Telecommunications facilities located in the Timberland Production Zone (TPZ) are exempt from Article 41’s standards. The permit table also lists co-location, building-mounted, pole-mounted, and new tower or pole facilities in the TPZ as exempt. This applies only if the data-center-related facility qualifies as a telecommunications facility under the Article. (facilities located in the Timberland Production Zone)

An eligible facilities request—such as collocating, removing, or replacing transmission equipment on an existing tower or base station without substantially changing its physical dimensions—is exempt from the Article’s standards. (facilities meeting the definition of an eligible facilities request)

Qualifying co-location on or immediately adjacent to an existing co-location facility may receive a ministerial zoning clearance certificate rather than a special use permit, if the existing facility had the required County discretionary and CEQA approvals, mitigation measures are incorporated, and applicable state, local, and County requirements are met. The co-location also must satisfy general requirements, FCC RF limits, and limits on how far it extends from the existing pole or tower. (a co-location facility is permitted with the approval of a zoning clearance certificate)

In most zones, co-location, building-mounted, and pole-mounted telecommunications facilities require only a zoning clearance certificate, while new towers or poles generally require a special use permit. Important exceptions apply in the Open Space and Lake zones, and a special use permit is additionally required for facilities within 1,000 feet of a residential zone, airport, or airstrip unless the qualifying co-location exemption applies. (Permits Required)

A zoning clearance certificate is a ministerial, over-the-counter zoning-compliance approval. For a complete application, the Planning Division must review it within five working days, and the certificate must be approved and immediately issued when the listed compliance findings are satisfied. (Within five (5) working days of accepting an application as complete)

Existing lawful nonconforming telecommunications facilities may continue operating. They may be repaired, maintained, or altered—including antenna replacement in the same quantity and substantially the same size—without losing their status, so long as the work does not constitute a substantial change. Restoration after qualifying damage is allowed within one year or with a special use permit. (may continue use as legal non-conforming telecommunications facilities)

Telecommunications facilities located within public or private utility easements are exempt from the Article’s setback requirements, which can make placement or expansion easier where an existing utility corridor is available. (Facilities located within public or private utility easements are exempt from meeting setback requirements)