Chapter 11.20
TELEVISION AND RADIO ANTENNAS
Sections:
11.20.050 Technical requirements.
11.20.060 Electrical inspector – Duties, rights and powers.
11.20.070 Unlawful to interfere with electrical inspectors.
11.20.100 Applicability to existing antennas.
11.20.010 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
(1) “Electrical inspector” means the city superintendent of the city of Biggs, or any of his authorized assistants.
(2) “Antenna”, as used in this chapter, means the outdoor portion of the receiving or broadcasting equipment used for receiving or broadcasting television or radio waves from space.
(3) “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.
(4) “Height” means the overall vertical length of the antenna system above the ground or, if such system be located on a building, then above that part of the level of such building upon which the system rests.
(5) “Person” means and includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind. [Ord. 110 § 1, 1953]
11.20.020 Permit required.
It shall be unlawful for any person to install, repair or maintain, 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 or broadcasting antenna, any additions to, or substitutions for, said antenna unless and until an inspection permit shall have first been obtained from the electrical inspector. [Ord. 110 § 2, 1953]
11.20.030 Application data.
Application for permit shall be made upon planks provided by the electrical inspector, and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(1) Name, address and telephone number of the owner for whom to be made;
(2) Whether it is a new installation, repair or maintenance work;
(3) Whether a radio or television receiving or broadcasting antenna;
(4) Name of the person making the installation;
(5) Such other information as the electrical inspector shall require to show full compliance with this and all other laws and ordinances of this city. [Ord. 110 § 3, 1953]
11.20.040 Bond required.
(1) Every person engaged in the business of making television or radio receiving or broadcasting antenna installations, repairs, and doing maintenance work on same shall annually file with the city clerk a good and sufficient bond in the sum of $300.00 executed by a bonding or surety company authorized to do business in the state of California, and approved by the city attorney. Said bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful observance of all the laws and ordinances of the city of Biggs. Said bond shall run to the city of Biggs for the use and benefit of any person who may suffer injuries or property damages by reason of the permit granted hereunder. The maintenance of said bond in full force and effect shall be requisite to the issuance of any permit required under provision of this chapter.
(2) This provision shall not apply to personal installations, repairs or maintenance of said antenna by the owner or occupant; provided, however, that said owner or occupant give sufficient proof to the electrical inspector that he is qualified to perform the work in conformity with the provision of this chapter. [Ord. 110 § 4, 1953]
11.20.050 Technical requirements.
All television and radio receiving or broadcasting antenna installations from and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be made in accordance with the following rules and regulations:
(1) All structural requirements shall conform to the standard structural specifications as adopted and approved by the city council of the city of Biggs by resolution and as from time to time amended by said council, copies of which specifications shall at all times be on file in the office of the city clerk.
(2) Each supporting pole or mast extending above the supporting building shall be permanently grounded to a cold water pipe or by other methods which conform to requirements as set forth in the National Electrical Code. A mast and lightning arrestor may be served by a common grounding conductor.
(3) Outdoor antenna and counter-poise and lead-in conductors shall be securely supported. They shall not be attached to poles or similar structures carrying electric light or power wires. Stand-off insulators shall have sufficient mechanical strength to sustain the lead-in cable. Lead-in conductors shall be securely attached to the antenna.
(4) Lead-in conductors attached to buildings shall be so installed that they cannot swing closer than two feet to the conductors of circuits of 250 volts or less, or closer than 10 feet to conductors of circuits of more than 250 volts. The clearance between lead-in conductors and any conductor forming part of a lightning rod system shall not be less than six feet. Lead-ins shall be supported at intervals of not less than 10 feet apart. A minimum clearance of at least two inches from combustible materials shall be maintained until past lightning arrestor.
(5) No antenna shall be affixed or attached to chimneys or flues on buildings without permission of the electrical inspector. No such antenna shall be erected or affixed to a chimney or flue exceeding 20 feet in height above the top of such chimney or flue. Any installation authorized hereunder shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the electrical inspector.
(6) All pipe masts requiring guys shall be guyed by not less than three and preferably four guys evenly spaced. Guy wires shall be of noncorrosive stranded cable or wire, and of 300 pounds test strength.
In case of amateur or domestic radio or television receiving or broadcasting antennas where the set is installed in a private residence the antenna may be installed on the roof of a frame structure; provided the supports and anchor screws are securely fastened to rafters or beams or other substantial members; and provided further, that no antenna installed on the roof of a frame construction or in any way supported by material of combustible construction shall exceed a height of 50 feet above the roof of the building.
All guys shall be made mechanically secure to the roof, parapet or other masonry, attached to mast with guy rings and may contain turnbuckles installed at the base end. Guys shall not be installed at an angle of less than 30 degrees to the vertical to the mast. Guys shall not be tightened in such a manner as to cause mast to buckle.
The miscellaneous hardware, such as brackets, turnbuckles, thimbles, clips, etc., must be hot-dipped galvanized, or similarly treated for weather protection. The turnbuckles must be protected against turning by threading the guy-wire through the turnbuckles.
(7) Pipe masts over eight feet in height exclusive of the beam elements shall be guyed as outlined in subsection (6) of this section.
(8) Pipe masts over eight feet but not greater than 20 feet in height exclusive of beam elements shall be guyed to at least one position, within four feet of the top if possible, and if not, as close as practicable, and shall be guyed as outlined in subsection (6) of this section.
(9) Pipe masts over 20 feet in height, exclusive of the antenna elements, shall be guyed within two feet of the top of the mast. Guys shall be installed as outlined in subsection (6) of this section.
(10) Fabricated mast towers shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and with the approval of the building official. If the tower is over 20 feet high, it shall be supported by at least two sets of guys installed in accordance with regulations as outlined in subsection (6) of this section.
(11) All masts and towers erected under this section shall be so erected and installed in such a manner that the same cannot fall on power lines carrying more than 250 volts.
(12) All installations shall be made in a neat, safe, and workmanlike manner.
(13) No wires, cables or guys, electrical or mechanical, used for a television antenna system shall cross over or under any existing light and/or power circuit wires. No such television antenna system wires, run aerial, shall cross any public street or way, except that the city council may grant permission if it deems the crossing to be in the public interest. [Ord. 110 § 5, 1953]
11.20.060 Electrical inspector – Duties, rights and powers.
(1) It shall be the duty of the electrical inspector and his authorized assistants to inspect all television and radio receiving or broadcasting antenna to ascertain if the work has been done in a workmanlike manner and to investigate all complaints from the general public pertaining to said antenna installations and interference caused thereby.
(2) The electrical inspector and his assistants are hereby empowered to inspect or reinspect any wiring, equipment or apparatus, conducting or using electrical current for radio and television receiving and broadcasting service in the city, and if conductors, equipment or apparatus are found to be unsafe to life or property, or 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. For the purpose of performing his duties hereunder, the electrical inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to go in or upon private property. Failure to correct violations within the specified time shall constitute a violation of this chapter. [Ord. 110 § 6, 1953]
11.20.070 Unlawful to interfere with electrical inspectors.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hinder or interfere with the electrical inspector or his authorized representatives in the discharge of their duties under the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 110 § 7, 1953]
11.20.080 Fees.
An inspection fee of $2.00 shall be paid for each permit issued under BMC 11.20.020. [Ord. 110 § 8, 1953]
11.20.090 Licenses.
Every person engaged in the business of installing television or radio antennas except electrical contractors licensed by the city of Biggs shall first obtain a license therefor from the city clerk. Such license may be granted upon the recommendation of the electrical inspector after an examination being taken by the applicants as to their proficiency in the installation, erection, grounding, etc., of television and radio antennas. A license fee for the issuance of the first license to the applicant shall be $5.00, which fee shall cover the operation to January 1st of the year following the date of issuance, and all renewals of such license shall be $5.00 per annum; provided, however, that the fee for licenses issued from the date of the passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter until January 1, 1954, which licenses shall terminate on January 1, 1954, shall be $1.00. All license fees required by this chapter shall be in addition to the fees paid for a regular business license in the city of Biggs. [Ord. 110 § 9, 1953]
11.20.100 Applicability to existing antennas.
Every television or radio receiving or broadcasting antenna erected prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter may be maintained and operated in its present location, unless said antenna is so constructed and maintained as to be unsafe and dangerous as determined by the electrical inspector as provided in this chapter, pursuant to BMC 11.20.050, Technical requirements. [Ord. 110 § 10, 1953]
11.20.110 Penalties.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not exceeding a sum of $500.00, or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation is committed, or permitted to continue, shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder. [Ord. 110 § 11, 1953]