Bakersfield City Zoning Code
17.45 AA
Airport Approach Zone
17.45.010 Generally.
17.45.011 Legislative authority.
17.45.012 Definitions.
Except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter:
A. “Airport” means any area of land or water designated and set aside for the landing and taking off of aircraft, and utilized or to be utilized in the interest of the public for such purposes, a map of which has been or is hereinafter included as part of the airport approach zoning map of the city.
B. “Airport elevation” means the elevation of the highest point on the usable or designed runway.
C. “Airport hazard” means any structure, tree, or use of land which obstructs the airspace required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous to such landing or taking off of aircraft.
D. “Height,” used for the purpose of determining height limits in all zones set forth in this chapter, means the vertical elevation in feet above the established airport elevation unless otherwise stated.
E. “Landing” area means the area of an airport used, or to be used, for the landing, taking off or taxiing of aircraft.
F. “Runway” means the paved surface of an airport landing area designated for the landing or taking off of aircraft.
G. “Structure” means any object constructed, installed or placed on or over real property, including, but not limited to, buildings, towers, smokestacks and overhead lines. (Ord. 2719 § 1, 1982)
17.45.020 Types of zones and height limits.
Six types of AA subzones, and height limits for such subzones, are established for the purposes of airport approach zoning. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no structure or tree, shrub or bush shall be erected, altered, allowed to grow or be maintained in any subzone to a height in excess of the height limit established for such subzone. The datum plan for measurement of such height, except as otherwise specified herein, shall be based on the airport elevation, as defined by subsection B of Section 17.45.012. Appropriate subzones for heliports shall be established in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77. Such subzones are as follows:
A. Landing Subzone (L). A surface, and the airspace above it, rectangular in shape, longitudinally centered on the runway and extending in length two hundred feet beyond the ends of the runway; the landing subzone shall have an elevation, at any point along its longitudinal profile, coincident with the runway centerline or centerline prolongations as appropriate; the landing subzone shall have width established in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77 and shall be specified on each map adopted pursuant to Section 17.45.030.
B. Final Approach Subzone (FA). A plane surface, and the airspace above it, trapezoidal in shape, longitudinally centered on the prolongation of the runway centerline, beginning at each end of each landing subzone, coinciding in width with the landing subzone where they join; the height and width of the final approach subzone shall be established in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77 and shall be specified on each map adopted pursuant to Section 17.45.030.
C. Landing Transition Subzone (LT). A plane surface, and the airspace above it, rectangular in shape, lying adjacent and parallel to each side of each landing subzone, having a length equal to the landing subzone and extending outward and upward, at right angles to the runway centerline, at a slope of seven-to-one to a height of one hundred fifty feet above the established airport elevation.
D. Approach Transition Subzone (AT). A plane surface and the airspace above it, triangular in shape, lying adjacent to each side of each approach zone and at each end of each landing transition subzone, coinciding in height with the approach outward and upward, at right angles to the prolongation of the runway centerline, at a slope of seven-to-one to a maximum airport elevation or to the conical subzone surface, whichever is higher.
E. Horizontal Subzone (H). A horizontal plane surface, and the airspace above it, one hundred fifty feet above the established airport elevation, the perimeter of which is constructed by swinging arcs of specific radii, established in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77, from the center of each end of the landing subzone of each runway and connecting the arcs by lines tangent to such arcs; the horizontal subzone does not include the landing subzone or transition subzones.
F. Conical Subzone (C). A surface extending outward and upward from the periphery of the horizontal surface at a slope of 20:1 for a horizontal distance of four thousand feet. The conical subzone does not include the final approach subzone at the approach transition subzone. (Ord. 2719 § 1, 1982)
17.45.030 Airport approach zoning map.
The several subzones established by Section 17.45.020 shall be shown and delineated on the airport zoning map of the city which is adopted. Such zoning map, for convenience and identification, is divided into parts corresponding to the operational areas of the respective airports included with the provisions of this chapter. Additional parts of the airport approach zoning map may be adopted from time to time by ordinance. Each part of the airport approach zoning map of the city hereafter adopted by ordinance shall have a descriptive title and shall contain diagrams, including a plot plan of the subject runways, the location and dimensions of all subzones described in accordance with the formulas established for the regulation of any of the aforementioned subzones. (Ord. 2719 § 1, 1982)
17.45.040 Enforcement.
The city building director shall not issue building permits for the construction, reconstruction or structural alteration of any structure within any of the zones established by Section 17.45.030 if such construction, reconstruction or structural alteration would result in violation of the provisions of this section. Any building permits so issued shall be null and void. (Ord. 2719 § 1, 1982)
17.45.050 Permits.
Before that portion of any nonconforming structure which exceeds the height limitation established by the airport approach zoning map and Section 17.45.020 may be structurally altered and before any nonconforming structure or tree may be replaced, reconstructed, allowed to grow higher or replanted, a permit must be secured from the planning director authorizing such structural alteration, replacement, reconstruction or change. These portions of an existing nonconforming structure below the applicable height limitations may be structurally altered, repaired and added to, and those portions of an existing nonconforming structure above the applicable height limitation may be repaired and minor replacements made therein without securing such a permit unless such structural alteration, repair, addition, or enlargement exceeds the applicable height limitation. No such permit shall be granted that would allow the creation of an airport hazard or permit a nonconforming structure or tree or nonconforming use to be made or become higher or become a greater hazard to air navigation than it was on the date that this chapter was made applicable to a particular airport. All other applications for such permits may be granted. (Ord. 5020 § 19, 2020; Ord. 2719 § 1, 1982)