§ 18-122. Florida Building Code, local technical amendments, flood damage prevention standards.

(a)

Florida Building Code, Building, Chapter 16, Structural Design, Section 1612, Flood Loads.

1612.2 Definitions:

SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Any one or more or combination thereof of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds, over a 1 year period, a cumulative total of 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. If the structure has sustained substantial damage, any repairs are considered substantial improvement regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:

1.

Any project for improvement of a building required to correct existing health, sanitary or safety code violations identified by the building official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions.

2.

Any alteration of a historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure.

(b)

Florida Building Code, Building, Chapter 16, Structural Design, Section 1612, Flood Loads.

1612.4 Design and construction. The design and construction of buildings and structures located in flood hazard areas, including flood hazard areas subject to high-velocity wave action, shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 of ASCE7 and with ASCE24.

1612.4.1 Elevation requirements. The minimum elevation requirements shall be as specified in ASCE 24 or the base flood elevation plus 1 foot, whichever is higher.

(c)

Florida Building Code, Residential, Chapter 3, Building Planning.

Section 322.1.4, Florida Building Code, Residential.

R322.1.4 Establishing the design flood elevation. The design flood elevation shall be used to define areas prone to flooding. At a minimum, the design flood elevation is the higher of:

1.

The base flood elevation at the depth of peak elevation of flooding (including wave height) which has a 1 percent (100-year flood) or greater chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, or

2.

The elevation of the design flood associated with the area designated on a flood hazard map adopted by the community, or otherwise legally designated.

R322.2.1 Elevation requirements.

1.

Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas not designated as Coastal A Zones shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.

2.

Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas designated as Coastal A Zones shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot (305 mm), or to the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.

3.

In areas of shallow flooding (AO Zones), buildings and structures shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated at least as high above the highest adjacent grade as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM plus 1 foot, or at least 3 feet (914 mm) if a depth number is not specified.

4.

Basement floors that are below grade on all sides shall be elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.

Exception: Enclosed areas below the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher, including basements whose floors are not below grade on all sides, shall meet the requirements of Section R322.2.2.

R322.3.2 Elevation requirements.

1.

All buildings and structures erected within coastal high-hazard areas shall be elevated so that the lowest portion of all structural members supporting the lowest floor, with the exception of mat or raft foundations, piling, pile caps, columns, grade beams and bracing, is:

1.1

Located at or above the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher, if the lowest horizontal structural member is oriented parallel to the direction of wave approach, where parallel shall mean less than or equal to 20 degrees (0.35 rad) from the direction of approach, or

1.2

Located at the base flood elevation plus 1 foot (305 mm), or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher, if the lowest horizontal structural member is oriented perpendicular to the direction of wave approach, where perpendicular shall mean greater than 20 degrees (0.35 rad) from the direction of approach.

2.

Basement floors that are below grade on all sides are prohibited.

3.

The use of fill for structural support is prohibited.

4.

Minor grading, and the placement of minor quantities of fill, shall be permitted for landscaping and for drainage purposes under and around buildings and for support of parking slabs, pool decks, patios and walkways.

Exception: Walls and partitions enclosing areas below the base flood elevation plus 1 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher, shall meet the requirements of Sections R322.3.4 and R322.3.5.

(d)

Florida Building Code, Existing Building, Chapter 2, Definitions.

Section 202, General Definitions:

SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Any one or more or combination thereof of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds, over a 1 year period, a cumulative total of 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. If the structure has sustained substantial damage, any repairs are considered substantial improvement regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:

1.

Any project for improvement of a building required to correct existing health, sanitary or safety code violations identified by the building official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions.

2.

Any alteration of a historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure.

(Ord. No. 14-20, § 6, 8-19-14)