Existing Tools
Dare County Wireless Telecommunication Systems Ordinance
Dare County’s Wireless Telecommunication Systems (WTS) Ordinance is
designed to establish general guidelines for the siting telecommunication
towers and antennas. The goals of the Ordinance are:
To encourage the location of towers in non‐residential / non‐historical
areas and to minimize the total number of towers throughout the
community.
To enhance the ability of the providers of telecommunications
services in order to provide services to the community quickly,
effectively, and efficiently.
To strongly encourage the joint use of new and existing tower sites.
To encourage the location of towers and antennas, to the extent
possible, in areas where the adverse impact on the community is
minimal.
To encourage the location of towers and antennas in configurations
that minimizes their adverse visual impacts.
Whenever possible, to prioritize space on towers for public purpose
use.
c. Freestanding towers designed for one provider up to 100 feet
in maximum height in the zoning districts where permitted.
d. Applications for co‐location providers on an existing tower
where application for colocation would result in tower height
over 200 feet.
a. Antenna attached to an existing principal building or structure
over 100 feet of maximum height including height of principal
building or structure in the zoning districts where permitted.
b. Freestanding towers designed for co‐location over 200 feet in
maximum height in the zoning districts where permitted.
c. Freestanding towers designed for one provider over 100 feet
in maximum height in the zoning districts where permitted.
3. Administrative Review.
a. Stealth antennae.
b. Co‐location providers on an existing tower where application
for co‐location would result in tower height of less than
200 feet of maximum height.
c. Addition of antenna to existing utility pole, water tower, WTS
tower, or similar utility structure.
Applicants are required to submit a copy of letters sent to owners of all
existing towers within a three‐mile radius of the proposed site requesting:
1. Planning Board Review/Board of Commissioners Approval as conditional
uses in the applicable zoning district:
Page 5.23‐16
Freestanding towers designed for co‐location up to 200 feet in
maximum height in the zoning districts where permitted.
2. Board of Adjustment Review (requires a four‐fifths vote for approval).
The review and approval of all WTS development is subject to the following
review and approval procedures:
a.
b.
Antenna attached to an existing principal building or structure
up to 100 feet of maximum height including height of principal
building or structure in the zoning district where permi