What do you think are "reasonable" antenna accomodations by developers and HOAs?

[K6OK]

Whatever happened to "if the tower fails it should land totally on your property" axiom?

Hopefully that's an urban myth that will fade away.

Here's a rhetorical question: If the Empire State Building or the Sears Tower fell over, would they land completely within their property lines? Skyscrapers could not exist in any major city if all structures had to have properties big enough to contain them if they fell. Everywhere you look there are telephone poles, billboards, buildings, and cell towers that if they fell over would land on someone else's property. A properly engineered tower should be just as acceptable any other properly engineered structure. For some reason ham towers have been singled out for the "fall zone" criteria while other structures have not. 73 Jim K6OK

[N0AZZ]

A maximum of one HF vertical no more than 60' and 1 tower free standing or guyed 75' total height, 2 roof towers or tripods total of 25' above roof line, 3 Dipoles what ever length you can fit.

Seems very reasonable and a small amount for a well rounded ham to have to cover all the bands well from 23cm to 160m anyway. I would hate to have so few myself but some considerations have to be made for in town use but still have full capability in all emergencies to respond around town or around the world.

[W4PG]

Hopefully that's an urban myth that will fade away.

Here's a rhetorical question: If the Empire State Building or the Sears Tower fell over, would they land completely within their property lines? Skyscrapers could not exist in any major city if all structures had to have properties big enough to contain them if they fell. Everywhere you look there are telephone poles, billboards, buildings, and cell towers that if they fell over would land on someone else's property. A properly engineered tower should be just as acceptable any other properly engineered structure. For some reason ham towers have been singled out for the "fall zone" criteria while other structures have not. 73 Jim K6OK

Agreed.

The idea that a 100-foot tower must be 100 feet from the property lines demonstrates an ignorance of how towers fail (note I did not say FALL!). The tower usually buckles and crashes down on itself rather than falling over in one piece from the base.

[AC0H]

I've never seen or heard of a policy that couldn't be expanded or had a rider attached to cover a tower - especially one properly installed and erected...

From a replacement point of view yes.
From a liability point of view I don't know.
Funny stuff happens in court.

[N2RJ]

REasonable accommodations by HOAs and condo associations - whatever you agreed to in your contract.

What we SHOULD be doing is attacking this at the source - a lot of cities and towns are encouraging new developments to have HOAs so the city/town is not on the hook for things like street cleaning and snow removal. This is just wrong and should stop.

[WB2WIK]

Yes, I hear that from many hams especially when I say I live in a restricted neighborhood. There's something about the ham that compels them to make bold proclamations. It's almost like a Tourettes Syndrome of some sort. I don't mean to pick on you, WIK, as all you did was to reminded me of the affliction.

My objection to covenants and HOA By-Laws placing needless restrictions on property owners really has nothing at all to do with ham radio. It has everything to do with simple freedom. I don't want the same kind of garage door as my neighbor, or the same kind of mailbox, or hedges that are height restricted, or a restriction against building a wall around my back yard, or any number of things that are generally prohibited in such communities. It goes way beyond antennas.

For those that like all the conformity, that's great. I don't think I'll ever be one of them.

[WB2WIK]

From a replacement point of view yes.
From a liability point of view I don't know.
Funny stuff happens in court.

Actually, liability insurance is generally cheaper and easier to secure than replacement value comprehensive.

If you already have homeowner's insurance, as is required for ownership almost everywhere -- at least if you ever had a mortgage -- it's not difficult to add a liability "umbrella" with a very high value, pretty cheaply. I do that every time I have any contractors working on the property: I take a $1 Million liability umbrella to protect myself in the event someone gets injured. When the work is completed, I cancel it. Sometimes it's only in effect for two days. Not expensive, and done with a phone call followed by an e-mail confirmation.

A permanent liability umbrella for $100K or $200K to cover a neighbor's property damage shouldn't be expensive.

Since I'm as certain my tower won't fall as I am the sun will rise tomorrow, I don't even bother. But some might want to.

[KB2FCV]

I definitely fall in the crowd of "I would never buy in a HOA neighborhood", but I'll comment here.

I definitely think wire antennas are reasonable accomodations. If you have 70 or 100' trees, you should be able to put them up there. They are pretty hard to see when up and they work pretty good. I think verticals are pretty reasonable as well. I think towers and beams are pushing it, however.

[KY5U]

Do I have this right? You are saying that those of us who wouldnt (dont) live in such a community have Tourettes Syndrome? Thats simply amazing..

What you're doing is called obfuscation. Please reread my comment. Thanks!

[K0RGR]

Whatever happened to "if the tower fails it should land totally on your property" axiom?
Are people really proposing siting towers right on the property line in sub-divisions?

I can't remember his call, but there was a guy in the City of Des Moines years ago who was a rabid moonbouncer. He had what I think was a 100 foot tower in his postage-stamp sized back yard, with a very impressive 2 meter moonbounce arrray on it. He had put up 4 regular sized streetlight poles, filled with concrete, one at each corner of his lot, so he would have places to anchor the guys for the larger tower. Our babysitter lived across the street from it, so I got to see it quite often. Perhaps you saw his installation, and it inspired your very valid concern?