Communications Facilities

County Ordinances

The following items contain information relevant to Communications facilities, Antennas, Towers, and/or Support structures (CATS):

Board of Supervisors Policies

Location

The table below provides a quick reference to determine if a proposed tower-mounted facility is permitted, not permitted, or specially permitted (SUP). Permitted districts and heights for other types of facilities, such as camouflaged, alternative mounted, multi-antenna systems and portable transmission facilities can be found in Section 24-122 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Note that if a parcel has been rezoned and is subject to proffers there may be additional use or height restrictions in the proffers.
Zoning District Maximum Tower Height SUP Required
Economic Opportunity (EO) Not permitted All towers
General Agriculture (A-1) Not permitted All towers
General Business (B-1) ≤40' >40'
Industrial, (M-1, M-2) ≤40' >40'
Limited Business (LB) Not permitted All towers
Mixed Use (MU) Not permitted All towers
Planned Unit Development (PUD) Not permitted All towers
Public Lands (PL) ≤40' >40'
Research & Technology District (RT) ≤40' >40'
Residential (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-5, R-6) Not permitted Not permitted
Residential Planned Community (R-4)
With designation other than residential on a 
Board-adopted master plan
Not permitted All towers
Residential Planned Community (R-4)
With residential designation on a 
Board-adopted master plan
Not permitted Not permitted
Rural Residential (R-8) Not permitted All towers

Setbacks


In addition, any proposed tower-mounted communication facility needs to be able to meet the following setbacks:
  • Setbacks specified for the zoning district
  • 400-foot setback from any existing residential structure, occupied school, or building used primarily for day care
  • Setbacks from all property lines and right-of-ways either 110% of the tower height (if it does not meet structural standards) or 110% of the documented collapse radius (if it meets structural standards).