Orange County NC Website
Article 5: Uses <br /> Section 5.10: Standards for Telecommunication Facilities <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Orange County, North Carolina – Unified Development Ordinance Page 5-100 <br /> <br />accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance and in <br />accordance with the tower inspections check list provided in the <br />EIA-222 (as amended from time to time). This is considered a <br />major inspection review. <br />(ii) At least once every 12 months, a visual inspection from the <br />ground shall be conducted by a properly trained staff member of <br />a tower provider or tower consultant and a report shall be filed <br />with the Inspections Division within a reasonable time thereafter. <br />This inspection shall include, but shall not be limited to, visual <br />inspection of tower foundations, structures, guys, and <br />connections for evidence of settlement or later movement; soil <br />erosion; condition of paint or galvanizing; rust or corrosion, loose <br />or missing bolts, loose or corroded lightning protection <br />connectors; tower plumbness, significant variation in guy sags <br />(i.e. tensions), and other material areas or matters relating to the <br />structural integrity of the tower. This is considered a minor <br />inspection review. <br />(iii) In addition to the regularly scheduled major and minor <br />inspections set forth herein, a minor inspection, at a minimum, <br />will be conducted if the tower or its appurtenances are noted at <br />any time to be visibly damaged. Additionally, a major inspection <br />shall 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 of the <br />tower. <br />(d) The Inspections Division may conduct periodic inspections of <br />telecommunications towers to ensure electrical integrity. The owner of <br />the telecommunication tower may be required by the County to have <br />more frequent inspections should there be reason to believe that the <br />electrical integrity of the tower is jeopardized. The County reserves the <br />right to require additional inspections if there is evidence that the tower <br />has a safety problem or is exposed to extraordinary conditions. <br />(e) Any tower found, through inspection by the owner or by inspection of the <br />Inspections Division, to be structurally unsafe and cannot be brought into <br />compliance within 180 days shall be removed at the owner’s expense. <br />(f) Current or former EIA standards shall apply to the addition of antennas <br />or other appurtenances to communications towers under the following <br />conditions: <br />(i) Additions to towers constructed prior to the effective date of this <br />Ordinance, regardless of whether the additions are accounted for <br />in the original design, shall comply with the current EIA <br />standards, and the wind loading specified therein. Additions to <br />towers constructed subsequent to the effective date of this <br />Ordinance shall comply with standards set forth elsewhere in this <br />Section. <br />(ii) 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 />(iii) Replacement of antennas or other appurtenances shall at a <br />minimum comply with the EIA standard in existence at the time <br />the tower was erected if the replacement does not add to the <br />original design loading. <br />(iv) If a structural analysis shows a tower is not in compliance with <br />39