ORDINANCE NO. 20170817-xxx - City Code Amendments - Public Rights of Way Permitting and Pole Attachments

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Jake

Ordinance amends Chapter 14-11 and 15-7 of the City Code and repeals Chapter 15-8, addressing permitting use of public rights of way and authorization for attaching to city-owned poles within those areas, and declares an emergency. The document provides policy findings on the design purpose of rights of way, safety and appearance preservation, the aesthetic standards for city light poles and signs, and the city’s goal of visually attractive, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes. It also outlines prioritization of wireless network equipment placement to minimize impacts while meeting statutory municipal authority requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages64

Reading Time2 h 41 min

AccessFree to download

Part 1. Findings

Findings (A) through (O)

Part 2

ORDINANCE NO. 20170817-xxx AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14-11 AND 15-7 AND REPEALING CHAPTER 15-8 OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO PERMITTING USE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY AND AUTHORIZATION FOR ATTACHING TO CITY-OWNED POLES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: PART 1. FINDINGS. The Council finds: (A) Public rights-of-way are specifically designed and constructed for the purpose of providing throughways for travel as well as public social space. (B) Public right-of-way is public space designed with a particular look and aesthetic pleasing to the public that allows safe travel, free of unsafe impediments, and engineered to minimize distractions that may cause an unsafe environment for the public. (C) City light poles and City signs set in the in public right-of-way are specifically designed to meet an aesthetic standard that contributes to the aesthetic qualities of the space in and around public rights-of-way and are designed solely to give light to the public space on and above the surface of the right-of-way. (D) It is the policy of the City to preserve the safety and appearance of the City’s public right-of-way. (E) All City light poles existing as of, or to be installed after, September 1, 2017 in the public right-of-way are and will be designed and placed for aesthetic purposes. (F) The City of Austin, consistent with its adopted comprehensive plan, seeks to foster visually attractive, pedestrian-friendly, and active streetscapes for the enjoyment and utilization of City residents, tourists, and the businesses that serve them. As such, several design and historic districts established by ordinance exist throughout the City, including but not limited to: of 64 (1) the Central Business District (CBD); (2) numerous Planned Unit Developments, Neighborhood Conservation Combining Districts, Planned Development Agreements, Master Development Agreements, and small-area Regulating Plans; (3) the Waterfront Overlay District; (4) neighborhoods subject to the Residential Design & Compatibility Standards and/or adopted neighborhood plans; (5) numerous historically significant districts, such as the East 6th/Pecan Street Overlay, Castle Hill Historic District, and general Historic District & Historic Area Combining Districts; (6) the University Neighborhood Overlay District; (7) the Lake Austin Overlay District; (8) the Traditional Neighborhood District; and (9) commercial and multi-family development subject to standards codified as “Design Standards and Mixed Use. Each of the City’s design and historic districts, whether or not specifically listed here, contains decorative poles that enhance and preserve the character, aesthetics, and economic vitality, including property values, of areas covered by the district. (G) The public rights of way are valuable rights in real property that have been acquired or dedicated to the City at great expense to the residents and visitors to the City though public debt, tax revenue, and other public consideration. (H) The cost to the City to acquire public right-of-way is by law the fair market value of real estate.he condition and appearance of public rights of way facilitates a strong local economy and are invaluable to a continued revenue stream generated for Austin and the State of Texas based business and commercial enterprises that depend on the safe and dependable flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. (I) The public rights of way and the City’s traffic signal infrastructure, street lighting, benches, bike racks, trees, and open space within the right-of-way are proprietary to the City of Austin and managed in trust for the benefit of the public. (J) The public right-of-way is for the primary purpose of providing safe an unimpeded travel by the public. (K) The public right-of-way is used only secondarily for the delivery of public utilities, such as water, sewer collection

FAQs

What does the ordinance amend and repeal?

It amends Chapter 14-11 and 15-7 and repeals Chapter 15-8 of the City Code. The changes relate to permitting use of public rights of way and authorizing attachments to city-owned poles in those areas.

What is the purpose of public rights of way under the ordinance’s findings?

Public rights of way are designed for safe throughways for travel and as public social space. The policy emphasizes keeping them free of unsafe impediments and minimizing distractions that could create unsafe conditions.

How does the ordinance prioritize placement of wireless network equipment?

It sets an ordered preference intended to least affect the public right of way: first on or adjacent to existing utility poles, then traffic signal poles, then light poles (excluding decorative poles as determined by the city manager), and finally node support poles.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Jake