Yreka Municipal Code Ch. 11.20 Television and Radio Antennas

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:

(1) "Electrical inspector" means the building official of the city or any of his authorized assistants;

(2) "Antenna" as used in this chapter, means the outdoor portion of the receiving or broadcasting equipment used for receiving or broadcasting television or radio waves from space;

(3) "Mast" means that portion of the outside antenna system to which the antenna is attached, and the support or extension required to elevate the antenna to the height at which it is to be used;

(4) "Height" means the overall vertical length of the antenna system above the ground, or, if such system be located on a building, then above that part of the level of such building upon which the system rests;

(5) "Persons" mean and include any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

(Ord. 308 § 1, 1957).

It is unlawful for any person to install, repair or maintain, either as owner or as agent, servant or employee of the owner, or as an independent contractor for the owner, or otherwise, any outside television or radio receiving or broadcasting antenna, any additions to, or substitutions for, the antenna unless and until an inspection permit shall have first been obtained from the building inspector.

(Ord. 308 § 2, 1957).

Application for permit shall be made upon blank forms provided by the building inspector, and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:

(1) Name, address and telephone number of the owner for whom to be made;

(2) Whether it is a new installation, repair or maintenance work;

(3) Whether a radio or television receiving or broadcasting antenna;

(4) Name of the person making the installation;

(5) Such other information as the building inspector shall require to show full compliance with this chapter and all other laws and ordinances of the city.

(Ord. 308 § 3, 1957).

All television and radio receiving or broadcasting antenna installations from and after January 17, 1957, shall be made in accordance with the following rules and regulations:

(1) Each supporting pole or mast extending above the supporting building shall be permanently grounded to a cold water pipe or by other methods which conform to requirements as set forth in the National Electrical Code. A mast and lightning arrestor may be served by a common grounding conductor.

(2) Each conductor of a lead-in from an outdoor antenna shall be protected with a lightning arrestor approved for the purpose by the Underwriters Laboratories. Lightning arrestors shall be located outside the building and as near as practicable to the entrance of the conductors to the building. The lightning arrestor shall not be located near combustible material nor in a location which, in the judgment of the building inspector, is hazardous.

(3) Outdoor antenna and counterpoise and lead-in conductors shall be securely supported. They shall not be attached to poles or similar structures carrying electric light or power wires. Stand-off insulators shall have sufficient mechanical strength to sustain the lead-in cable. Lead-in conductors shall be securely attached to the antenna.

(4) Lead-in conductors attached to buildings shall be so installed that they cannot swing closer than two feet to the conductors of circuits of two hundred fifty volts or less, or closer than ten feet to conductors of circuits of more than two hundred fifty volts. The clearance between lead-in conductors and any conductor forming part of a lightning rod system shall not be less than six feet. Lead-ins shall be supported at intervals of not less than ten feet. A minimum clearance of at least two inches from combustible materials shall be maintained until past the lightning arrestor.

(5) No antenna shall be affixed or attached to chimneys or flues on buildings without the written permission of the building inspector. No such antenna erected on or attached to a chimney or flue shall extend more than twenty feet in height above the top of such chimney or flue. Any installation authorized hereunder shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the building inspector.

(6) All pipe masts requiring guys shall be guyed by not less than three guys equally spaced and preferable by four guys spaced as nearly equally as practicable. Guy wires shall be of non-corrosive stranded cable or wire, and of three hundred pounds test strength.

(7) In case of amateur or domestic radio or television receiving or broadcasting antennas where the set is installed in a private residence, the antenna may be installed on the roof of a frame structure provided the supports and anchor screws are securely fastened to rafters or beams or other substantial members, and provided further that no antenna installed on the roof of a frame construction or in any way supported by material of combustible construction shall exceed a height of fifty feet, above the point of support on the building.

(8) All guys shall be made mechanically secure to the roof parapet or masonry, attached to the mast with guy rings, and may contain turnbuckles installed at the base end. The angle of the guy wires with the mast shall not be less than thirty degrees. Guys shall not be tightened in such a manner as to cause the mast to buckle.

(9) Screw-eyes shall extend into solid structural material not less than two inches.

(10) Not more than two guy wires shall be fastened in one screw-eye or guy wire support.

(11) The minimum size of screw-eyes shall be a one-fourth inch by three inches.

(12) Each mast shall be guyed at least every fifteen feet of its height, the top guys to be within four feet of the top if possible, and if not, then as close thereto as practicable.

(13) Telescoping type masts shall have at least three guy wires attached to the top of each section.

(14) Holes made in the roof shall be treated with sealing material to prevent leakage.

(15) Each mast or tower shall be grounded at its lowest point with wire of at least #8 gauge aluminum or its equivalent.

(16) The miscellaneous hardware, such as brackets, turnbuckles, thimbles, clips, etc, must be hot-dipped, galvanized, or similarly treated for weather protection. The turnbuckles must be protected against turning by threading the guy-wire through the turnbuckle.

(17) Pipe masts over eight feet in height exclusive of the beam elements shall be guyed as outlined in paragraph (6) hereof.

(18) Fabricated mast towers shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and with the approval of the building official.

(19) All masts and towers erected under this section shall be erected and installed in such a manner that the antenna, mast or tower, if overturned could not come in contact with, or within two feet of, electric wires or lines carrying more than two hundred fifty volts.

(20) All installations shall be made in a neat, safe and workmanlike manner.

(21) No wires, cables or guys, electrical or mechanical, used for a television antenna system, shall cross over or under any existing light or power circuit wires except in conformity with California Public Utility Commission General Order No. 95. No such television antenna system wires, or run aerial, shall cross any public street, or way, except that the city council may grant permission if it deems the crossing to be in the public interest.

(Ord. 308 § 4, 1957).

(a) It shall be the duty of the building inspector in his authorized assistants to inspect all television and radio receiving or broadcasting antenna to ascertain if the work has been done in a workmanlike manner and to investigate all complaints from the general public pertaining to the antenna installations and interference caused thereby.

(b) The building inspector and his assistants are hereby empowered to inspect or reinspect any wiring, equipment or apparatus, conducting or using electrical current for radio and television receiving and broadcasting service in the city, and if conductors, equipment or apparatus are found to be unsafe to life or property, or not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, the building inspector shall notify the person owning or operating the hazardous wiring or equipment to correct the condition within a forty-eight hour period or within the time the building inspector specifies. For the purpose of performing his duties hereunder, the building inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to go in or upon private property. Failure to correct violations within the specified time shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

(Ord. 308 § 5, 1957).

It is unlawful for any person to hinder or interfere with the building inspector or his authorized representatives in the discharge of their duties under the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 308 § 6, 1957).

A permit and inspection fee of two dollars shall be paid for each permit issued under Section 11.20.020.

(Ord. 308 § 7, 1957).

Every person engaged in the business of installing television or radio antennas except persons paying a city business license in the city, shall first, obtain a license therefor from the city clerk. Such license may be granted upon the recommendation of the building inspector after an examination being taken by the applicants as to their proficiency in the installation, erection, grounding and operation of television and radio antennas. A license fee for the issuance of the first license to the applicant shall be thirty dollars, which fee shall cover the operation for the calendar year or portion thereof for which issued and all renewals of such license shall be thirty dollars per year. Such license fee, if for less than a full calendar year, shall be prorated.

(Ord. 308 § 8, 1957).

Every television or radio receiving or broadcasting antenna erected prior to January 17, 1957, may be maintained and operated in its present location, unless the antenna is so constructed and maintained as to be unsafe and dangerous as determined by the building inspector as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 308 § 9, 1957).

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not exceeding a sum of five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation is committed, or permitted to continue, shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder.

(Ord. 308 § 10, 1957).