Barnesville adopts small-cell wireless ordinance to guide telecom installations

Barnesville’s council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 570 establishing local standards for placement of wireless facilities and small-cell antennas.

City Manager David K. Rose gave the first reading in September and the council adopted the ordinance after a second reading in October. The ordinance establishes permitting and siting rules intended to guide carriers and installers seeking to deploy small-cell equipment on public rights-of-way and private property subject to municipal review.

Council members said the local rules were intended to bring clarity to siting and design while complying with applicable state and federal guidance. The adoption followed similar actions in peer cities to anticipate increasing demand for small-cell capacity.

What’s next: Staff will begin processing applications and coordinating with carriers that propose deployments in rights of way or on city-owned infrastructure.