Does an airport have to have an operating control tower to be classified as being within Class C airspace?

Is an "operating" control tower an "Absolute Must" for the airspace around an airport to be considered as Class C airspace?

Does an airport have to have an operating control tower to be classified as being within Class C airspace?
An airport with an operating control tower will almost always be surrounded by Class B, C, or D airspace.





Control Zones:


Many people often refer to this airspace as a control zone. Though no longer an official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) term, our interactive airspace map will show you all of the control zones surrounding America's Class B (shown in blue) and C (shown in magenta) airports.


Class C Airspace is the airspace from the surface to 4,000 feet above the airport elevation. Class C airspace will only be found at airports that have an operational control tower, are serviced by a radar approach control, and that have a certain number of IFR operations.