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97)