Sutro Tower™ stands 977 feet high on San Francisco’s Mount Sutro, with its base at an elevation of 834 feet. Its highest antennas are 1811 feet above sea level, so clear signals can be transmitted throughout the Bay Area. Its three legs are embedded in 15 million pounds of cement, and its towers are made of 3.5 million pounds of steel.
Sutro Tower™ is owned and operated by Sutro Tower, Inc., a California corporation founded in 1968 by the owners of television stations KTVU, KRON, KPIX and KGO. The licensees of these stations remain the Sutro Tower owners today. The tower houses antennas for the owners, and, under a Federal Communications Commission guidelines, enables equal access for leased antenna space to other local TV stations.
In addition, Sutro Tower, Inc., leases antenna space to radio stations, public agencies, cable and satellite companies, and other telecommunications clients. Those using the tower for communications include law enforcement agencies, emergency first responders, taxi cab companies, transit and para-transit providers, and other public safety agencies and private companies.
Sutro Tower Permits
NEW PERMIT APPROVALS
San Francisco Planning Commission approved in July 2019 the permits to install new TV antennas mandated by the Federal Communications Commission, and to strengthen certain structural elements of the tower. This work will continue into 2021, though Bay Area stations successfully met nationwide go-live deadlines for “repacking” broadcast signals into a smaller portion of the radio frequency spectrum, as 30% of bandwidth previously used by TV stations is shifted to wireless.
New Antennas Project (PDF)
WIND LOAD PERMIT APPLICATION
As a condition of the repacking permit, Sutro Tower, Inc. will comply with building codes that include managing the forces of winds of more than 100 mph. The safest way to meet this requirement is to reduce the tower’s weight and lessen the wind forces. Therefore, Sutro Tower, Inc. has submitted a permit application to the San Francisco Planning Department to remove hundreds of siding panels from the structure’s legs by 2023 – creating “open truss legs” similar to the Eiffel Tower and most bridges.
New Siding Project (PDF)
PREVIOUS BUILDING PERMITS
Sutro Tower received approval from the San Francisco Planning Commission in March 2015 to install additional antennas and for site improvements. Here are the permit applications that were approved:
Building permit for tower modifications (PDF)
In 2016 Sutro Tower received permits to install a low-power FM antenna, to replace three microwave antennas, and to add plants and screens for aesthetic purposes. Here are the proposals:
Sprint-Clearwire Antenna (PDF)
Building Permit #: 2015-12-08-4464
The client replaced three old microwave antennas with three new microwave antennas.
Antenna Screening Project (PDF)
Building Permit Number: 2016-0216-9652
This project proposes to move dish antennas back from the edge of the building and install a translucent screen on the eastern side of the building facing the reservoir.
Antenna Screening Elevation (PDF)
KQEA Low Power FM Antenna (PDF)
Permit Number: 2015-07-21-2069
This client installed one 68-pound antenna on the North leg of the tower at 230 feet above ground.
Landscaping and Appearance (PDF)
This project replaced the trees and shrubs removed in previous years from SFPUC property, restored some plants removed by previously approved projects, and changed some elements of the building to make it more appealing to hikers at Summit Reservoir. Permit Numbers: 2016.02.16.9635, 2016.02.16.9652