Orange County NC Website
17 <br />be conducted if the visible damage to the tower is <br />significant or when, after conducting a minor inspection, <br />significant questions remain about the structural integrity <br />of the tower. <br />3) The Inspections Division may conduct periodic inspections of <br />telecommunications towers to ensure electrical integrity. <br />The owner of the telecommunication tower may be required <br />by the County to have more frequent inspections should <br />there be reason to believe that the electrical integrity of the <br />tower is jeopardized. The County reserves the right to <br />require additional inspections if there is evidence that the <br />tower has a safety problem or is exposed to extraordinary <br />conditions. <br />4) Structurally Unsafe or Unused Towers. Any tower found, <br />through inspection by the owner or by inspection of the <br />Inspections Division, to be structurally unsafe and cannot be <br />brought into compliance within one hundred and eighty (180) <br />days shall be removed at the owner's expense. <br />5) Compliance with Standards. Current or former EIA <br />standards shall apply to the addition of antennas or other <br />appurtenances to communications towers under the <br />following conditions: <br />a) Additions to towers constructed prior to the effective date <br />of this Ordinance, regardless of whether the additions are <br />accounted for in the original design, shall comply with the <br />current EIA standards, and the wind loading specified <br />therein. Additions to towers constructed subsequent to <br />the effective date of this Ordinance shall comply with <br />standards set forth elsewhere in this Section. <br />b) Existing towers that will not have any additional attached <br />appurtenances shall at a minimum comply with the EIA <br />standards in existence at the time the tower was erected. <br />c) Replacement of antennas or other appurtenances shall at <br />a minimum comply with the EIA standard in existence at <br />the time the tower was erected if the replacement does <br />not add to the original design loading. <br />d) If a structural analysis shows a tower is not in compliance <br />with the appropriate EIA standards, the owner shall <br />submit an application to the Inspections Division with a <br />plan to bring the tower into compliance within six (6) <br />months. <br />