04-86 ORDINANCE NO. ~-g6
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DELRAY
BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 30, "ZONING", OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, BY ENACTING
A NEW SECTION 30-17.5, "SATELLITE DISHES"; DEFINING THE TERM
SATELLITE DISH OR SATELLITE TELEVISION ANTENNA; PROVIDING
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SATELLITE DISHES; A PROHIBITION
AGAINST VISIBLE WRITING ON THE DISH; PROVIDING SCREENING
REQUIREMENTS~ PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN RESI-
DENTIAL, MULTI-FAMILY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS AS
TO SIZE AND LOGATION OF THE DISH~ PROVIDING THAT NOTHING IN
THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PERMIT THE USE OF
PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR THE CARRIAGE OF A SIGNAL FROM A
DISH CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ORDINANCE? PRO-
VIDING A SAVING CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the Gity of Delray Beach, Florida, desires to protect the
safety of its residents and citizens by requiring compliance with certain structural requirements and
locations for the placement of satellite dishes~ and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, desires to regulate
satellite dishes to be beneficial to both the owners of same and the neighbors by setting forth certain
aesthetic requirements for erection of satellite dishes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNGIL OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section I. That a new Section 30-17.5, "Satellite Dishes" is hereby enacted to read as
follows:
Sec. 30-17.5. Satellite Dishes.
A. Definition.
The term satellite dish or satellite television ant,~.nna is interchangeable and refers to
any apparatus designed to receive television or radio signals from orbiting satellites.
B. General Requirements.
' satellite dish or satellite television antenna shall be considered a structure and
shall require a building permit. Antennas or dishes shall be of non-combustible and
corrosive resistant material, shall be erected in a secure wind resistant manner, and
shall be adequately grounded for protection against direct strike of lightning.
Portable satellite dishes are not permitted. Only satellite dishes which are actually
required for obtaining a signal may be erected and maintained on any property.
Satellite dishes may not be used for display or advertising purposes on the exterior of
any structure. Where a commercial enterprise is engaged in the sale of satellite
dishes, the erection of more than two (2) dishes (each of which shall be of different
sizes) which perform essentially the same function, on the exterior of the structure
shall be presumed to be for display or advertising purposes. Satellite dishes may not
have any writing on them which is visible from the right-of-way. These structures
shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 9 which do not conflict with this section
as well as the following conditions:
1) Application Process. The application for a permit shall be reviewed by the
Building Department for a determination that the structure is designed and will
be erected in a manner which meets the technical requirements of the code
including those set forth in this section. The City Horticulturist shall review
the plans for screening the structure.
2) Screening. The satellite dish shall be effectively screened from off premises
view and from visibility from public rights-of-way to the greatest extent
practicable, except that such screening shah not be required in locations
1
surrounding the satellite dish where and only to the extent it is proved that such
screening interferes with reception. The visibility of the satellite dish shall be
.mitigated as much as possible by screening. The structure shall be screened by
the use of landscaping or by a non-living barrier such as a wall or fence, or by
some combination of the above. Walls or fences used for screening may not
exceed six (6) feet in height unless they are erected in compliance with the
building setbacks. Trees and shrubs used in screening shall be of a species
capable of obtaining such height, spread and density of canopy at maturity so as
to effectively screen the satellite dish from off premises view.
Landscaping to be used as screening shall be planted at the time of construction
or placement of the satellite dish and the landscaping shall be at least equal to
four (6) feet at the time of planting. Landscaping shall be maintained by the
property owner and/or the persons or groups in control of the property in a
manner which will encourage maximum screening without interference with the
maintenance or operation of the satellite dish.
C. Additional Requirements.
1) Single family districts.
a. One non-commercial satellite dish per residential dwelling unit shall be
permitted.
b. The satellite dish shall be located on the lot in the rear of the house or in
a side yard (which does not front on a public right-of-way) behind the
front roof line of the house provided that the satellite dish shall be
substantially screened from the right-of-way and from the adjacent
property. A satellite dish must be located so as to provide the screening
required by subsection (BX2).
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 30-17.~(C)(IXb), above, and
subject to sufficient proof being submitted to the City, to prove that it is
not possible to locate a proposed satellite dish in the rear yard or side
yard as described above, then and only then satellite dishes which are
twelve (12) feet in diameter or less may be permitted on the roof of
property in a single family residential zoning district and such a dish may
not be more than eight (g) feet above the roof line as measured from the
highest point of the dish.
2) Multi-family districts.
a. Satellite dishes may be erected on individual multi-family lots if they
comply with the requirements of subsection I above. Therefore an owner
of an individual unit in a multi-family complex may erect a dish on his/her
individual property only if the ownership of his/her individual unit includes
ownership of sufficient property to locate the dish in compliance with the
requirements in single family districts. (Property owned jointly or in
common with other unit owners may not be used for purposes of
calculating the unit owner's individual property.) Nothing in this provision
shall be construed to alter or impair any rights, authority or restrictions
imposed by deed or under the rightful authority of any homeowners'
association.
b. A satellite dish in a multi-family district may be erected to meet the
following requirements:
(1) Only one satellite dish (other than those complying with subsection
1) may be located in a multi-family complex and must be placed so
as to be effectively screened from all public rights-of-way and
adjacent residential complexes. In no event shall the dish be placed
between a structure and any public right-of-way (other than an
alleyway) unless the dish can be erected in compliance with this
section and other code requirements so as to be entirely invisible
from the public right-of-way and adjacent residential developments.
2 ORD. NO. ~-g6
(2) Satellite dishes must be located to provide the screening required in
subsection (BX2).
(3) A satellite dish may not be located on a roof unless it complies with
Section (C)(1 Xc)..
3) Commercial and Industrial zoning districts.
a. The satellite dish shall be located on the property so as to be effectively
screened from all public rights-of-way and adiacent residential properties.
b. A satellite dish may not be located on a roof so that the dish would
thereby be visible from a public right-of-way or residential district;
provided, however, if it is proved that there is no such location on a roof
where the satellite dish may be located to gain proper reception, then and
only then such a satellite dish may be located where it might be so visible,
but only to the extent required to gain such proper reception.
c. Satellite dishes which are mounted on a tower and used for commun-
ication in connection with the operation of a business shall be required to
provide reasonable screening and shall be sub)ect to conditional use
approval.
D. Nothing herein shall be construed to allow the use of any public rights-of-way for the
carriage of a signal from a satellite dish erected in compliance with this section.
Section 2. That should any section or provision of this ordinance or any portion thereof,
any paragraph, sentence, or word be declared by a Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder hereof as a whole or part thereof other than the
part declared to be invalid.
Section 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances which are in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed.
-.
Section ~. That this ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days after passage on second
and final reading.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second and final reading on this the
MAYOR
ATTEST'.
City Clerk
First Reading. January 14, 1986
Second Reading March 11, 1986
3 ORD. NO. t~-86