(a) A colocation facility shall be a permitted use not subject to a city or county discretionary permit if it satisfies the following requirements:
(1) The colocation facility is consistent with requirements for the wireless telecommunications colocation facility pursuant to subdivision (b) on which the colocation facility is proposed.
(2) The wireless telecommunications colocation facility on which the colocation facility is proposed was subject to a discretionary permit by the city or county and an environmental impact report was certified, or a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration was adopted for the wireless telecommunications colocation facility in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code); the requirements of Section 21166 do not apply; and the colocation facility incorporates required mitigation measures specified in that environmental impact report, negative declaration, or mitigated negative declaration.
(b) A wireless telecommunications colocation facility, where a subsequent colocation facility is a permitted use not subject to a city or county discretionary permit pursuant to subdivision (a), shall be subject to a city or county discretionary permit issued on or after January 1, 2007, and shall comply with all of the following:
(1) City or county requirements for a wireless telecommunications colocation facility that specifies types of wireless telecommunications facilities that are allowed to include a colocation facility, or types of wireless telecommunications facilities that are allowed to include certain types of colocation facilities; height, location, bulk, and size of the wireless telecommunications colocation facility; percentage of the wireless telecommunications colocation facility that may be occupied by colocation facilities; and aesthetic or design requirements for the wireless telecommunications colocation facility.
(2) City or county requirements for a proposed colocation facility, including any types of colocation facilities that may be allowed on a wireless telecommunications colocation facility; height, location, bulk, and size of allowed colocation facilities; and aesthetic or design requirements for a colocation facility.
(3) State and local requirements, including the general plan, any applicable community plan or specific plan, and zoning ordinance.
(4) The California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) through certification of an environmental impact report, or adoption of a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration.
(c) The city or county shall hold at least one public hearing on the discretionary permit required pursuant to subdivision (b) and notice shall be given pursuant to Section 65091, unless otherwise required by this division.
(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Colocation facility” means the placement or installation of wireless facilities, including antennas, and related equipment, on, or immediately adjacent to, a wireless telecommunications colocation facility.
(2) “Wireless telecommunications facility” means equipment and network components such as towers, utility poles, transmitters, base stations, and emergency power systems that are integral to providing wireless telecommunications services.
(3) “Wireless telecommunications colocation facility” means a wireless telecommunications facility that includes colocation facilities.
(e) The Legislature finds and declares that a colocation facility, as defined in this section, has a significant economic impact in California and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution, but is a matter of statewide concern.
(f) With respect to the consideration of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions, the review by the city or county shall be limited to that authorized by Section 332(c)(7) of Title 47 of the United States Code, or as that section may be hereafter amended.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 561, Sec. 93. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018