South Carolina H 3753: Amateur Radio Antenna Protection Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3753 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3753

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS 
BY ENACTING THE "AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA PROTECTION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 
4-1-190 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY MAY NOT ENACT OR ENFORCE CERTAIN 
ORDINANCES THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO THE AMATEUR RADIO PREEMPTION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 
1. This act may 
be cited as the "Amateur Radio Antenna Protection Act."

SECTION 2. (A) The General Assembly finds that:

 (1) 
Amateur radio is a vital public service that provides emergency communications 
during times of disaster and provides a critical link to isolated communities.

 (2) 
Amateur radio operators play a vital role in disaster relief and emergency 
preparedness efforts.

 (3) 
Amateur radio is a valuable hobby and educational tool that promotes science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

 (B) 
The purpose of this act is to protect the right of amateur radio operators to 
install and use antennas on their property.

SECTION 3. Chapter 1, Title 4 of the S.C. 
Code is amended by adding:

 Section 
4-1-190. A county may not enact or enforce an ordinance that fails to conform 
to the Amateur Radio Preemption issued by the Federal Communications Commission. 
An ordinance adopted by a county with respect to amateur radio antennas must 
conform to the Amateur Radio Preemption which states that local ordinances that 
involve placement, screening, or height of antennas based on health, safety, or 
aesthetic considerations must be crafted to reasonably accommodate amateur 
communications and to represent the minimum practicable regulation to 
accomplish the local authority's legitimate purpose.

SECTION 
4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 15, 2025 at 03:47 PM