[K3PZN-List] Current (2015) Carroll County Zoning for Permanent Amateur Radio Towers

[Peter Morton]

Jim-

I put up an Aluma tower, bracketed to the house, two years ago.  I went 
by the CC permits office to find out what was needed.  The two clerks 
that greet you in the permits office sent me to the zoning office where 
I was informed there were no zoning restrictions for a communications 
tower.  Back at the permits office, I began filling out a permit request 
when a supervisor said that no permit is required for a communications 
tower.  They did ask me the height and when I said 50 feet, they lost 
complete interest.  I don't know what the CC height limitation is, but I 
suspect it might be the FAA's 200 feet.  I did inform them that the 
tower was 90 feet from the property line.  I don't think there are 
set-back requirements but be sure to check before putting up your 
tower.  No engineering drawings were required.

I did insist on an electrical permit and inspection to have on hand in 
the event of an insurance issue in the future.

I recommend that you stop by the permits office and talk to them.

I put in three 8-foot ground rods around the base of the tower and, 
using #4 bare copper wire, tied the three legs of the tower to the rods 
and the rods to each other.  I ran a #4 bare copper wire from this 
ground system to the service-entrance ground at the opposite end of the 
house.  All ground connections under ground were CAD-welded (kit from 
The RFC).  Installing the ground system and running the long tie-in to 
the service entrance was not an insignificant task.  I had the whole 
system inspected.

I mounted a NEMA box on the tower containing surge protectors for four 
antenna lines and a rotor cable (from Array Solutions).  See photos at 
http://www.W3GVX.com.  The beam in the photos has since been replaced by 
an OB-11-3.

-Pete, W3GVX

On 7/2/2015 3:02 PM, James Nitzberg via K3PZN-List wrote:
> Dear CCARCers,
>
> There is a slight chance that I might find the desire and (volunteer) resource to put up a REAL tower in the future.
>
> Is anyone on this list familiar with the current permit process in Carroll County for Amateur Radio Towers?
>
> If you are such a resource, and you have had recent dealings with the Carroll County Government about putting up an
> Amateur Radio tower, please contact me directly.
>
> I am looking specifically for the permit process, commentary on supplying engineering drawings of the proposed structure,
> and language, if any on setbacks.
>
> Thank you!!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jim Nitzberg   WX3B
> ______________________________________________________________
>
> 73 de K3PZN Westminster, MD
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