(a) The Florida Building Code and the Florida Residential Building Code, current editions as mandated by the Florida Legislature and published by the Florida Building Commission, are hereby adopted by reference and incorporated herein, as if fully set out.
(b) The Board of Adjustment shall serve as the Board of Adjustment and appeals for this code.
(c) Wind speed zones. The following wind speed zones are hereby established for the entire Town:
(1) One hundred fifty (150) mph Vult for Risk Category I Buildings.
(2) One hundred sixty (160) mph Vult for Risk Category II Buildings.
(3) One hundred seventy (170) mph Vult for Risk Category III and IV Buildings.
(d) Wind exposure categories. The following wind exposure category is hereby established for the entire Town: Exposure “C.”
(e) Wind debris region. All of the Town is in the wind debris region.
(f) The following administrative amendments to the Florida Building Code, Building, are hereby adopted.
Sec. 107.6.1, Florida Building Code, Building
(1) Add a new Sec. 107.6.1 as follows:
107.6.1 Building permits issued on the basis of an affidavit. Pursuant to the requirements of federal regulation for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (44 C.F.R. Sections 59 and 60), the authority granted to the building official to issue permits, to rely on inspections, and to accept plans and construction documents on the basis of affidavits and plans submitted pursuant to Section 105.14 and Section 107.6, shall not extend to the flood load and flood resistance construction requirements of the Florida Building Code.
Sec. 117, Florida Building Code, Building
(2) Add a new Sec. 117 as follows:
117 VARIANCES IN FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
117.1 Flood hazard areas. Pursuant to section 553.73(5), Florida Statutes, the variance procedures adopted in the local floodplain management regulations in this code shall apply to requests submitted to the building official for variances to the provisions of Section 1612.4 of the Florida Building Code, Building or, as applicable, the provisions of R322 of the Florida Building Code, Residential. This section shall not apply to Section 3109 of the Florida Building Code, Building.
(g) The following technical amendments to the Florida Building Code, Residential, are hereby adopted.
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 1.5 feet 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), building and structures shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated at least as high as the highest adjacent grade as the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM plus 1.5 feet, or at least 3.5 feet 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 floor elevation plus 1.5 feet or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.
Exception: Enclosed areas below the design flood elevation, 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 1.5 feet 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 2.5, 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 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: Walks and partitions enclosing areas below the design flood elevation shall meet the requirements of Section R322.3.4 and R322.3.5.
(h) The following technical amendments to the Florida Building Code, Building, is hereby adopted.
Sec. 1612.2. Florida Building Code, Building
Modify a definition as follows:
Substantial improvement. Any combination of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a building or structure, taking place during a 2-year period, the cumulative cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building or structure before the improvement or repair is started. For each building or structure, the 2-year period begins on the date of the first improvement or repair of that building or structure subsequent to October 26, 1988. If the structure has incurred "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.
(i) The following technical amendments to the Florida Building Code, Existing Building, is hereby adopted.
Sec. 202, Florida Building Code, Existing Building
Modify a definition as follows:
Substantial improvement. Any combination of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a building or structure, taking place during a 2-year period, the cumulative cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building or structure before the improvement or repair is started. For each building or structure, the 2-year period begins on the date of the first improvement or repair of that building or structure subsequent to October 26, 1988. If the structure has incurred "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.
(`75 Code, § 9-3) (Ord. 74-2, passed 3-26-74; Am. Ord. 80-6, passed 4-22-80; Am. Ord. 80-17, passed 11-11-80; Am. Ord. 83-4, passed 8-23-83; Am. Ord. 92-10, passed 1-20-93; Am. Ord. 96-03, passed 4-17-96; Am. Ord. 98-03, passed 4-15-98; Am. Ord. 2008-03, adopted 3-19-08; Am. Ord. 2014-01, adopted 2-19-14; Am. Ord. 2017-05, adopted 12-20-17)