Using GIS to Measure the Impact of Distance to Cell Phone Towers on House Prices in Florida

property values – stigma The siting of cellular phone transmitting antennas, their base stations and the towers that support them (towers) is a public concern due to fears of potential health hazards from the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that these devices emit. Negative media attention to the potential health hazards has only fuelled the perception of uncertainty over the health effects. The unsightliness of these structures and fear of lowered property values are other regularly voiced concerns about the siting of these towers. However, the extent to which such attitudes are reflected in lower property values affected by tower proximity is controversial. This paper outlines the results of a study carried out in Florida in 2004 to show the effect that tower proximity has on residential property prices. The study involved an analysis of residential property sales transaction data. Both GIS and multiple regression analysis in a hedonic framework were used to determine the effect of actual distance of homes to towers on residential property prices. The results of the research show that prices of properties decreased by just over 2%, on average, after a tower was built. This effect generally reduced with distance from the tower and was almost negligible after about 200 meters (656 feet). 1