Best of the ISP-Lists

Licensing for Antennas and Towers

Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss what permits and licenses are required to put up antennas or towers.

[September 13, 2000]

On the ISP-Wireless list in August, GR shared a concern:

"Can anyone out there tell me what type of permits or licenses are required to put up antennas or towers?"

BW assured him that permits are required "only if your tower is 200 feet or higher."

HS explained that the situation is more complicated:

"200 feet is the starting point at which it must be licensed with the FCC/FAA. Of course, in certain areas they must be registered at lower heights. And in some areas the zoning board prohibits them. You will have the most trouble if you are in city limits. And it does not mean a thing if the guy next door has a tower just as big or bigger. Zoning most likely has changed since he put it up, or he could be zoned differently, or he was just lucky. . . if zoning prohibits your tower, all is not lost. Talk to the zoning board and see if they can change the zoning. They hate to see tax dollars walk out of city limits."

A number of other respondents agreed:

[JS explained] "You must meet FCC rules.

You must meet FAA rules with respect to location, height, and marking.

You must meet local codes for towers, if any, and local codes are becoming much more common due to the proliferation of cellular towers and the objections to them.

Additionally, there may be local architectural standards and zoning rules.

And there are OSHA rules that cover tower construction and maintenance.

Plus, your insurance carrier will want to review the plans.

The only bright light is that the local and state governments are limited in their ability to regulate tower erection because the communications act of 1935 (I think) keeps this in the federal arena."

[BM added] "Check with your local zoning department first to determine zoning requirements. If zoning is okay, go to www.faa.gov and download a copy of Form 7460-1. Fill it out and file it with the regional office listed at this site. The FAA will either give a "No Hazard" determination or will advise what you need to do regarding lighting and or painting.

Upon receiving your determination from the FAA you need to download a copy of FCC Form 854 at the FCC's site www.fcc.gov. Fill this out and file with the FCC. Upon receiving registration approval from the FCC, you should be all set to build. Filling out the forms is pretty easy. If you get approval from the zoning board you are pretty much home free."

RB offered some links to the FCC's antenna information web pages:

"Which Structures Must Be Registered With The FCC?"

"Painting and Lighting Specifications"

—End