§ 401.11. Technical amendments to the Florida Building Code.

Indian River County hereby adopts the following local technical amendments to the Florida Building Code.

Amendment to Sec. 322.2.1, Florida Building Code, Residential:

Modify Sec. R322.2.1 as follows:

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 one-half (½) 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 one-half (½) foot, or at least 2½ 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 flood elevation plus one-half (½) foot 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.

Amendment to Sec. 322.3.2, Florida Building Code, Residential:

Modify Sec. R322.3.2 as follows:

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 one-half (½) 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 design flood elevation shall meet the requirements of Sections R322.3.4 and R322.3.5.

Amendment to 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 ten (10) 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 and determined no sooner than six (6) months before the work is started. For each building or structure, the 10-year period begins on the date of the first improvement or repair of that building or structure subsequent to the effective date of this ordinance. 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 the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure.

(Ord. No. 2012-036, § 5, 11-6-12)