Chapter 4.06: TELEVISION ANTENNAS

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

means the outdoor portion of the receiving equipment used for receiving or radiating television waves.

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.

"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 a height deemed necessary for adequate operation, excluding towers.

(Ord. 2007-10 § 1, 11-27-2007; Ord. 2010-7 § 1 (Att. A), 10-12-2010; Ord. 2013-3 § 1 (Att. A), 11-12-2013; Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 10-11-2016; Ord. 2019-5 § 1 (Att. A), 10-8-2019; Ord. 2022-3 § 1 (Att. A), 2022)

§ 4.06.020 Permit required – Fees.

No person shall erect a television antenna mast or tower or add to or replace the guy lines and fastenings on an existing mast without obtaining a permit from the Electrical Inspector.

Before a permit is issued, a permit fee of $1.00 shall be paid to the Electrical Inspector.

A reinspection fee of $1.00 shall be made for each trip when extra inspections are necessary due to any of the following reasons:

Wrong address on permit.

Condemned work resulting from faulty construction.

Repairs or corrections not made when inspection is called.

Work not ready for inspection when called.

§ 4.06.030 Technical requirements.

It shall be unlawful for any person hereafter 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 antenna, or to make any additions to, or substitutions for, said antenna, except in accordance with the following rules and regulations:

Materials, Height. Every mast and antenna hereafter erected shall be of noncombustible and corrosive-resistant material, except that in the case of ground support a wooden pole may be used when adequately treated with a wood preservative. No mast or antenna hereafter erected shall exceed the maximum height of 45 feet above a roof support and 65 feet above a ground support; provided, however, that in areas where reception is affected by obstruction or ground elevation, special permission may be granted by the Electrical Inspector upon request to exceed the above-specified height limitations.

Mounting. Every mast and antenna installed on a roof shall be mounted on its own platform or plate covering one or more rafters of the roof. Whenever a plate is used, it shall be of wood at least two inches thick, six inches wide and 18 inches long, or of metal one-eighth inch thick, six inches wide and 12 inches long.

Method of Erection. Masts shall be erected by means of the telescope method, and the base of the mast shall be at least one and three-fourths inches in diameter, and at least three-fourths inch in diameter at the top of the mast except that no rotor shall be mounted on any mast the top dimension of which is less than one inch in diameter. Masts shall be made of tubing material of a minimum thickness of 16 gauge. Each mast shall be securely fastened to the building structure by not less than three guy wires as equally separated as is practically possible and guyed every 10 feet in height. Guy wires shall be at least 20-gauge, six-strand galvanized cable. The distance that the guy wire shall be fastened from the base of the television mast shall be the ratio of one-third of its height; e.g., a 45-foot mast shall be guyed at least 15 feet away from the mast.

Wind Load Requirements. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, antennas shall be designed and installed to withstand a wind pressure of 25 pounds per square foot.

Anchor Screws. Anchor screws or lead expansion shields must be used in masonry at anchor points of masts and guy wire supports.

Eye Bolts. All eye bolts shall be galvanized and a minimum of one-quarter inch in diameter, set one and one-half inches into wood.

Public Ways. In no case shall an antenna be installed nearer to the street, sidewalk or any primary power line than the height of the antenna plus 10 feet unless approved by the Electrical Inspector, and no wires, cables or guy wires shall cross or extend over any part of any street or sidewalk.

Safety Wire. Whenever it is necessary to install an antenna near primary power lines (2,200 volts or over), or where damage would be caused by its falling, a separate safety wire shall be attached to the top of the mast and secured to a separate eye bolt in a direction away from the hazard.

Fire Protection. No antenna shall be installed in such a manner as to prevent access to any building for fire fighting or fire prevention purposes.

Grounding. Each mast and tower shall be grounded at its lowest point with wires of at least No. 8 copper, or with other conductors of equivalent carrying capacity. Ground shall be a cold water pipe, if available, or if not, by an approved ground rod driven a minimum of six feet into the ground and fastened with an approved ground connector. Grounding means shall be by approved grounding fittings.

(Ord. 216, 9-8-1959; Ord. 2007-10 § 1, 11-27-2007; Ord. 2010-7 § 1 (Att. A), 10-12-2010; Ord. 2013-3 § 1 (Att. A), 11-12-2013; Ord. 2016-4 § 1 (Att. A), 10-11-2016; Ord. 2019-5 § 1 (Att. A), 10-8-2019; Ord. 2022-3 § 1 (Att. A), 2022)

§ 4.06.040 Electrical Inspector – Rights, duties and powers.

The Electrical Inspector, or his authorized assistants, shall be authorized to inspect any television antenna hereafter erected to ascertain if the work has been done in a workmanlike manner and in compliance with this chapter.

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the City, through a duly authorized Inspector, from inspecting any antenna system in use in the City, heretofore or hereafter installed, in order to ascertain whether or not the same is reasonably safe to life or property. In case any condition is found which might result in danger to life or property, the Electrical Inspector is authorized to give written notice to the owner or operator of such antenna at his last known address, specifying the dangerous condition, indicating the corrective action that must be taken to make the same safe, and requiring the same to be corrected within five days after such notice, or, in the case of serious safety hazards, within such shorter time as the Electrical Inspector may specify, not less than 48 hours after such notice. If such conditions are not corrected within such time, the maintenance thereafter of any such defective installation by the owner or use thereof shall be unlawful.

§ 4.06.050 Existing antennas.

Every television antenna erected prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter may be maintained and operated in its present location, unless said antenna is so constructed and maintained as to be unsafe and dangerous as determined by the Electrical Inspector in accordance with the provisions of NCC § 4.06.040.