What Are Building Height Limits Around Small Airports?

The Federal Aviation Association regulates not only the airplanes flying in the American skies, but also the airports where these planes take off and land. The primary goal is to make the business of flying safe for everyone involved. One of the regulated items is the height of buildings and other projects near a small airport. The FAA has mandatory requirements for builders and project planners.

Requirements

Any building that is being altered or built to a final height of 200 ft. above the ground must have special notice to the FAA before the building is constructed. The FAA requires notice if the building is within 10,000 feet of an airport that has runways of no more than 3,200 feet long or 5,000 feet from a heliport. An airport with runways longer than 3,200 feet is required to have FAA permission for any building within 20,000 feet of the airport. The FAA does not favor buildings that are 2,000 feet above the ground. You must submit documentation to prove that the building is not a hazard to the airspace and is what the FAA considers "efficient use" of the air.

When to Notify FAA

The FAA requires that the project managers consult with them while in the permitting stage of the project. The required forms must be submitted at least 45 days before the project is to commence, or before the initiation of construction. The only way to get around this 45-day period is to prove that the building is a medical necessity.

Form Requirements

The company must provide a notice to the FAA of the new building. If the agency requests it, the company must then provide another notice before construction and after the building is finished. The FAA requires copies of all permits necessary in order to create the building, including licensing from the Federal Communications Commission if necessary.

Other Construction

The construction of railway of more than 23 feet and a highway that extends between 10 and 17 feet depending on its components require special notice to the FAA. Antennas that extend more than 20 feet in the air near an airport also require notice.

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations Title 14, Part 77, "Safe, Efficient Use and Preservation of Navigable Airspace," National Archives and Records Administration.