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La Verne City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 18

104 ANTENNAS

§ 18.104.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to assure that large antennas and antenna structures are designed and located in a way that avoids hazard to health and safety and minimize adverse aesthetic effects, while reasonably accommodating professional and amateur radio and television communications.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.020 Conformance required.

No person shall place, modify, maintain or permit the placement or maintenance of an antenna or antenna support structure in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.030 Small antennas exempt.

No provision of this chapter applies to dish antennas with a diameter of three feet or less, wire antennas, or pole antennas that do not exceed ten feet in any dimension; provided, that:
A. 
If ground-mounted, the height of the antenna and antenna support structure is ten feet or less above grade;
B. 
If roof-mounted, the height of the antenna and antenna support structure is ten feet or less and in no case more than ten feet above the ridgeline of the building on which it is located.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.040 Maintenance.

All antennas and their supporting structures shall be maintained in good condition in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Removal of antennas and/or their supporting structures for routine maintenance shall not be construed as a cessation of use. All antenna authorized by a minor exception permit or after precise plan of design review pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to periodic inspection. No modification shall be made to the antenna or antenna support structure that is not in conformity with the permit. Failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the conditions of such permit shall be grounds for revocation of the permit.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.060 Limit on number of antenna support structures.

No more than one antenna support structure shall be permitted at any single residential or commercial address except pursuant to a minor exception permit and issued pursuant to Section 18.108.120(D).
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.080 Compliance with building standards.

Antennas and their supporting structures shall be installed and maintained in compliance with building codes adopted by the city in Title 15 of this code where required by the building official. All ground-mounted antennas and their supporting structures shall be permanently installed.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.090 Glare and color.

All antenna support structures, and to the extent feasible, all antennas visible from any public street, alley or right-of-way shall have a matte finish to avoid glare, and be of a color and design that blend in with the surrounding background.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.100 Screening.

Dish antennas and their support structures shall have the lower two-thirds of the unit screened from view from any public street, alley or right-of-way. Antennas may be screened with fencing, walls, existing buildings or landscaping that does not impair the operation of the antenna. New construction for screening shall be compatible in design and material with existing development on the site.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.110 Oversized antenna permit.

No antenna and structure more than three feet in diameter, in the case of a dish antenna, or ten feet in any dimension in the case of a pole antenna, except as permitted in Section 18.104.030, may be erected or maintained except upon the issuance of an oversized antenna permit and building permit when required. An oversized antenna permit is a ministerial permit, issued by the community development department upon its ascertaining that:
A. 
The proposed antenna and structure comply with the standards of this chapter and of the La Verne Municipal Code;
B. 
The highest point of any dish antenna and structure does not exceed ten feet above grade nor ten feet in width;
C. 
The highest point of any pole antenna and structure does not exceed twenty feet above grade.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.120 Location and placement.

A. 
Antennas and support structures shall be ground-mounted unless a permit for roof mounting is obtained pursuant to Section 18.104.130.
B. 
Setbacks. No antenna or antenna support structure shall be built in front yards or required side yard setback areas, and in no event shall any antenna or antenna support structure be built closer than ten feet to any property line.
C. 
All ground-mounted antennas and associated support structures on residential properties shall be located in the rear yard.
D. 
No antenna or antenna support structure shall be located in a required parking space.
E. 
In any nonresidential property, all ground-mounted antennas and support structures shall be located so that they are not visible from any public street, alley or right-of-way.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.130 Roof-mounted antenna permit.

A. 
All antennas shall be ground-mounted unless the applicant demonstrates that ground mounting is not feasible because of insufficient line-of-sight to transmitter or satellite, inadequate yard area, or other limiting physical features or safety considerations relative to the property.
B. 
A precise plan must be approved by the community development director or designee pursuant to Chapter 18.16 of this code before a permit for a roof-mounted antenna is issued.
C. 
All roof-mounted antennas shall be located on that part of the roof least visible from any public street, alley or right-of-way and which best mitigates the antenna's visual impact on adjacent properties. No antenna permit shall be issued without determination by the community development director or designee of compliance with this section.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.140 Amateur and citizen band radio antennas.

Antenna and antenna structures exceeding the dimensions otherwise allowed by this chapter may be erected, operated and maintained for federally licensed amateur radio and citizen's band radio facilities upon the issuance of an amateur radio antenna permit. An amateur radio antenna permit is a minor exception permit which shall be issued by the community development director or designee upon finding that:
A. 
The proposed antenna is necessary for the operation of a federally licensed amateur radio or citizen's band radio facility;
B. 
The proposed antenna is located and designed in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts upon the visual environment;
C. 
The proposed antenna is properly designed and engineered to minimize risk to health and safety;
D. 
The proposal otherwise meets the requirements for a minor exception permit as set forth in Chapter 18.108 of this code.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.150 Additional exceptions to antenna standards.

The community development director or designee may grant a minor exception permit to property owners for the placement, operation and maintenance of antennas and antenna structures that are not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter upon the applicant's demonstration that existing conditions of the property make the reception of antenna transmission infeasible.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.160 Appeal of decision by applicant or interested person.

An applicant or interested person may appeal the decision of the community development department in accordance with the provisions of Section 18.16.110 by filing a written statement with the city clerk no later than ten days from the date of the decision.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.170 Nonconforming antennas and antenna structures.

All antennas and antenna structures constructed and in operation prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be deemed legal nonconforming and shall be subject to the provisions of Section 18.72.030 except as provided in Section 18.104.040.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)

§ 18.104.180 Enforcement.

Each and every violation of this chapter shall result in a misdemeanor subject to abatement as a public nuisance in accordance with the La Verne Municipal Code.
(Ord. 760 § 3, 1988)