Wireless Communication Facilities (WCFs)

Wireless Communication Facilities (WCFs) are the antennas, support structures and other equipment or apparatus necessary for providing personal wireless services and information services. The Development Services Department (Telecom Section) reviews applications for conventional WCFs, as well as applications to use City of San Diego streetlight and traffic signal poles for small cell deployment for compliance with the City's Land Development Code.

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If you have any questions about standard WCFs or related information, please contact one of the Telecom project managers below:

Karen Lynch
Development Project Manager III
619-446-5351
Send Karen Lynch an email

Nathan White
Development Project Manager II
619-446-5481
Send Simon Tse an email

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For information on ministerial Small Cell WCFs in the public right-of-way on existing City infrastructure, proposed City-standard infrastructure or non-City infrastructure, please contact:

Simon Tse
Development Project Manager III
619-687-5984
Send Simon Tse an email

WCF Submittal Requirements

The  Wireless Communication Facilities Supplemental Application and Checklist will help you determine the relevant City decision process and shot clock. Projects are then submitted for review per  Information Bulletin 536, "Wireless Communication Facilities," which describes the submittal requirements for WCFs, including Spectrum Act applications and links to the City Consent Application Form for WCF application on City property. 

WCF Ordinance Update

On Aug. 6, 2019, the City Council approved an update to the Wireless Communication Facility Regulations ( San Diego Municipal Code Section 141.0420). This update applies to WCFs outside the Coastal Zone, effective Sep. 9, 2019, until approved by the State Coastal Commission. As a part of the update, the WCF Guidelines were added to the Land Development Manual. Inside the Coastal Zone, please use the previous version of the WCF Ordinance.

WCF Guidelines

Applicants should refer to the  WCF Guidelines when designing WCFs in the City. Inside the Coastal Zone, please use the previous version of the WCF Guidelines. These:

• Outline three unifying principles that govern WCF design: The Principles of Balance, Context and Least Visibility;
• Describe the specific design and processing requirements the City has instituted to implement all WCF policies and regulations, including state and federal law; and
• Comprehensively address the design, location, facility type, levels of and incentives for concealment, the Spectrum Act, Substantial Conformance Review, small cells and standards for what should be shown on plans.

WCF Policies and Regulations

• General Plan - Urban Design Element, UD-A.15 (Wireless Facilities), Pages 14-15 – Provides general principles for WCF design in the City of San Diego.
• Community Plans - Most community plans do not contain requirements for WCFs, relying instead on the General Plan. Recent community plan updates do contain WCF-specific requirements, and all community plans contain goals and policies for urban design and land use that also apply to WCFs.
• Council Policy 600-43, "City of San Diego Wireless Communication Facilities Policy" – Provides policy guidance for the review and processing of applications for the placement and design of WCFs.
• Wireless Communication Facility Regulations (Land Development Code, 141.0420) – Contains permitting, design and administrative requirements for WCFs in conformance with the General Plan, community plans and  Council Policy 600-43. Inside the Coastal Zone, please use the previous version of the WCF Ordinance.

Radio Frequency (RF) Safety

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates safety related to cell phones and antenna facilities. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits the City from evaluating applications based on health-related concerns, as long as RF emissions are within FCC limits. Wireless carriers must submit a report demonstrating compliance with FCC regulations.

Facilities on City Property

The City's Real Estate Assets Department invites wireless communication carriers to expand network infrastructure on City property and on City-owned property throughout the County of San Diego. Please contact Carla Gresham at [email protected] or 619-236-6729.

General 

• Council Policy 700-10, "Disposition of City-owned Real Property" – Outlines requirements for leasing City property
• Consent Form – Required for all WCF applications on City property and within public right-of-way
• Information Bulletin 545, "Submittal Requirements and Procedures, Small Cell-Wireless Communication Facilities"
• Master Use and Occupancy Agreement – This agreement is required for small cell installations on City-owned poles.

Small Cells

• Small Cell Wireless Communication Facilities (SC-WCFs) Construction Plan Review Checklist – Use this checklist in conjunction with Information Bulletin 545 to prepare submittals for Small Cell WCFs on City property and the public right-of-way.
• Small Cell Supplemental GIS Tool – This tool is a full-service, real-time GIS application to help search for small cell sites and processing of applications.
  Important: Use of this tool is entirely at the applicant’s risk and should not replace field verification, record search or due diligence. The City will not be held liable for incorrect information. The tool is still under development and is currently limited to helping locate City assets and pole numbers only. All submitted coordinates will still require City review and quality control. Future updates to the tool will include the ability to identify existing pole occupants, submitted applications with permit information and show traffic signals and assets with existing sensors.

Annual Reporting

San Diego Municipal Code §141.0420(d)(10) requires wireless providers and telecom site management companies to submit site listings annually by January 31. Inside the Coastal Zone, please refer to the previous version of the WCF Ordinance. Please use one of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheets below for annual reporting and follow the detailed instructions.

• Carriers
  If reporting for a wireless carrier such as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon or similar, download City of San Diego Annual WCF Reporting - Wireless Providers.
• Site Management Companies
  If reporting for a telecom site management company such as American Tower, Crown Castle, Mobilitie, SBA, Wilcon or similar, download City of San Diego Annual WCF Reporting – Site Management Companies.

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