(a) The department shall establish procedures for submitting applications and issuing permits.
(b)(1) The department shall produce and, from time to time, modify and update the forms on which the applications for a permit shall be made.
(2) The filing fee assessed by the department shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per application. Any number of structures or a group of structures may be included in a single application so long as they are part of a single project.
(3) Applications containing inaccurate or incomplete information, or not accompanied by the correct application fee, shall be returned (together with any fee submitted), without consideration, to the applicant.
(4) Application fees shall be deposited in the state Airports Development Fund, provided in Section 23-1-364, and used by the department to administer this article.
(c)(1) Permits shall not be required for any structure or object of natural growth constructed, erected, installed, replaced, modified, or repaired within the boundaries of a publicly owned, public use airport located in this state.
(2) Permits shall not be required for emergency repair, modification, or replacement of airport hazards where immediate action is required to preserve the health and safety of persons or property including, without limitation, the restoration of service provided using such structure.
(3) Notwithstanding subdivisions (1) and (2), the repair may not increase the height of the structure or the nature of the airport hazard.
(d) Upon receiving an application for a permit, the department shall make such investigation as it deems necessary to process the application. The investigation shall be conducted to determine, in the opinion of the department, whether the proposed structure would have a substantially adverse effect upon the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace and would be a hazard to air navigation if permitted. The department may give consideration to the findings and recommendations of other governmental agencies or interested persons concerning the airport hazard; however, such findings and recommendations are not binding on the department.
(e)(1) Within 30 days of receiving a completed application, the department shall determine whether a permit is to be issued, issued with conditions, or denied.
(2) Within 15 days of such determination, the department shall notify the applicant in writing of the determination of the department.
(3) Upon notifying the applicant in writing, the department shall be permitted one 30-day extension to make a determination. If the department has not issued a ruling within the 30-day period, or 60 days if an extension is taken, the application shall be considered approved.
(4) If an application is denied, the department shall set forth the reasons for such denial and shall state the requirements or conditions, if any, under which the application might be approved.
(5) The determination shall be final 21 days after the date of the written determination unless, within the 21-day period, the applicant requests a hearing before the department concerning the determination or, within 30 days after the date of the written determination, the applicant requests a hearing pursuant to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.
(f) Any interested party who is aggrieved by a determination or order of the department may request a hearing pursuant to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. Any such hearing shall be requested within 30 days after the date of the order or determination by the department. Any appeal from a final order of the department shall be to a court of competent jurisdiction.
(g) If an application is denied or conditionally approved by the department, the applicant may not submit the same application, re-file an application for the same airport hazard, or request modification of the conditions of the previously issued permit for 15 days from the date of the issuance of the previous determination.
(h) If the department has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is constructing, erecting, installing, altering, modifying, or replacing a structure which qualifies as an airport hazard or an object of natural growth which qualifies as an airport hazard without a permit having been issued by the department (and such a permit is required), the department may issue an order to such persons to appear before the department and show cause why a permit is not required. A date for the hearing shall be set out in the order. The department may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction ordering that construction of the allegedly offending structure or object of natural growth cease until the requirements of this article are complied with.
(i) Unless in violation of FAA requirements or decisions, the department may condition a permit on the permittee's installing and maintaining such marking or lighting, or both, as may be necessary to indicate to pilots the presence of an airport hazard. Such markings and lighting shall be installed, operated, and maintained at the sole expense of the permittee and shall conform to standards established by the FAA.
(j) The department, through appropriate legal action, may compel the owner of an airport hazard which is constructed, erected, or installed in violation of this article, or an object of natural growth which grows to such a height as to constitute an airport hazard, at the sole expense of the owner, to remove the hazard or take such other action as shall be required to comply with this article. If the owner of the airport hazard does not comply with the order of the department, the department may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to order the owner of the airport hazard to remove the hazard or take such other action as shall be required to conform to the requirements of this article.
Last modified: May 3, 2021