Pursuant to Broward County Administrative Provisions for the Florida Building Code, the following specific methods of construction and requirements apply:
(A) Additional elevation (freeboard). The minimum lowest floor elevation, or level of dry floodproofing, of any residential, nonresidential, commercial, or industrial structure shall be at or above the highest of the following:
(1) Six and one-half feet above the datum shown on the FIRM (N.A.V.D.).
(2) Minimum floor elevation as set forth in the South Florida Water Management Districts' Surface water management permit.
(3) The elevation shown on the 100-year Flood Elevation Map, Latest Revision, prepared by the Broward County Transportation Department.
(4) Eighteen inches above the highest point of the paved roadway/drive-lane nearest to the building, except for buildings adjacent to Pines Boulevard.
(5) Two feet above the base flood elevation shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map.
(6) Exceptions to the above criteria are permitted for repairs, additions or modifications to existing structures provided the improvements are constructed at or above the existing lowest floor elevation, the lowest floor elevation of the improvement is a minimum 6.5 feet above the datum shown on the FIRM (N.A.V.D.), and the repairs or improvements are valued at less than 50% of the market value of the building prior to improvements or repairs.
(B) Enclosures below elevated buildings.
(1) Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises (standard exterior door) or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator).
(2) The interior portion of such enclosed area shall not be partitioned or finished into separate rooms.
(C) 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 ten-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 ten-year period begins on the date of the first improvement or repair of that building or structure subsequent to May 4, 1994. 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) Design and compaction of fill. In addition to the requirements of the Florida Building Code, the following shall apply to fill used to elevated buildings in flood hazard areas:
(1) Fill shall be designed and compacted in accordance with ASTM D-698 or equivalent;
(2) Fill shall extend beyond the building walls before dropping below the base flood elevation;
(3) Fill shall be protected from erosion and scour; and
(4) Designs for fill or use of an equivalent standard shall be approved by a registered professional engineer or the City Engineer.
(Ord. 1775, passed 5-7-14)