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Columbus County schedules public hearing on amended wireless-tower ordinance
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Summary
The Board of Commissioners voted to set a Nov. 3 public hearing on proposed changes to the county's wireless telecommunications ordinance that would add setbacks, height limits and other restrictions; planning staff recommended using Wilmington and Brunswick County rules as reference points and will draft a proposal for commissioners to consider.
The Columbus County Board of Commissioners voted to schedule a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, to consider amendments to the county's wireless telecommunications facilities ordinance that would impose setbacks, height limits and other restrictions.
Planning Director Kelsey Hammonds told commissioners she had prepared a reference sheet comparing setback and height rules from nearby jurisdictions, and recommended using the City of Wilmington as a minimum reference point because "City of Wilmington is the most restrictive and it's the most compliant with the FCC," with Brunswick County used as a county-level comparison.
Hammonds said the materials in commissioners' packets include examples from Wilmington, Brunswick County, Elizabethtown, Bladen County and Charlotte, and discussed typical planning approaches: setbacks measured from lot lines, fall zones equal to tower height, and permit conditions that differ for monopole vs. lattice towers. She said some neighboring counties set a maximum height in the 200-to-300-foot range and that a recent local application planned a 285-foot tower.
Commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about siting near homes, electromagnetic radiation and the fees the county would collect for permits. Commissioner Watts noted residents do not want towers "right on top of their house," and the board asked staff to craft draft language for the packet so commissioners have a specific proposal to review before the Nov. 3 hearing.
Hammonds cautioned that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforces federal limits on radio-frequency emissions and that the county should confirm final language with federal guidance once the FCC is available to comment. She said, "You can tailor it as you would like," and offered to circulate a draft ordinance to each commissioner before the public hearing.
The motion to set the public hearing was made by Commissioner Floyd, seconded by Commissioner Byrd, and approved by unanimous voice vote.
The Nov. 3 hearing will be the first formal opportunity for public comment on specific text changes; staff will provide a draft ordinance and a comparative chart of setback, height and fall-zone options in advance.
