State Fiscal Highlights
· No direct fiscal effect on the state.
Local Fiscal Highlights
· No direct fiscal effect on political subdivisions.
Detailed Fiscal Analysis
The bill declares that the county, township, and municipal corporation zoning laws do not confer upon the legislative authority of a county, township, or municipal corporation a right to preclude amateur radio service. The bill also provides that, if these political subdivisions enact any zoning laws that regulate amateur radio service, the laws must comply with two limitations. First, the laws may not restrict the height or dimensions of amateur station antenna structures in such a way as to prevent effective amateur radio service communications. For purposes of structure restrictions, 75 feet is considered a reasonable antenna structure height. Second, zoning rules must reasonably accommodate amateur station communications and must constitute the minimum practicable regulation necessary to accomplish the legislative authority's purpose.
According to the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association, there is only one known amateur radio antenna in the central Ohio region that exceeds 75 feet. Indeed, in all likelihood, there are very few amateur radio antennas that exceed this height statewide. Overall, restricting a political subdivision's zoning abilities relating to amateur radio antennas appears to have no direct fiscal effect on the state or its political subdivisions.