Exhibit 5.1

                       Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.
                          SunTrust International Center
                     One Southeast Third Avenue, 28th Floor
                              Miami, FL 33131-1714



July 27, 2000


SBA Communications Corporation
One Town Center Road
Third Floor
Boca Raton, Fl 33486

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     SBA Communications  Corporation, a Florida corporation (the "Company"), has
filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission a Registration  Statement on
Form S-3, Registration No. 333-41308 (the "Registration  Statement"),  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act").  Such  Registration
Statement  relates to the sale by the  Company of up to  5,750,000  shares  (the
"Shares") of the Company's  Class A common stock,  $.01 par value per share.  We
have acted as counsel to the  Company in  connection  with the  preparation  and
filing of the Registration Statement.

     In connection with the Registration Statement, we have examined, considered
and relied upon copies of the following documents: (1) the Company's Articles of
incorporation and the Company's  Bylaws;  (2) resolutions of the Company's board
of directors  authorizing the  registration of the Shares to be sold and related
matters; (3) the Registration Statement and exhibits thereto; and (4) such other
documents and  instruments  that we have deemed  necessary for the expression of
the opinions  contained  herein.  In making the foregoing  examinations  we have
assumed,  without  investigation,   the  genuineness  of  all  signatures,   the
conformity to authentic original  documents of all documents  submitted to us as
copies,  and the  veracity of the  documents.  As to various  questions  of fact
material  to  the  opinions  expressed  below,  we  have  relied  solely  on the
representations  or certificates of officers and/or directors of the Company and
upon documents,  records and instruments furnished to us by the Company, without
independently verifying the accuracy of such certificates, documents, records or
instruments.








SBA Communications Corporation
July 27, 2000
Page 2
------------------------------

     Based upon the foregoing  examination,  and subject to  qualifications  set
forth  below,  we are of the opinion  that the Shares have been duly  authorized
and, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     Although  we have acted as counsel to the  Company in  connection  with the
preparation and filing of the  Registration  Statement,  our engagement has been
limited to certain  matters  about which we have been  consulted.  Consequently,
there may exist matters of a legal nature involving the Company in which we have
not been consulted and have not represented  the Company.  We express no opinion
as to laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Florida.  The
opinions  expressed  herein  concern only the effect of the laws of the State of
Florida as  currently in effect.  This opinion  letter is limited to the matters
stated  herein and no opinion  may be implied  or  inferred  beyond the  matters
expressly  stated  herein.  The opinions  expressed  herein are given as of this
date,  and we assume no  obligation  to update or  supplement  our  opinions  to
reflect any facts or circumstances  that may come to our attention or any change
in law that may occur or become effective at a later date.

     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus comprising a part of the Registration  Statement.  In
giving such  consent,  we do not thereby  admit that we are included  within the
category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


                                            Sincerely,

                                            AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A.