This Article shall be subject to all other provisions of Division 9, except as may be otherwise specifically set out herein.

a) Heliport, Unlimited Use, shall mean any land area used by helicopters and includes the landing pad plus all necessary passenger and cargo facilities, maintenance, overhaul, fueling, service, storage, tie-down areas, hangars and other buildings and open spaces necessary for the operation of complete facility.

b) Heliport, Limited Use, shall mean landing area used for the landing and taking off of helicopters, including all necessary passenger and cargo facilities and fueling.

c) Helistop, Unlimited Use, shall mean any landing area used for the landing and taking off of helicopters for the purpose of picking up or discharging of passengers or cargo. No fueling, refueling, or service facilities shall be permitted. This facility may be established on a rooftop.

d) Helistops, Limited Use, shall mean any landing area used for the purpose of taking off or landing of private helicopters for the purpose of picking up and discharging of passengers or cargo. This facility shall not be open to use by any helicopter unless prior permission has been obtained from the owner. This facility may be established on a rooftop. No fueling, refueling or service facilities shall be permitted.

a) Heliport, Limited and Unlimited Use. The minimum landing area for each of the heliports defined in Section 98.1.2. shall be two hundred (200) by two hundred (200) feet. This shall not include tiedown facilities, taxiways, terminal buildings, parking areas, service areas and other necessary facilities.

b) Helistops, Limited and Unlimited Use. Minimum landing area for each of the helistops defined in Section 98.1.2. shall be one hundred (100) by one hundred (100) feet. If erected on a building the minimum landing area shall be forty (40) by forty (40) feet or 1.5 times the dimension of the plan view silhouette of the vehicles, whichever is greater.

a) Approach to a heliport or helistop shall be sufficiently clear of obstructions to provide a slope of 1:8 (approximately 7% measured from the horizontal). Two (2) such approaches shall be available at least 90 degrees removed from each other

b) The descending approach zone shall be subject to the approval of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and the Planning Commission of the City of Torrance.

c) Approach zones and landing areas in close proximity to overhead utility transmission lines shall only be approved if it can be demonstrated that such areas are not unreasonably hazardous.

a) Landing areas shall, as far as practicable, be aligned with regard to prevailing winds and/or air turbulence.

b) The area used for landing shall be surfaced with material that will be free of dust, loose organic or inorganic materials, and particles of concrete which may be blown about by the down-blast of air of the rotor or rotors.

c) Touchdown areas shall be surrounded by a fence or wall at least four (4) feet high and constructed in such a manner as to deflect the horizontal wind velocities caused by the rotation of the rotor blades.

d) In addition, the following safety precautions shall be taken:

1) Rooftop facilities:

A) On all touchdown or landing areas, whether elevated or flush with the roof, provisions shall be made for collecting volatile substance which may be spilled in event of any emergency. Separator or clarifier tanks for collecting spilled volatile substance shall be installed under approval and supervision of the Torrance Fire Department.

B) The rooftop shall have at least two (2) conforming exits and they shall be located in such a manner as to permit safe exit from the roof area in the event one of the exits is blocked.

C) A wind indicating device shall be installed. A flag, banner or similar device shall be acceptable.

D) Two or more wet standpipes shall be provided and equipped with 1-½ inch rubber lined fire hoses not over one hundred (100) feet in length. Hoses shall be equipped with combination fog nozzles. Sufficient pressure shall be available to afford a good fog pattern. Hose cabinets or racks shall be located near the separate exits. Standpipe outlets shall be so located that all portions of the roof area shall be within one hundred twenty (120) feet of the outlet.

E) Two (2) fire extinguishers of a least 16BC rating shall be provided, and be located remotely from each other.

F) No rooftop obstructions which may be difficult to see from the air shall be permitted within the required glide slope.

G) Such lights as are installed to illuminate the touchdown pad shall be directed onto the touchdown pad only, and in such a manner that the light rays cannot interfere with the helicopter pilots’s vision or with other aircraft flying within the area of the landing facility.

H) No person shall be permitted in the general landing area in any location where any portion of his body higher than the touchdown area surface while landing or takeoff operations are underway.

I) Approved means of communication such as telephone, radio, fire alarm box, or signaling device shall be provided adjacent to the landing area.

J) If the roof has no parapet wall, a substantial fence shall be provided around the perimeter of the roof to insure the safety of all persons.

K) Rooftop facilities shall be built in accordance with the City Building Code as applicable for structural and fire protective requirements.

2) Ground Level Helistops and Heliports for Helicopters:

A) All installed light shall illuminate and be directed onto the touchdown pad only, and in such a manner that the light rays cannot interfere with the pilot’s vision.

B) A wind indicating device shall be installed. A flag, banner, or similar device shall be acceptable.

C) Unauthorized persons shall not be permitted in the general landing area during flight operations.

D) Two (2) fire extinguishers of at least 16BC rating shall be provided and be located remotely from each other.

E) Where buildings or structures in proximity to the landing area present a fire exposure hazard, there shall be provided at least two (2) 1-½ inch wet standpipe outlets equipped with 1-½ inch fire hoses not over one hundred (100) feet in length, and a combination fog nozzle.

F) Approved means of communication such as telephone, radio, fire alarm box or signaling device shall be provided adjacent to the landing area.

e) A detailed sire plan shall be submitted showing all safety precautions, parking area layout, landscaping along the street frontages, type and size of aircraft proposed for use, and approach and departure lanes.

f) Landing Markers. All landing markers shall conform to those recommended by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).

1) Rooftop Markings. The bulls eye type of marker shall be used for rooftop helistops. The painted border line marking the takeoff and landing area may be a solid or broken line. The outer circle of the bulls eye shall be inscribed within the touchdown area, whose sides should be tangent to the circle. The dimensions of the bulls eye marker shall be determined by the size of the touchdown area. Each rooftop heliport shall be painted with the bulls eye, by means of numerals not less than two (2) feet in height, the maximum gross weight in thousands of pounds of the equipment which the roof is stressed to accept.

2) Ground Markers. The day marker shall be substantially in the form recommended by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).

g) The Touchdown Area. The touchdown area (as opposed to the landing area) for helicopters under 3500 pounds shall have a minimum dimension of twenty (20) by twenty (20) feet. Touchdown areas for helicopters over 3500 pounds shall be a minimum of 1-½ times the diameter of the rotor blades.

a) Heliports unlimited shall be permitted only in the M-2 zone and at the Torrance Municipal Airport.

b) Heliports limited shall be permitted only in the M-1 and M-2 zones.

c) Helistops unlimited shall be permitted in the following zones; C-3, C-4, C-5, M-1 and M-2. In addition, a helistop may be established in commercial areas which exist in C-1 or C-2 zones.

Unfavorable consideration may be given if warranted to proposed helistops which require approach lanes over residential areas, or which create excessive noise in residential areas because of low approach or departure paths. If it is deemed necessary that a helistop be located in such a way so that approaches over a residential area are unavoidable, the Commission may set limits on time and/or frequency of use. Such a condition may be expected to occur at hospital sites, post offices or fire stations.

d) Helistops limited shall be permitted in the following zones; C-3, C-4, C-5, M-1 and M-2. In addition, a helistop may be established in C-1 and C-2 zone commercial areas, and at post offices, fire stations, and hospitals (which are first permitted in the R-4 zone). Unfavorable consideration may be given if warranted to proposed helistops which require approach zones over residential areas, or which create excessive noise in residential areas because of a low-lying landing pad.

e) The Conditional Use Permit, if granted, shall prescribe limitations regarding hours of use, types of helicraft and intensity of use.

Special landing permits at sites other than established heliports or helistops may be granted in the case of a special necessary or event. Such permit shall be obtained through the City Manager and shall fulfill the minimum requirements of the limited use helistop. Such sites shall be inspected by the Fire Department prior to use. These permits shall be allowed at ground elevation only.

(Amended by O-1854)

a) It shall be unlawful for the owner, or person in control of any property to install, maintain or operate thereon, a heliport as defined herein, without first having obtained the appropriate license from the State of California.

b) It shall be unlawful for the owner, or person in control of any property to install, maintain, or operate thereon, a heliport as defined herein, without first having filed the proper documents therefor with the Federal Aviation Agency.

c) It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in control of any property to install, maintain, or operate thereon a heliport or helistop as defined herein without first having obtained from the City:

1) A City business license for the operation of a heliport or helistop in addition to any other business license required;

2) A conditional use permit therefor;

d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to that certain area of the Torrance Municipal Airport designated as the “Aeronautical Area” as delineated on the Torrance Airport print dated February 6, 1968, and marked Exhibit “A”, on file in the office of the Planning Director.

Any person, firm or corporation holding an operational permit for a helicopter facility shall, as a condition for such permit remaining in effect, carry or cause to be carried in full force and effect at all times, insurance insuring against all liabilities, judgements, costs, damages and expenses which may accrue against, or be charged to or recovered from such permit holder by reason of or on account of damage to the property of, injury to, or death of any person arising from use and occupancy of and operations at the helicopter landing or operational site by the said permit holder or other. This insurance shall be carried with a bona fide insurer authorized to do business in the State of California. The policy or policies shall be presented to the City Clerk for review and shall be kept up to date and on file for the duration of the Conditional Use Permit. They shall be in the following kinds and minimum accounts:
Comprehensive Public Liability Insurance:

a) $100,000 per person

b) $1,000,000 per accident
Comprehensive Property Damage Insurance:

a) $1,000,000 per accident.