- New support poles and transport facilities in the City Right of Way need to use TPW pole attachment application.
- Applicants must use the Small Cell Site Plan Node Template.
Images depicting the current and proposed condition of the site must be included in the site plan or submitted separately.
Wireless Provider Registration
Wireless providers should follow these steps prior to applying for Small Cell permits.
- Download, complete, notarize, and return the Wireless Provider Questionnaire.
- Download, sign, and return two copies of the Pole Attachment Agreements to each department.
- Provide a Certificate of Insurance to complete the registration process.
Return the Wireless Provider Questionnaire to April Sellers Oldag in the Development Services office by email or mail.
- Email: April Sellers Oldag
- Mail:
City of Austin Development Services Department
ATTN: April Sellers Oldag
P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767
Pole Attachment Agreements must be signed, original copies. Electronic versions will not be accepted.
- Provide a return address with the agreements; one fully executed agreement will be returned to the wireless provider.
- For Traffic Signal Poles (Transportation and Public Works Department), mail to City of Austin Transportation and Public Department ROW Management, ATTN: Ryan Mooney, P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767.
- For Utility and Streetlight Poles (Austin Energy), mail to Austin Energy, ATTN: Pole Attachment Services Program Manager, 4815 Mueller Blvd., Austin, TX 78723.
Certificates of Insurance should be uploaded with the Wireless Provider Questionnaire.
- Minimum Insurance Requirements:
- Commercial General Liability coverage in the minimum amount of $2,000,000 per occurrence.
- Worker's Compensation coverage with statutory benefits as set forth in the Texas Worker's Compensation Act and Employer's Liability coverage of not less than $1,000,000 bodily injury per accident, $1,000,000 bodily injury per disease, and $1,000,000 per disease per employee.
- Business Automobile Liability Insurance for all owned, non-owned, and hired vehicles with a minimum combined single limit of $1,000,000.
Third-party providers may not submit or obtain rights-of-way permits without providing copies of their agreement with a wireless provider. The terms and conditions of the agreement may be redacted as necessary.
Third-party agreements can be sent via mail or email to April Sellers Oldag at the Development Services Department.
The City of Austin recommends that wireless providers conduct a feasibility review for all potential Small Cell node sites before submitting a permit application. This step is optional. Node sites will not be reserved until the permit is submitted.
- Carrier Name
- Address or Intersection
- Corner Identity
- GPS Coordinates
- Photo depicting the current condition of the proposed site
- Map of site
- Proposed pole type for new self-supporting poles, including height (if applicable)
- Pole number (if applicable)
Once the request has been submitted, site availability and a power review will be done. Comments will be returned to the contact email provided.
Follow the steps below to view all pending and active Small Cell sites.
- Select the Layer List button in the top left corner
- Turn off all existing layers
- Select Pole Attachments
- You may then query by GPS coordinates or address
A site plan for the installation of network nodes, node support poles, and/or transport facilities is required with the permit application. Guidelines for small cell engineering site plans are in the Design Guideline, TPW Traffic Signal Pole Standard Detail, and TPW Approved Lower Shroud Design. Applicants are also encouraged to review the City of Austin's TPW Transportation Criteria Manual for traffic signal poles and Austin Energy's Utility Criteria Manual. Contact COASmallCell@Austintexas.gov for any questions regarding guidelines for Small Cell engineering site plans.
Applicants must submit an Electronic Service Planning Application to Austin Energy prior to applying for a Small Cell permit. This begins the Austin Energy design phase. A quote will be sent to the applicant, and once payment has been made, the design will be finalized and returned to the applicant.
Applicants must submit a request to obtain a 9-1-1 address prior to submitting a Small Cell permit application. For the type of address, select Small Cell Antenna.
Applicants should contact each of the City Departments below for maps of infrastructure and requirements to incorporate into their site plans:
Small Cell Construction ProcessOffice Point of Contact Austin Energy PAOperations@austinenergy.com Watershed Protection Reyes Camacho Development Services April Sellers Street & Bridge Saroj Thapa Austin Traffic Signals Lance Cooper Austin Chilled Water Downtown Darron Ross Austin Chilled Water Mueller Energy Center Barrett Story Austin Chilled Water Domain Whitney Moyer Urban Design Salvatore Saluga Traffic Control Traffic Control Review Austin Water Eli Pruit Parks & Recreation Robynne Heymans Corridor Program Greg Pepper Right-of-Way staff will issue all excavation and temporary-use permits in the right-of-way after a Small Cell permit is approved. These permits are provided to the general contractor overseeing the deployment of a wireless provider’s Small Cell installation. Once all permits are received, the general contractor must submit a pre-construction (pre-con) meeting request.
Pre-Construction Checklist:
A pre-con meeting must be scheduled prior to starting any construction. Applicant should prepare for this meeting by:
- Calling Texas 8-1-1 with a request to locate underground utility lines at the site
- Compiling the following documents to submit with their pre-con meeting request:
- Approved Small Cell Permit Site Plan
- Approved Traffic Control Plan
- Approved Right-of-Way Permits
- Approved Austin Energy Work Order Design
Visit the ROW Management webpage for further information on working in the right of way.
If your work will involve a right-of-way closure, please notify Austin 3-1-1 (or 512-974-2000) three (3) days before starting construction.
- Review Austin 3-1-1 Notification Guidelines (PDF) if unsure when to contact them.
Network Node Application Fees:
Austin Traffic Signal Pole (1-5) $500 for first 5 nodes Austin Traffic Signal Pole (over 5) $250 for each node over 5 Austin Energy Utility Pole (1-5) $500 for first 5 nodes Austin Energy Utility Pole (over 5) $250 for each node over 5 Other Pole (1-5) $500 for first 5 nodes Other Pole (over 5) $250 for each node over 5 Transport Facility (1-5) $500 for first 5 nodes Transport Facility (over 5) $250 for each node over 5 Node Support Pole Application Fees:
New Support Pole - TPW $1000 per pole New Support Pole - AE $1000 per pole New Stand-Alone Pole $1000 per pole Other Fees:
Pro-rated Annual ROW Usage $20.83 per month Annual ROW Usage $250 per node, annually Annual TPW Pole Rental $20 per node, annually Annual AE Pole Rental $20 per node, annually Monthly Transfer Facility ROW Usage $28 per month Mapping Resources
City of Austin Mobility Map: This interactive map details upcoming mobility projects. Use this tool to plan the site construction schedule.
COA Jurisdictions Web Map: This map identifies the Right of Way Jurisdiction by address.
FAQs
Can I install Small Cell equipment in Zilker Metropolitan Park?Zilker Metropolitan Park is unique because none of the roads within its boundaries are considered right-of-way (ROW), they are park roads, including Barton Springs Road from MoPac Expressway to Barton Creek. As such, this section of roadway is protected under the City Charter, Article II, Section 7, as well as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Title 3, Chapter 26. Permitting small cell equipment along this section of Barton Springs Road or any other road within Zilker Metropolitan Park would therefore constitute an encroachment onto parkland in violation of said protections and the requirements in the City of Austin’s Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM).
The Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM) does not allow Small Cell Equipment within the parkland. TCM 12.7.2.4 states, “No Encroachment Into Municipal Parks. No part of a node, node support pole, transport facility, or associated network equipment may be permitted that encroaches into a municipal park beyond the right-of-way line as that line is established of record by deed or plat. No part of a node, node support pole, transport facility, or associated network equipment may occupy the area on, above, or below that part of an improved or unimproved pedestrian path that extends beyond a right-of-way line, as that line is established of record by deed or plat."
Can I install Small Cell equipment in residential neighborhoods?
TCM 14-11-193 (G) - A network provider may not install a node support pole in a public right-of-way adjacent to a street or thoroughfare not more than 50 feet wide running adjacent to residential lots or structures. For the purposes of this subsection, the width of a street or thoroughfare is measured to exclude that portion designated for bicycle or pedestrian traffic.
However, Small Cell equipment can be installed on existing poles within a residential neighborhood or multi-family dwelling with pole owner approval.
Can I submit my transport fiber permit through the General Permit process?
Yes, if you have an Annual Permit. An Annual General Permit is a pre-existing agreement between an organization and the City of Austin's General Permit program. Larger scopes of work are reviewed and permitted as Formal General Permit Applications.
If you have a smaller project with a maximum work limit of 3000 s.f. or a maximum of 300 l.f. it is reviewed and permitted as a General Permit Exemption unless otherwise specified in the department stakeholder’s Annual General Permit. Learn more on the General Permits webpage .
Is AULCC required?
No, AULCC is not required. The Small Cell process was designed to include the AULCC City Departments as part of the Small Cell review process.
Does the Small Cell node permit expire?
Yes, The Small Cell node permits expire at the end of each year. However, applicants can pay annual usage fees for up to five (5) years in advance. Renewal invoices are sent out each December for the following year.
Are Telecommunication Cell Towers considered Small Cell?
No, Cell Towers are permitted by the Office of Real Estate Services Department if the towers are within the ROW or on City-owned property.
A Site Plan permit is required if the Cell Tower does not meet those requirements. Cell towers are permitted through the Site Plan process .
Are Roof Top Telecommunication Cell Towers considered Small Cell?
No, Roof Top Cell Towers require a Site Plan Exemption. Learn more on the Commercial Plan Review webpage .
