{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/56-484.29.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/56-484.29.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/56-484.29.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/56-484.29.html"}],"law_id":74990,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74990,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.29","catch_line":"Access to locality rights-of-way for installation and maintenance of small cell facilities on existing structures","history":"2017, c. 835.","full_text":"A\n\nUpon application by a wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure provider, a locality may issue a permit granting access to the public rights-of-way it operates and maintains to install and maintain small cell facilities on existing structures. Such a permit shall grant access to all rights-of-way in the locality for the purpose of installing small cell facilities on existing structures, provided that the wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure provider (i) has permission from the owner of the structure to co-locate equipment on that structure and (ii) provides notice of the agreement and co-location to the locality. The locality shall approve or disapprove any such requested permit within 60 days of receipt of the complete application. Within 10 days after receipt of an application and a valid electronic mail address for the applicant, the locality shall notify the applicant by electronic mail whether the application is incomplete and specify any missing information; otherwise, the application shall be deemed complete. Any disapproval shall be in writing and accompanied by an explanation for the disapproval. The 60-day period may be extended by the locality in writing for a period not to exceed an additional 30 days. The permit request shall be deemed approved if the locality fails to act within the initial 60 days or an extended 30-day period. No such permit shall be required for providers of telecommunications services and nonpublic providers of cable television, electric, natural gas, water, and sanitary sewer services that, as of July 1, 2017, already have facilities lawfully occupying the public rights-of-way under the locality’s jurisdiction.B\n\nLocalities shall not impose any fee for the use of the rights-of-way, except for zoning, subdivision, site plan, and comprehensive plan fees of general application, on a wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure provider to attach or co-locate small cell facilities on an existing structure in the right-of-way. However, a locality may prescribe and charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $250 for processing a permit application under subsection A.C\n\nLocalities shall not impose any fee or require any application or permit for the installation, placement, maintenance, or replacement of micro-wireless facilities that are suspended on cables or lines that are strung between existing utility poles in compliance with national safety codes. However, the locality may require a single use permit if such activities (i) involve working within the highway travel lane or require closure of a highway travel lane; (ii) disturb the pavement, shoulder, roadway, or ditch line; (iii) include placement on limited access rights-of-way; or (iv) require any specific precautions to ensure the safety of the traveling public or the protection of public infrastructure or the operation thereof, and either were not authorized in or will be conducted in a time, place, or manner that is inconsistent with terms of the existing permit for that facility or the structure upon which it is attached.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":269388,"text":"Upon application by a wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure provider, a locality may issue a permit granting access to the public rights-of-way it operates and maintains to install and maintain small cell facilities on existing structures. Such a permit shall grant access to all rights-of-way in the locality for the purpose of installing small cell facilities on existing structures, provided that the wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure provider (i) has permission from the owner of the structure to co-locate equipment on that structure and (ii) provides notice of the agreement and co-location to the locality. The locality shall approve or disapprove any such requested permit within 60 days of receipt of the complete application. Within 10 days after receipt of an application and a valid electronic mail address for the applicant, the locality shall notify the applicant by electronic mail whether the application is incomplete and specify any missing information; otherwise, the application shall be deemed complete. Any disapproval shall be in writing and accompanied by an explanation for the disapproval. The 60-day period may be extended by the locality in writing for a period not to exceed an additional 30 days. The permit request shall be deemed approved if the locality fails to act within the initial 60 days or an extended 30-day period. No such permit shall be required for providers of telecommunications services and nonpublic providers of cable television, electric, natural gas, water, and sanitary sewer services that, as of July 1, 2017, already have facilities lawfully occupying the public rights-of-way under the locality’s jurisdiction.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":269389,"text":"Localities shall not impose any fee for the use of the rights-of-way, except for zoning, subdivision, site plan, and comprehensive plan fees of general application, on a wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure provider to attach or co-locate small cell facilities on an existing structure in the right-of-way. However, a locality may prescribe and charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $250 for processing a permit application under subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":269390,"text":"Localities shall not impose any fee or require any application or permit for the installation, placement, maintenance, or replacement of micro-wireless facilities that are suspended on cables or lines that are strung between existing utility poles in compliance with national safety codes. However, the locality may require a single use permit if such activities (i) involve working within the highway travel lane or require closure of a highway travel lane; (ii) disturb the pavement, shoulder, roadway, or ditch line; (iii) include placement on limited access rights-of-way; or (iv) require any specific precautions to ensure the safety of the traveling public or the protection of public infrastructure or the operation thereof, and either were not authorized in or will be conducted in a time, place, or manner that is inconsistent with terms of the existing permit for that facility or the structure upon which it is attached.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16627,"edition_id":1,"name":"Wireless Communications Infrastructure","identifier":"15.1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12881,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:28:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:28:20","permalink":{"id":250095,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16627,"identifier":"15.1","token":"56\/15.1","url":"\/56\/15.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12881,"edition_id":1,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":248473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12881,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83543,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.26","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/56-484.26\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.26","metadata":false},{"id":76629,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.27","catch_line":"Access to the public rights-of-way by wireless services providers and wireless infrastructure providers; generally","url":"\/56-484.27\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.27","metadata":false},{"id":75523,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.28","catch_line":"Access to public rights-of-way operated and maintained by the Department for the installation and maintenance of small cell facilities on existing structures","url":"\/56-484.28\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.28","metadata":false},{"id":74990,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.29","catch_line":"Access to locality rights-of-way for installation and maintenance of small cell facilities on existing structures","url":"\/56-484.29\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.29","metadata":false},{"id":73037,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.30","catch_line":"Agreements for use of public right-of-way to construct new wireless support structures; relocation of wireless support structures","url":"\/56-484.30\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.30","metadata":false},{"id":85520,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.31","catch_line":"Attachment of small cell facilities on government-owned structures","url":"\/56-484.31\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.31","metadata":false},{"id":76949,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.32","catch_line":"Wireless support structure public rights-of-way use fee","url":"\/56-484.32\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.32","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75523,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.28","catch_line":"Access to public rights-of-way operated and maintained by the Department for the installation and maintenance of small cell facilities on existing structures","url":"\/56-484.28\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.28","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":73037,"structure_id":16627,"section_number":"56-484.30","catch_line":"Agreements for use of public right-of-way to construct new wireless support structures; relocation of wireless support structures","url":"\/56-484.30\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.30","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-484.29\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2017. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 835<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":250109,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74990,"identifier":"56-484.29","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.29","url":"\/56-484.29\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-484.29\/","token":"56\/15.1\/56-484.29","dublin_core":{"Title":"Access to locality rights-of-way for installation and maintenance of small cell facilities on existing structures","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-484.29","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Upon application by a wireless services provider<\/span> or wireless infrastructure provider<\/span>, a locality may issue<\/span> a permit granting access to the public rights-of-way it operates and maintains to install and maintain small cell facilities on existing structures<\/span>. Such a permit shall grant access to all rights-of-way in the locality for the purpose of installing small cell facilities on existing structures<\/span>, provided that the wireless services provider<\/span> or wireless infrastructure provider<\/span> (i) has permission from the owner of the structure to co-locate<\/span> equipment on that structure and (ii) provides notice of the agreement and co-location<\/span> to the locality. The locality shall approve or disapprove any such requested permit within 60 days of receipt of the complete application. Within 10 days after receipt of an application and a valid electronic mail<\/span> address for the applicant, the locality shall notify the applicant by electronic mail<\/span> whether the application is incomplete and specify any missing information; otherwise, the application shall be deemed complete. Any disapproval shall be in writing and accompanied by an explanation for the disapproval. The 60-day period may be extended by the locality in writing for a period not to exceed an additional 30 days. The permit request shall be deemed approved if the locality fails to act within the initial 60 days or an extended 30-day period. No such permit shall be required for providers of telecommunications services and nonpublic providers of cable television, electric, natural gas, water, and sanitary sewer services that, as of July 1, 2017, already have facilities lawfully occupying the public rights-of-way under the locality’s jurisdiction<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Localities shall not impose any fee for the use of the rights-of-way, except for zoning, subdivision, site plan, and comprehensive plan fees of general application, on a wireless services provider<\/span> or wireless infrastructure provider<\/span> to attach or co-locate<\/span> small cell facilities on an existing structure<\/span> in the right-of-way. However, a locality may prescribe and charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $250 for processing a permit application under subsection A. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Localities shall not impose any fee or require any application or permit for the installation, placement, maintenance, or replacement of micro-wireless facilities that are suspended on cables or lines that are strung between existing utility poles<\/span> in compliance with national safety codes. However, the locality may require a single use permit if such activities (i) involve working within the highway travel lane or require closure of a highway travel lane; (ii) disturb the pavement, shoulder, roadway, or ditch line; (iii) include placement on limited access rights-of-way; or (iv) require any specific precautions to ensure the safety of the traveling public or the protection of public infrastructure or the operation thereof, and either were not authorized in or will be conducted in a time, place, or manner that is inconsistent with terms of the existing permit for that facility or the structure upon which it is attached. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nACCESS TO LOCALITY RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SMALL CELL\nFACILITIES ON EXISTING STRUCTURES (\u00a7 56-484.29)\n\nA. Upon application by a wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure\nprovider, a locality may issue a permit granting access to the public\nrights-of-way it operates and maintains to install and maintain small cell\nfacilities on existing structures. Such a permit shall grant access to all\nrights-of-way in the locality for the purpose of installing small cell\nfacilities on existing structures, provided that the wireless services provider\nor wireless infrastructure provider (i) has permission from the owner of the\nstructure to co-locate equipment on that structure and (ii) provides notice of\nthe agreement and co-location to the locality. The locality shall approve or\ndisapprove any such requested permit within 60 days of receipt of the complete\napplication. Within 10 days after receipt of an application and a valid\nelectronic mail address for the applicant, the locality shall notify the\napplicant by electronic mail whether the application is incomplete and specify\nany missing information; otherwise, the application shall be deemed complete.\nAny disapproval shall be in writing and accompanied by an explanation for the\ndisapproval. The 60-day period may be extended by the locality in writing for a\nperiod not to exceed an additional 30 days. The permit request shall be deemed\napproved if the locality fails to act within the initial 60 days or an extended\n30-day period. No such permit shall be required for providers of\ntelecommunications services and nonpublic providers of cable television,\nelectric, natural gas, water, and sanitary sewer services that, as of July 1,\n2017, already have facilities lawfully occupying the public rights-of-way under\nthe locality’s jurisdiction.\n\nB. Localities shall not impose any fee for the use of the rights-of-way, except\nfor zoning, subdivision, site plan, and comprehensive plan fees of general\napplication, on a wireless services provider or wireless infrastructure provider\nto attach or co-locate small cell facilities on an existing structure in the\nright-of-way. However, a locality may prescribe and charge a reasonable fee not\nto exceed $250 for processing a permit application under subsection A.\n\nC. Localities shall not impose any fee or require any application or permit for\nthe installation, placement, maintenance, or replacement of micro-wireless\nfacilities that are suspended on cables or lines that are strung between\nexisting utility poles in compliance with national safety codes. However, the\nlocality may require a single use permit if such activities (i) involve working\nwithin the highway travel lane or require closure of a highway travel lane; (ii)\ndisturb the pavement, shoulder, roadway, or ditch line; (iii) include placement\non limited access rights-of-way; or (iv) require any specific precautions to\nensure the safety of the traveling public or the protection of public\ninfrastructure or the operation thereof, and either were not authorized in or\nwill be conducted in a time, place, or manner that is inconsistent with terms of\nthe existing permit for that facility or the structure upon which it is\nattached.\n\nHISTORY: 2017, c. 835.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}