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San Dimas City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 18

150 WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES

§ 18.150.010 Purpose.

It is the desire of the city to encourage an aesthetically pleasing local environment. It is also the intent of the city to encourage the expansion of wireless technology because it provides a valuable service to residents and business persons in the city. It is the city's goal to encourage wireless providers to construct new facilities disguised as public art pieces or to mount antennae on buildings in a way that blends architecturally with the built environment.
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996)

§ 18.150.030 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:
"Monopoles"
mean a stand-alone pole that has antennae attached to it.
"Multiple use facilities"
mean wireless communication facilities that are shared with other existing or newly constructed uses (ball field lights, shopping center freeway signs, flagpoles, etc.).
"Public art"
means a piece of art, either functional or aesthetic that visually benefits the community.
"Wireless communication facilities master plan"
means a requirement for all local service providers to identify all proposed local sites. The wireless communication facilities master plan shall require review and approval by the planning commission.
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)

§ 18.150.050 Process.

A. 
All companies and providers of wireless communication service within the city shall process a wireless communication facilities master plan of all locally proposed sites. When an application is filed to increase the number or alter sites operated by a single company within the city, all sites operated by that company shall be open for review and alteration if deemed necessary by the city.
B. 
The wireless communication facilities master plan shall require review and approval by the planning commission. In addition, facilities that are designed as a public art piece shall be reviewed and approved by the planning commission and by the city council by consent.
C. 
Co-location wireless facilities master plan shall be administratively approved through the issuance of a building permit and shall not be subject to discretionary approval, if it satisfies the following requirements:
1. 
The co-location facility is consistent with requirements for the wireless communication facilities set forth in this chapter.
2. 
The proposed facility is located with an existing wireless telecommunications facility that received approval through a discretionary review. Any new facility which includes co-location shall meet the requirements of this chapter.
3. 
The proposed facility does not alter the height, overall massing, or exterior appearance of the existing wireless facility.
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1194 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)

§ 18.150.070 Where permitted.

A. 
Wireless communication facilities shall be allowed as a permitted use as follows:
1. 
M-1 zone and other industrial zones and specific plans permitting industrial uses, as follows:
a. 
Monopoles are permitted within one hundred fifty feet of a freeway,
b. 
Building mounted when integrated into an existing structure and multiple use facilities,
c. 
When designed as a piece of public art;
2. 
AP zone and specific plans permitting office uses, as follows:
a. 
Building mounted when integrated into an existing structure and multiple use facilities,
b. 
When designed as a piece of public art;
3. 
Public zone, as follows:
a. 
Building mounted when integrated into an existing structure and multiple use facilities,
b. 
When designed as a piece of public art;
4. 
Commercial zones and specific plans allowing commercial uses, as follows:
a. 
Building mounted when integrated into an existing structure and multiple use facilities,
b. 
When designed as a piece of public art;
5. 
Open space zone, as follows:
a. 
Ground mounted with a maximum height of twelve feet, monopoles prohibited,
b. 
When designed as a piece of public art with a maximum height of thirty feet;
6. 
On city owned property in any zone, as follows:
a. 
Building mounted when integrated into an existing structure and multiple use facilities,
b. 
When designed as a piece of public art.
B. 
Wireless communication facilities shall be allowed as a conditionally permitted use as follows:
1. 
Residential zones and specific plans allowing residential uses, as follows:
a. 
Ground mounted with a maximum height of twelve feet, monopoles prohibited,
b. 
When designed as a piece of public art with the maximum height to be determined by the approving body,
c. 
Building mounted when integrated into an existing structure and multiple use facilities.
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996)

§ 18.150.090 Design standards.

A. 
Monopoles. Stand alone monopoles shall only be permitted within one hundred fifty feet of a freeway in an M-1 zone. The maximum height of a monopole is sixty feet. All stand alone monopoles shall be constructed of marbilite and shall have a maximum diameter of thirty inches at the base. Monopoles shall be separated a minimum of one thousand feet from any existing monopole.
B. 
Multiple Use Facilities. Wireless communication antennae may be integrated into existing or newly developed facilities that are functional for other purposes, such as ball field lights, shopping center freeway signs, flagpoles, etc. All multiple use facilities shall be designed to detract from the antennae (see Exhibit A for example).
C. 
Building Mounted. Building mounted wireless communication facilities shall be integrated into the existing building architecturally (see Exhibit B for example).
D. 
Public Art. Wireless communication facilities may be designed within a piece of public art. Public art may be a functional item such as a clock tower or be some type of attraction such as a historic water tower or historical monument. All such designs are subject to planning commission approval (see Exhibit C for example).
EXHIBIT A
Example of an antenna designed as an extension of ball field lights. This is one example of a multiple use facility.
EXHIBIT B
Do This
A Good Example of a Building Mounted Antenna
Don't Do This.
An Unacceptable Example of a Building Mounted Antenna
EXHIBIT C
Examples of Possible Public Art Pieces that Provide Antenna Space
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)

§ 18.150.110 Other design requirements.

A. 
Whip antennae and microwave dish antennae shall only be permitted if integrated into the design of the structure and/or fully screened from public view.
B. 
Support facilities such as equipment rooms and cabinets and cellular switching devices shall be designed to match the architecture of adjacent buildings. Because of the size of some support facilities there may be the desire not to house the facilities within a building. In such a case, the facilities shall be screened from public view by walls, fences, trellises, landscaping and similar treatments.
C. 
No chain link fence is permitted associated with any wireless communication facility.
D. 
Temporary poles may be permitted for a period of up to six months, if an application for a permanent facility has been filed and the necessity for temporary service can be proven to the satisfaction of the city. Final approval of a temporary facility shall be subject to the review and approval of the director of community development.
E. 
Lattice towers shall not be permitted anywhere within the city.
F. 
All utilities associated with wireless communication facilities shall be underground.
G. 
The facility operator or property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the facility in an appropriate manner, which includes, but is not limited to, regular cleaning of the facility, keeping the facility painted in an appropriate manner, keeping bird nests and other similar items cleared from the antenna area and all around maintenance of the facility.
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996)

§ 18.150.130 Deviation from standards.

For monopoles only, the planning commission shall have the ability to alter the standards for height, diameter of the monopole base and separation between monopoles when it can be shown that the deviation creates a more appropriate design. The intent of this deviation provision is to allow for co-location when necessary; however, deviation may also be acceptable where a better overall design is achieved.
The maximum deviation permitted shall be twenty percent.
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1324, 6/10/2025)

§ 18.150.150 Abandonment.

All approvals for wireless communication facilities shall be in effect only while the facilities are being operated on a continual basis. When the use is replaced or discontinued for a period of six months, the approvals will lapse, and the operator or property owner shall be required to remove the facility and all associated equipment and restore the property to its original or otherwise acceptable condition, subject to the approval of the director of community development.
(Ord. 1061 § 1, 1996)