Chapter 15.40
TELEVISION AND RADIO ANTENNAS

Sections:

15.40.010    Definitions.

15.40.020    Permit – Required.

15.40.030    Permit – Application – Fee.

15.40.040    Electrical Inspector – Powers and duties.

15.40.050    Inspection of work – Notification.

15.40.060    Bond required – Exception.

15.40.070    Installation specifications.

15.40.080    Identification of equipment.

15.40.090    Supplemental provisions.

15.40.100    Television sets in automobiles.

15.40.010 Definitions.

The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:

A. “Antenna” means the outdoor portion of the receiving equipment used for receiving or radiating television or radio waves.

B. “Electrical Inspector” means the Electrical Inspector of the City or any of his authorized assistants.

C. “Height” means the overall vertical length of the antenna system above the ground, or, if such system is located on a building, then above that part of the level of such building upon which the system rests.

D. “Mast” means that portion of the outside antenna system to which the antenna is attached, and the support or extension required to elevate the antenna to a height deemed necessary for adequate operation. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 1.]

15.40.020 Permit – Required.

It is unlawful for any person to install, or make major repairs or maintenance of, either as owner or as agent, servant or employee of the owner, or as an independent contractor for the owner, or otherwise, any outside television or radio receiving antenna, or to make any additions to, or substitutions for, said antenna, unless and until an inspection permit shall have first been obtained from the Electrical Inspector. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 2.]

15.40.030 Permit – Application – Fee.

Application for permits shall be made upon blanks provided by the Electrical Inspector. An inspection fee of $2.00 shall be paid for each permit issued under SMC 15.40.020. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 3.]

15.40.040 Electrical Inspector – Powers and duties.

A. It shall be the duty of the Electrical Inspector and his authorized assistants to inspect all television and radio receiving antennas as specified in SMC 15.40.020 to ascertain if the work has been done in a workmanlike manner.

B. The Electrical Inspector and his assistants are empowered to inspect or re-inspect any wiring, equipment or apparatus within the provisions of this chapter, and if conductors, equipment or apparatus are found to be unsafe to life or property or are not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, the Electrical Inspector shall notify the person owning or operating the hazardous wiring or equipment to correct the condition within a 48-hour period or within the time the Electrical Inspector specifies. Failure to correct violations within the specified time shall constitute a violation of this chapter. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 4.]

15.40.050 Inspection of work – Notification.

The person to whom a permit has been granted for the installation of a television or radio receiving antenna shall immediately notify the Electrical Inspector when the work covered by the permit has been completed and is ready for final inspection. Upon such notice, the Electrical Inspector or his authorized representatives shall, within one working day of notification, inspect and approve the installation if the work complies in all respects with the provisions of this chapter and the permit and shall disapprove the installation if it fails to comply, stating in writing the reasons for disapproval and specifying a time within which the defects must be corrected. A re-inspection shall be made after notice to the Electrical Inspector that the defects have been corrected. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 5.]

15.40.060 Bond required – Exception.

A. Every person engaged in the business of making television or radio receiving antenna installations, or in repairing and/or doing maintenance work on television or radio antennas shall annually file with the Electrical Inspector a good and sufficient bond in the sum of $10,000, executed by a bonding or surety company authorized to do business in the State and approved by the City Attorney. The bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful observance of all laws and ordinances of the City and shall indemnify, save and keep harmless the City from any and all damages, judgments, costs or expenses which the City may incur or suffer by reason of the granting of a permit to install, repair or maintain the antenna or any services thereto. The bond shall run to the City for the use and benefit of any person who may suffer injuries or property damages by reason of the permit granted under this chapter. The maintenance of the bond in full force and effect shall be prerequisite to the issuance of any permit required under the provision of this chapter. A liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State which conforms to the above requirements may be permitted in lieu of a bond.

B. This provision shall not apply to personal installations, repairs or maintenance of an antenna by an owner or occupant; provided, however, that the owner or occupant gives sufficient proof to the Electrical Inspector that he is qualified to perform the work in conformity with the provisions of this chapter; and provided, further, that the owner or occupant files with his application for a permit an affidavit stating that he will make the installation, repair and maintenance on his own premises only. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 6.]

15.40.070 Installation specifications.

All television and radio receiving antenna installations shall be made in accordance with the following rules and regulations:

A. Every mast and antenna installed on a roof shall be mounted on its own platform or plate, which shall be of such design as to adequately transfer the stresses to the roof system.

B. Outdoor antennas shall be of an approved type. A separate set of guy wires shall be required for each 10 feet in height, with a maximum of 120 degrees horizontally between guy wires. The vertical angle between guy wires and mast shall be not less than 30 degrees. Guy wires shall be not less than 3/32 of an inch, five-strand cable or equivalent, galvanized; shall be securely anchored; and the top set of guy wires shall be anchored separately.

C. The guying requirements of subsection (B) of this section may be modified, provided adequate proof is filed with the Electrical Inspector to ascertain that the antenna is self-supporting when subjected to a wind pressure of 25 pounds per square foot.

D. In no case shall an antenna be installed nearer to a street, sidewalk or power line than the height of the antenna plus eight feet, and no wires, cables or guy wires shall cross or extend over any part of any street or public sidewalk, unless approved by the Electrical Inspector.

E. Whenever it is necessary to install an antenna near power lines or where damage would be caused by its falling, a separate safety wire must be attached to top of the mast, and secured in a direction away from the hazard.

F. Masts shall not be secured to chimneys or vent pipes, nor shall any guy wires be tied to chimneys or vent pipes.

G. Turnbuckles, when used, shall be protected against turning by threading the guy wires through the turnbuckle.

H. Every antenna must be adequately grounded for protection against a direct strike of lightning with a No. 8 aluminum or No. 8 copper ground wire, grounded to water piping continuing a minimum of 10 feet outside the building or to a driven ground road, six feet in length.

I. Unless otherwise determined by the Electrical Inspector that proper protection is provided, transmission lines must be kept at least six inches clear of telephone or light wires.

J. Rawl plugs are approved only for supporting transmission lines.

K. If lightening arrestors are used, they shall be approved as safe by the Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc., and both sides of the line must be adequately protected with proper arrestors or neon lamps to remove static charges accumulated on the line.

L. When lead-in conductors of polyethylene ribbon-type are used, lightning arrestors must be installed on each conductor.

M. When coaxial cable or shielded twin-lead is used for leading, suitable protection may be provided without lightning arrestors by grounding the exterior metal sheath.

N. Ground straps for ground masts and attaching arrestors to water pipe shall be approved ground fittings.

O. The miscellaneous hardware, such as brackets, turnbuckles, thimbles, clips, and similar type equipment subject to rust or corrosion, shall be protected with a zinc or cadmium coating by either galvanizing or sherardizing process after forming. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 7.]

15.40.080 Identification of equipment.

The maker’s name, trademark, or other identification symbol shall be placed on all electrical devices or equipment that use 115 volts or more which are sold, offered for sale or use or used in the City. These markings and others, such as voltage, amperage, wattage, and power-factor or appropriate rating described in the 1953 Edition of the National Electrical Code, shall be required and are necessary to determine the character of the material, device or equipment and use for which it is intended. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 8.]

15.40.090 Supplemental provisions.

The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed as supplemental to the electrical and building codes of the City and any other pertinent law or ordinances of the City, and all work shall conform to these requirements. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 9.]

15.40.100 Television sets in automobiles.

It is unlawful for any person to install a television set which is visible from the driver’s position of any motor operated vehicle; otherwise, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to automobiles. [1956 Code § 4-601, § 10.]