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GENERAL PROVISIONS
(A) Purpose. The objective of this section is to protect the purchasers of new residences in this city by requiring the providing of insurance or third-party warranties for the correction of major construction defects or proof that same shall be available at the time the developer closes on the sale of the property with the original purchaser as a condition precedent to the future issuance of a certificate of occupancy for any dwelling in this city, and a bond to insure completion of a residential home.
(B) Requirement of affidavit.
(1) Each person or entity, as a condition to the issuance of a building permit, shall provide the city with an affidavit, signed by the person or a principal of the entity requesting the building permit, in a form prescribed by the City Attorney and available at the Building Department.
(C) Requirements of insurance, warranty, or other security.
(1) To assure the quality of construction in this city and to assure to residents financial resources which may be necessary for the correction of major structural construction defects, the Chief Building Official shall not issue a certificate of occupancy for any dwelling unit until the developer, builder, or general contractor shall first furnish proof to such official of the issuance or guaranteed availability of same at the time the developer closes on the sale of the property with the original purchaser of an insurance policy or insured five-year or greater warranty provided by any VA/FHA approved warranty company and warranty certificate by a company authorized by the Florida Department of Insurance to do business in the state or authorized under applicable federal law, naming as beneficiary the purchaser and his successors and assigns of that dwelling unit and obligating the insurer in a minimum amount equal to the original purchase price of the home to make and pay for all corrections which may be necessary with respect to any major structural defects subject to warranty time limitations.
(2) Insurance policies or warranty certificates issued for condominium units shall be in a form consistent with the Florida Condominium Warranty Statute, to wit, F.S. § 7l8.203.
(3) The developer, builder, or general contractor may in lieu of any insurance policy deposit with the city a good and sufficient bond of the developer, builder, or general contractor approved as to form and substance, by the City Attorney, or a cash deposit, or an irrevocable bank letter of credit, or other collateral approved by the City Commission which shall be held as security for the payment of corrections of construction defects hereinafter defined. Promissory notes shall not be accepted under this section. The bond or letter of credit shall be in an amount equal to $5,000 per individual dwelling unit with a maximum of $100,000 aggregate for all dwelling units constructed by the same developer with any one project. The bond or letter of credit shall be for a term of five years from the date of the certificate of occupancy or shall be issued annually, but provide for an automatic renewal.
(D) The regulations contained herein shall not apply to a single-family home constructed by an owner/builder for his own residence. In order to qualify as an owner/builder, an individual must sign and provide the city with an affidavit in recordable form stating that he shall live in the residence when completed and that he intends to occupy the residence for at least two years. If the owner/ builder moves from the residence within two years of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, he shall be required to provide a bond as required in this section.
(E) Identification and determination of major structured defects.
(1) MAJOR STRUCTURAL DEFECT shall mean any noncompliance with the Florida Building Code, as to any part of the original construction of the building which results in actual physical damage to the following designated load- bearing portions of the residence caused by failure to such load-bearing portions which affect their load- bearing functions to the extent that the residence becomes unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unlivable:
(a) Foundation systems and footings;
(b) Beams;
(c) Girders;
(d) Lintels;
(e) Columns;
(f) Walls and partitions;
(g) Floor systems;
(h) Roof framing system;
(i) Mechanical;
(j) Air conditioning systems;
(k) Plumbing; or
(l) Electrical systems.
(2) The Chief Building Official shall determine whether there have been any major structural defects with respect to the building code or other applicable laws which were existing at the time of the issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
(F) Penalty. Failure to comply with this section shall prohibit the granting of a building permit, or if a building permit is in effect at the time of the passage of this section, no certificate of occupancy shall be issued.
(Ord. 87-6, passed 5-20-87; Am. Ord. 1715, passed 5-2-12)
(A) Purpose of section. The purpose of this section is to protect future residents from the loss of deposits on the purchase of their dwelling by providing for the maintenance of escrow accounts or, in lieu thereof, providing for surety or letters of credit to secure the deposits until closing of the dwelling unit by the purchaser.
(B) Requirement of escrow.
(1) The developer shall be required to place in an escrow account, with a person, firm, or institution having a bona fide fiduciary obligation, all deposits received towards the purchase of any dwelling unit constructed or to be constructed within the city. The deposits shall be released from escrow upon or simultaneously with the closing of the unit.
(2) The developer shall submit to the Chief Building Official, with the developer's application for permit, evidence from the escrow agent that the deposits are placed in an escrow account. If the developer desires to secure a building permit prior to the sale of a dwelling unit, the developer shall deposit with the Chief Building Official a bond as provided in division (B)(3) below. At the time of sale of the unit, the developer may request and the Chief Building Official shall release the bond upon evidence that the deposits have been placed in escrow.
(3) In lieu of placing the purchaser's deposits in escrow, the developer may deposit with the Chief Building Official a bond, approved as to form and substance by the City Attorney, in the form of cash, letter of credit, or other collateral, which shall be held as security for the deposits. That bond shall be in an amount greater than the amount of the deposit or 5% of the selling price of the dwelling unit. Where a developer is building multiple units simultaneously, the aggregate amount of all bonds shall not be required to exceed $100,000 per subdivision. The city shall release the bonds upon the closing of the unit.
(Ord. 87-6, passed 5-20-87; Am. Ord. 1072, passed 5-4-94)
(A) Declaration of intent. The intent of this section is to require property owners whose property is governed by a homeowners' association or condominium association to provide an affidavit indicating their awareness that they may be subject to additional association regulations despite the issuance of a building permit for exterior renovations by the city. This section is intended to protect the city from becoming involved in controversies between property owners and their associations, where property owners may obtain permits from the city for projects inconsistent with the association's regulations. This section is further intended to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the city by ensuring awareness of all proper regulations prior to the issuance of a building permit.
(B) Definitions.
(1) CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION. An association created pursuant to F.S. Chapter 718, to govern and represent the residents of a condominium.
(2) HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION. An association created pursuant to F.S. Chapter 720, to govern and represent the residents of a community.
(C) Affidavit requirement for building permits.
(1) As part of the application process, when applying for a city building permit, every applicant shall sign an affidavit indicating an awareness that if the subject property is located in a homeowner's association or condominium association there may be additional regulations despite the issuance of a permit by the city. Applicants whose subject property is not located within a homeowners' association or condominium association shall submit an affidavit indicating that the subject property is not in such an association and that this section is not applicable.
(2) The Building Department shall, at the applicant's expense, forward by certified mail a copy of the affidavit of awareness to the homeowners' association or condominium association, provided that such association is on the city's master list. The cost of this mailing shall be factored into the city's fees for building permits.
(Ord. 1586, passed 8-1-07)
BUILDING CODE
The city adopts by reference the latest addition of the Florida Building Code, as may be amended from time to time. The provisions of the Florida Building Code, as amended from time to time, shall be in full force and effect in the city to the same extent as though set forth in full herein.
('69 Code, § 6-12) (Ord. 46, passed 11-2-61; Am. Ord. 184, passed 8-19-68; Am. Ord. 1715, passed 5-2-12)
All homes for which building permits were pending at City Hall on January 16, 1978, shall be permitted in accordance with the building code and fee schedule as it existed prior to January 16, 1978. Between January 16, 1978, and February 1, 1978, no builder, developer, or contractor shall be permitted for more homes than he has been permitted for in a pro-rata time period for the next immediate proceeding twelve-month period of time prior to February 1, 1978. For the purpose of this computation, the builder, developer, or contractor shall be authorized additional permits for any homes that he certifies to as having been validly contracted for sale to a bona-fide third party purchaser prior to January 16, 1978.
('69 Code, § 6-24) (Ord. 461, passed 1-16-78; Am. Ord. 1715, passed 5-2-12)
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