The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations and standards governing the landing and takeoff of helicopters and the establishment of heliports and helistops within the city to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. The city recognizes that all air space regulations are preempted by federal law.

(Code 2023, § 10-25-1; Ord. No. 2024-08, exh. A(10-25-1), 4-24-2024)

1. This chapter applies to all helipads and helistops in the city, including all public use helipads and helistops requiring prior permission, except as set forth in subsection (B) of this section.
2. This chapter does not apply to hospital helipads, emergency services landing facilities, medical emergency sites, and city-sponsored events.

(Code 2023, § 10-25-2; Ord. No. 2024-08, exh. A(10-25-2), 4-24-2024)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Emergency services landing facility means an area of land or water or a structural surface that is used, or intended for the use, for the landing and taking off of emergency service helicopters (police, fire, rescue, medevac, military, or other approved helicopters) on a temporary basis as defined by federal aviation regulation part 157.

Helicopter means a heavier-than-air aircraft supported in flight chiefly by the reactions of the air on one or more power-driven rotors on substantially vertical axes. The term "helicopter" shall include any personal flight device, such as a personal air vehicle, which uses jet power or rotary devices for the maintenance of flight and accommodates one or more human occupants. The term "helicopter" does not mean an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone.

Helipad means the area of land, water, or a structure used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters, together with appurtenant buildings, fuel systems, and facilities. The term "helipad" includes heliports, helistops, or helicopter landing facilities.

Hospital helipad means a heliport limited to serving helicopters engaged in air ambulance or other hospital-related functions. A designated helicopter landing area located at a hospital or medical facility is a heliport and not a medical emergency landing site.

Medical emergency site means an unprepared site at or near the scene of an accident or similar medical emergency on which a helicopter may land to pick up a patient to provide emergency medical transport. A medical emergency landing site is not a heliport as defined by the FAA advisory circular.

(Code 2023, § 10-25-3; Ord. No. 2024-08, exh. A(10-25-3), 4-24-2024)

1. Helipads are prohibited in all zones in which they are not specifically allowed by conditional use.
2. Helipads shall not be located within 1,000 feet of the nearest residential building or the site of a public or private school.
3. The takeoff and landing area shall be free of any object, plant, or device over 18 inches in height. Easily movable objects such as gravel shall not be permitted.
4. Helipads shall only operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
5. Helipads shall not be located near houses of worship or locations with large crowd capacity.
6. The acceptable exception to these requirements is a temporary emergency landing.

(Code 2023, § 10-25-4; Ord. No. 2024-08, exh. A(10-25-4), 4-24-2024)

1. Approach and departure paths 65 feet wide shall be free of obstruction for a minimum distance of 400 feet.
2. Setbacks from property lines shall be as follows:
   1. Takeoff and landing area: 50 feet;
   2. Helicopter maintenance facilities: 25 feet; and
   3. Administrative or operations building: 15 feet.
3. Any lighting used for nighttime operations shall be directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way.
4. Any fuel shall be safely stored within maintenance facilities and safety-certified containers.
5. Rooftop sites are for emergency use and are approved in the building inspection process under requirements established by the building code and any additional requirements established by the city's fire department based on National Fire Protection Association references. These sites are painted as "emergency only."
6. Medical emergency sites are clear and level areas near the scene of an accident or incident that the local emergency response team designates as the place where the helicopter air ambulance is directed to land to transport an injured person to a hospital. The city's emergency planning personnel may pre-designate a medical emergency in the city. Pre-designating sites provides an opportunity to inspect potential sites in advance and select sites with adequate clear approach and departure airspace and clear ground space.

(Code 2023, § 10-25-5; Ord. No. 2024-08, exh. A(10-25-5), 4-24-2024)

1. The planning commission may approve a conditional use for helipads if the helipad conforms to this chapter and subject to other reasonable conditions to prevent any adverse impacts on surrounding properties.
2. To aid in developing any appropriate conditions, the conditional use application shall include the following:
   1. Description of the proposed operations, including the type of use, names and descriptions of helicopters expected to use the facility, and the anticipated number and timing of daily flights;
   2. A copy of the FAA part 157 noticing requirement form (FAA Form 7480-1 or successor form);
   3. A copy of the helipad layout plan provided to the FAA as part of the noticing requirements;
   4. A copy of the completed FAA aeronautical study; and
   5. Identification of any hazards to private facilities that do not have an approved FAA-approved instrument approach and how the hazards will be mitigated.

(Code 2023, § 10-25-6; Ord. No. 2024-08, exh. A(10-25-6), 4-24-2024)