Exhibit 5.1

                  Opinion of Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.
               regarding the validity of the Class A common stock

                                  May 10, 2002

SBA Communications Corporation
5900 Broken Sound Parkway NW
Boca Raton, Florida 33487

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         SBA Communications Corporation, a Florida corporation (the "Company"),
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 11, 2001, a Shelf
Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-71460 (the "Shelf
Registration Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). Such Shelf Registration Statement relates to the offering by
the Company of up to 5,000,000 shares of the Company's Class A common stock,
$.01 par value per share (the "Class A Common Stock"). We have acted as counsel
to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Shelf
Registration Statement and the issuance of 728,509 shares (the "Shares") of
Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in connection
with an acquisition and the fulfillment of the Company's earn-out obligations
under previously closed acquisitions.

         In so acting, we have examined originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, records,
certificates and other instruments of the Company as in our judgment are
necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

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

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Shelf Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Shelf 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.

                                   /s/ Akerman, Senterfitt & Eidson, P.A.