(A) Design and construction of buildings, structures and facilities exempt from the Florida Building Code. Pursuant to § 154.04(B), buildings, structures, and facilities that are exempt from the Florida Building Code, including substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage of such buildings, structures and facilities, shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the flood load and flood resistant construction requirements of ASCE 24. Structures exempt from the Florida Building Code that are not walled and roofed buildings shall comply with the requirements of § 154.56.
(B) Buildings and structures seaward of the coastal construction control line. If extending, in whole or in part, seaward of the coastal construction control line and also located, in whole or in part, in a flood hazard area:
(1) Buildings and structures shall be designed and constructed to comply with the more restrictive applicable requirements of the Florida Building Code, Building Section 3109 and Section 1612 or Florida Building Code, Residential Section R322.
(2) Minor structures and non-habitable major structures as defined in F.S. § 161.54, shall be designed and constructed to comply with the intent and applicable provisions of this chapter and ASCE 24.
(C) Specific methods of construction and requirements. Pursuant to Broward County Administrative Provisions for the Florida Building Code, the following specific methods of construction and requirements apply:
(1) Minimum building elevations.
(a) Residential buildings. New construction and substantial improvement of residential buildings shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the elevation required in the Florida Building Code, Residential or Florida Building Code, Building, as applicable, or at least 18 inches above the highest point of the crown of all streets adjacent to the plot upon which such buildings are located or in accordance with a system or method of design admitting of rational analysis in accordance with well-established principles of mechanics and sound engineering practices as determined by the Director, Public Utilities.
(b) Nonresidential buildings. New construction and substantial improvement of nonresidential buildings shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated or dry floodproofed to or above the elevation required in the Florida Building Code, Building or at least six inches above the highest point of the crown of all streets adjacent to the plot upon which such buildings are located or in accordance with a system or method of design admitting of rational analysis in accordance with well-established principles of mechanics and sound engineering practices as determined by the Director, Public Utilities.
(2) Minimum lot elevation - finished grade. The minimum lot elevation after finished grading shall not be less than the crown of the adjacent street or top of sidewalk, whichever is higher. Lots shall be provided with drainage facilities as required by the Florida Building Code, to avoid drainage onto adjoining properties. The finished grade at the perimeter of residential buildings shall be a minimum of six inches below the minimum building elevation as specified in this section.
(3) Limitations on enclosed areas below elevated buildings. For buildings in special flood hazard areas, the following limitations apply to enclosed areas below elevated buildings:
(a) Access shall be the minimum necessary to allow for only parking of vehicles (garage door), limited storage of maintenance equipment in connection with the premises (standard exterior door), or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator).
(b) The interior portion shall not be temperature controlled, partitioned, or finished into separate rooms.
(4) Cumulative substantial improvement. In the Florida Building Code, Building and the Florida Building Code, Existing Building, definitions for the term "Substantial Improvement" shall be as follows:
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Any combination of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure taking place during a five-year period, the cumulative cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. For each building or structure, the five-year period begins on the date of the first improvement or repair of that building or structure. 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 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.
(D) Accessory structures. Accessory structures are permitted below the base flood elevation provided the accessory structures are used only for parking and storage and:
(1) Are located in special flood hazard areas (Zone A/AE) other than coastal high hazard areas, are one story and not larger than 600 sq. ft.
(2) Have flood openings in accordance with Section R.322.2 of the Florida Building Code, Residential.
(3) If located in coast high hazard areas (Zone VA/E), are not located below elevated buildings and are not larger than 100 sq. ft.
(4) Are anchored to resist flotation, collapse or lateral movement resulting from flood loads.
(5) Have flood damage-resistant materials used below the base flood elevation plus one foot.
(6) Have mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems, including plumbing fixtures, elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot.
(Ord. O-2014-13, passed 7-16-14; Am. Ord. O-2020-04, passed 2-19-20; Am. Ord. O-2021-17, passed 10-6-21)