Church Cell Tower Leases and Zoning Laws

Kevin Donohue spent decades building networks for wireless companies before switching sides to represent landowners through his work with Tower Genius—a consultant firm that helps churches, businesses, and private citizens with lease agreements. He spoke with us about navigating local zoning laws.

Wireless companies have been setting up cell towers since the early 1990s. Have they always been interested in leasing land from churches?

For the first six or seven years of wireless, I wasn’t aware of any churches being approached. Then, when wireless companies needed to fill in areas, they started looking at existing structures—like church steeples. The need for towers died down for a while, but it’s starting to pick up again. I think you’re going to see more churches being approached.