Malibu Bans New Cell Infrastructure Near Homes

The unanimous vote caps a four-year fight from some residents.

July 28, 2026

New telecom infrastructure is now barred from Malibu's residential neighborhoods, after the City Council unanimously voted to adopt new design standards at last night’s council meeting.

The requirements will effectively ban new cell equipment from Malibu’s residential areas, prohibiting installation within 300 feet of a home. The standards apply to equipment of nearly every size, from cell towers to "small cells," the compact 5G antennas carriers mount on utility poles and streetlights.

It's the small cells that have driven [years of resident complaints](https://malibutimes.com/article_e1755e1a-9ce7-11eb-9849-efb5ccbeccdd) about fire risk, aesthetics and property values.

The new rules apply only to new equipment, which the city hasn’t approved in more than three years.