Cellular Antenna

Required Permit Submittal Documents

Construction Drawings (CDs)

• Existing Site layout plan, including:
  • An accurate depiction of all site components.
  • All other collocated carrier installations.
  • Existing buildings, fence, generators, and all relevant site components.
• Proposed site layout if relevant, including any proposed additions to the site (generators, buildings, equipment, etc.)
• Limit of disturbance if any proposed.
  • If over 5,000 sq. ft. of disturbance, Stormwater Management must be addressed.
• Tower Elevation drawing, including:
  • All existing carrier antennas, including the applicant’s antennas.
  • A separate tower elevation drawing of the proposed carrier/antenna modifications.
  • Grounding, Bonding and Transient Protection of the applicant’s site (for ground & tower installations).
  • Labeled reference to both specific structural studies (Tower Structural and Antenna Mount Structural).
  • Inclusion of any tower/monopole structural upgrades as part of the permit.
  • Inclusion of any antenna mount structural upgrades as part of this permit.
  • Determination if obstructions to tower lighting systems will occur.
    • Antennas cannot block existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lighting on the structure.
  • Modifications to tower safety-climb mechanisms.

Drawings must be signed/sealed by a Maryland Licensed PE.

Structural Analysis (SA)

A valid TIA-222 Rev H (or most current) structural study for the tower, monopole, building roof (Water Tank structures use the most current version of AWWA D100-21 and ASCE 7-16 standards). The study must take into account all current loading conditions as well as all historical structural upgrades to the structure.

• For any tower or monopole tower structure approaching 90% loading (for structural components or foundation), the applicant must validate any general assumptions by the Engineer of Record (EOR), including:
  • Assumptions pertaining to the condition or maintenance of the Structure.
  • A copy of the most recent TIA-222 Inspection Report (within the past 5 years for self-support or monopole structures and within the past 3 years for guyed towers).
    • Any critical structural issue identified during the inspection must be resolved, and a PE signed/sealed letter validating the issues were resolved must be provided.
  • Assumptions pertaining to the accuracy of the antenna inventory loads. The applicant should provide a tower mapping report or provide a letter from the tower owner stating that the loading inventory contained in the SA is accurate.
• When Structural Upgrades are required, the following applies:
  • The Structural Upgrade should be included with the permit package.
  • A copy of the detailed upgrade drawings should be included in the CDs.
  • A third-party Post Modification Inspection (PMI) is required to certify that the upgrades were completed in accordance with the engineering design plans.
    • PMI report must be signed/sealed by a Maryland licensed PE, and a copy of the report must be provided to the County prior to closing out the permit.

As an alternative to utilizing TIA-222 Rev H wind and load charts, the applicant can use a Site-Specific Wind and Ice Load Study that may allow for lower wind and ice loads to be used in the TIA-222 study.

SA must be signed/sealed by a Maryland Licensed PE.

Antenna Mount Structural Analysis (MA)

A valid TIA-222 Rev H (or most current) structural study for the antenna mounting system to verify that the existing mounting system (or a new mounting system for the case in which a new collocation in proposed) can support the proposed loading.

MA report must include:

• Mount mapping to confirm existing conditions (for an existing mount system).
• Diagram of the existing mount.
• Diagram of the proposed modifications.
  • Antenna Mounts requiring modifications must be referenced in the Construction Drawings.

Mount Modifications require a third-party PMI to certify that the modifications were completed in accordance with the engineering drawings and plans.

• PMI report must be signed/sealed by a SoM licensed PE, and a copy of the report must be provided to the County prior to closing out the permit.

Non-Interference to Public Safety (NI)

• For standard cell site installations on non-County owned structures (typical cell towers and monopoles), in which interference to public safety is highly unlikely, provide a commitment letter from the wireless carrier.
• For County-owned towers and monopoles, and privately-owned towers with County public safety communications system collocated on the tower, a complete Intermodulation Distortion (IMD)/Transmitter Noise – Receiver Desense (TNRD) analysis is required to demonstrate that the collocated carrier antenna system will introduce RF interference with public safety communications. This is required for new installations or modifications to existing antenna systems.

RF Radiation Compliance Analysis

• For standard cell site installations on non-County owned structures (typical cell towers, power poles and monopoles), in which the FCC in their OET65 standard has determined that these cell sites are exempted from the need for RF radiation studies, there is no action required.
• For non-standard cell site installations or non-standard structures (such as water tanks, rooftops, and light poles), whether owned by the County or not, an RF Radiation Compliance Analysis is required to verify that the site will continue to operate within the FCC OET65 standards after implementing the proposed modification at the site (modifying an existing cell installation or installing a new carrier installation), including:
  • Commercial and non-commercial carrier for all transmitters.
  • Transmitter power levels for all transmitters.
  • Frequencies and RF configurations of the County systems (Public Safety or Department of Public Works).
    • Study must assume General Population personnel in all hazard zones. A general population analysis outside the fenced in compound at ground level around the structure is not acceptable for this purpose. As an example, for water tanks or rooftops, maintenance personnel or first responders could be operating in the vicinity of the antenna systems during their normal duty.
  • Results of study to confirm risk predictions are low.
  • All mitigation requirements to bring the site into compliance with FCC OET Bulletin 65 regulations.
    • Mitigation requirements and recommendations must be included in the CDs.
    • This may include RF safety signage, posting of carrier’s Network Operation Center (NOC) contact information for emergency disable of the cell site transmitters, necessity for building owner security controls (access to rooftop), and physical barricades.

ELECTRICAL PERMITTING IS REQUIRED UPON ISSUANCE OF CO-LOCATION PERMIT.