| How
to Build a Cell Phone Tower
If you haven't read our page on Tower
on your Property, please read it first. If you have,
and you still think you would like to build a cell phone
tower- here are the bare minimum requirements you must
have to do so:
1. $150,000. That is the
average cost of a cell tower. Some will go for less,
some will go for more, but you will need at least that
much to complete the project. Alternatively, you will
need to find a bank loan that you personally guarantee
with other collateral. Do not expect to have the bank
finance a tower construction project like they would
finance a commercial building.
2. A Unique Piece of Property-
If one of your neighbors has a piece of property that
is similar to yours in size and zoning classification,
you are wasting your time. Check with your local zoning
office and ask for a copy of their zoning ordinance
as it pertains to a cell phone tower. If you don't have
the only parcel within 1/2 mile or more that is suitable
for a tower, the wireless carrier will simply lease
space from your neighbor or negotiate a cheap lease
with you. Make sure the piece of property is large enough
to meet the "fall zone" criteria for placement
of a cell phone tower.
3. Knowledge of where the wireless
carriers need a cell phone tower.
Many landowners erroneously think that they have the
perfect piece of property for a cell phone tower. To
be blunt- the chances are less than 2.5% that you actually
do. Trying to develop a cell phone tower on a specific
piece of property without knowing where the wireless
carriers need to be is foolish. There is not one tower
company that I am aware of that finds the property first
and then trys to determine where the wireless carriers
need a cell phone tower. Unfortunately, the only people
who know where the wireless carriers need a tower are
the people that work for that wireless carrier. Don't
assume that just because coverge is poor that a cell
phone tower is needed at that location. You could easily
be off a few miles from where the tower is needed. Please
don't contact us to ask us where towers are needed-
if we knew we would build them ourselves. If you have
been approaced by a wireless carrier to lease your land-
that certainly shows that there is a need.
4. Letter of Intent from a Wireless
Carrier In most jurisdictions,
you need a letter of intent from a wireless carrier
to get approval for a tower. If there is no zoning in
your area- we don't suggest building a tower- period.
To get a letter of intent, you must show that you either
own the land or have a ground lease signed with the
landowner permitting you to build a tower.
If you meet all these criteria- the rest is easy. There
are many general contractors who can walk you through
the development process. We would be happy to point
you in the right direction. We have assisted a number
of landowner who needed guidance on the construction
or development of a cell phone tower. We can also review
the financial viability of the project as well as estimate
future lease-up potential for the cell phone tower.
Please do not contact us if you need help finding an
interested wireless carrier. We don't market sites for
landowners. Do not contact us to tell us you have a
great piece of property- we won't answer your email
because its not something we can assist you with.
[ Steel in the
Air]
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