162-86 ORDINANCE NO. 162-86
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 9, "BUILD-
INGS AND CONSTRUCTION", OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA REPEALING ARTICLE
XIX, "COASTAL CONSTRUCTION CODE"; BY ENACTING A NEW
ARTICLE XIX, "COASTAL CONSTRUCTION CODE:, TO PROVIDE
A TITLE, TO PROVIDE A GENERAL PURPOSE, TO PROVIDE
FOR THE APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE OF THE COASTAL
CONSTRUCTION CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR EXCEPTIONS TO
APPLICABILITYv TO PROVIDE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR
PERMITS, TO PROVIDE FOR DEFINITIONS, TO PROVIDE
GENERALLY FOR COASTAL CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS, TO
PROVIDE FOR STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF MAJOR STRUC-
TURES, TO PROVIDE FOR DESIGN CONDITIONS, TO PROVIDE
FOR STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NONHABITABLE MAJOR
STRUCTURES, TO PROVIDE FOR STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR MINOR STRUCTURES, TO PROVIDE FOR LOCATION OF
CONSTRUCTION, TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, AND TO
PROVIDE REFERENCES FOR ASSISTANCE IN DETERMINING
DESIGN PARAMETERS AND METHODOLOGIES FOR COMPLIANCE;
PROVIDING A GENERAL REPEALER; PROVIDING A SAVING
CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Delray Beach, Florida
wishes to implement those provisions of the "Coastal Zone Protection Act
of 1985" as revised in 1986; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Community Affairs has developed a
model coastal construction code which fulfills the requirements of the
new law; and,
WHEREAS, each affected local government must adopt its own
coastal building code prior to January 1, 1987; and,
WHEREAS, this model code is the product of a working group
comprised of engineering, architectural, and construction interests,
local government interests, commercial interests, state agencies,
environmental interests, and others; and,
WHEREAS, the Coastal Zone Protection Act of 1985 has undergone
some slight revision in the 1986 Legislative session; this model code is
the embodiment of the best implementation of the Act at this time for
all concerned interests.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
~ That Chapter 9, "Buildings and Construction",
Article XIX, "Coastal Construction Code", of the Code of Ordinances, of
the City of Delray Beach, Florida, be and the same is hereby repealed in
its entirety.
~ That Chapter 9, "Building and Construction" of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of Delray Beach, Florida is hereby
amended by enacting a new Article XIX, "Coastal Construction Code",. to
read as follows:
ARTICLE XIX. THE COASTAL CONSTRUCTION CODE
SectiOn 9-590. Title
The provisions contained herein shall constitute the Coastal
Construction Code for construction within the coastal building
zone in the City of Delray Beach, Florida, and shall be referred
to as the "Coastal Code".
Section 9-591. General Purpose
The purpose of the Coastal Code is to provide minimum standards
for the design and construction of buildings and structures to
reduce the harmful effects of hurricanes and other severe storms
occurring along the coastal area of the City of Delray Beach,
Florida which fronts on the Atlantic Ocean. These standards are
intended to specifically address design features which affect the
structural stability of the beach, dunes, and topography of
adjacent properties. The Coastal Code is site specific to the
coastal building zone as defined herein and is not applicable to
other locations. In the event of a conflict between this chapter
and other chapters of this code, the requirements resulting in
the more restrictive design shall apply. No provisions in this
chapter shall be construed to permit any construction in any area
prohibited by city, county, state or federal regulation.
Section 9-592. - Applicability and Scope
The requirements of this Coastal Code shall apply to the follow-
ing types of construction in the coastal building zone
in the City of Delray Beach.
(a) The new construction of, or substantial improvement to
major structures, nonhabitable major structures, and minor
structures as defined herein.
(b) Construction which would change or otherwise have the
potential for substantial impact on coastal zones (i.e. excava-
tion, grading, paving).
(c) Construction located partially within the coastal
building zone.
(d) Reconstruction, redevelopment or repair of a damaged
structure from any cause which meets the definition of substan-
tial improvement as defined herein.
Section 9-593. Exceptions to Applicability
The requirements of the coastal code shall not apply to the
following=
(a) Minor work in the nature of normal beach cleaning and
debris removal.
(b) Structures in existence prior to the effective date of
the code, except for substantial improvements as defined herein.
(c) Construction for which a valid and unexpired building
permit was issued prior to the effective date of this code.
(d) Construction extending seaward of the seasonal high-
water line which is regulated by the provisions of section
161.041, Florida Statutes (i.e. groins, jetties, moles, break-
waters, seawalls, piers, revetments, beach nourishment, inlet
dredging, etc.).
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(e) Construction of nonhabitable major structures as
defined herein, except for the requirements of section 9-599.
(f) Construction of minor structures as defined herein,
except for the requirements of section 9-600.
(g) Structures listed in the National Register of Historic
Places or the State Inventory of Historic Places.
(h) Construction for improvement of a major structure to
comply with existing state or local health, sanitary, or safety
code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe
living conditions.
Section 9-594. Applications for Permits
Applications for building permits for construction in the
coastal building zone and on coastal barrier islands, if not of
normal or usual design, may be required by the Building Official
to be certified by an architect or professional engineer regis-
tered in the State of Florida. Such certifications shall state
that the design plans and specifications for the construction are
in compliance with the criteria established by this Coastal Code.
Section 9-595. Definitions
The following terms are defined for general use in the
Coastal Code.
(a) "Beach" means the zone of unconsolidated material that
extends landward from the mean iow water line to the place where
there is marked change in material or physiographic form, or to
the line of permanent vegetation, usually the effective limit of
storm waves. "Beach" is alternatively termed "shore."
(b) "Breakaway wall" or frangible wall" means a partition
independent of supporting structural members that will withstand
design wind forces, but will fail under hydrostatic, wave, and
runup forces associated with the design storm surge. Under such
conditions, the wall shall fail in a manner such that it breaks
up into components that will minimize the potential fo£ damage to
life or adjacent property. It shall be a characte£istic of a
breakaway o£ frangible wall that it shall have a horizontal
design loading resistance of no less than 10 nor more than 20
pounds per square foot.
(c) "Building Support Structure" means any structure which
supports floor, wall o£ column loads, and transmits them to the
foundation. The term shall include beams, grade beams, o£
joists, and includes the lowest horizontal structural member
exclusive of piles, columns, or footings.
(d) "Coastal Barrier Islands" means' geological surface
features which are completely surrounded by marine waters that
front upon the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean,
Florida Bay, or Straits of Florida and are composed of quartz
sands, clays, limestone, oolites, rock, coral, coquina, sediment,
or other material, including soil disposal. Mainland areas which
were separated from the mainland by artificial channelization for
the purpose of assisting marine commerce shall not be considered
coastal barrier islands.
(e) "Coastal Building Zone" means= For mainland areas
which front directly upon the open waters of either the Gulf of
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Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, or Straits of Florida, the
land area between the seasonal high-water line and a line 1500
feet landward from the coastal construction control line.
(f) 'Coastal Construction Control Line' means the landward
extent of that portion of the beach-dune system which is subject
to severe fluctuations based upon a 100-year storm surge, storm
waves, or other predictable weather conditions as established by
the Department of Natural Resources in accordance with section
161.053, Florida Statutes.
(g) 'Construction' means the building, of or substantial
improvement to any structure or the clearing, filling, or excava-
tion of any land. It shall also mean any alterations in the size
or use of any existing structure or the appearance of any land.
When appropriate to the context, 'construction' refers to the act
of construction or the result of construction.
(h). 'Dune' means a mound or ridge of loose sediments,
usually sand-sized, deposited by natural or artificial means,
which lies landward of the beach.
(i) 'Major Structure' includes but is not limited to
residential buildings including mobile homes, commercial, insti-
tutional, industrial, and other construction having the potential
for substantial impact on coastal zones.
(j) "Mean High Water Line' means the intersection of the
tidal plane of mean high water with the shore. Mean high water
is the average height of high waters over a 19-year period.
(k) "Minor Structure' includes but is not limited to
pile-supported, elevated dune and beach walkover structures;
beach access ramps and walkways; stairways; pile-supported
elevated viewing platforms, gazebos, and boardwalks; lifeguard
support stands; public and private bathhouses; sidewalks, drive-
ways, parking areas, shuffleboard courts, tennis courts, handball
courts, racquetball courts, and other uncovered paved areas;
earth retaining walls, sand fences, privacy fences, ornamental
walls, ornamental garden structures, aviaries, and other ornamen-
tal construction. It shall be a characteristic of minor struc-
tures that they are considered to be expendable under design
wind, wave, and storm forces.
(1) 'Mobile Home" means manufactured housing which conforms
to the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety
Standard~ or the Uniform Standards Code ANSI A-119.1 pursuant to
Section 320.823, Florida Statutes.
(m) "Nonhabitable Major Structure' includes but is not
limited to swimming pools; parking garages; pipelines; piers;
canals, lakes, ditches, drainage structures, and other water
retention structures; water and sewage treatment plants; electri-
cal power plants, transmission and distribution lines, transform-
er pads, vaults, and substations; roads, bridges, streets, and
highways; and underground storage tanks.
(n) 'NGVD' means National Geodetic Vertical Datum - a
geodetic datum established by the National Ocean Service and
frequently referred to as the 1929 Mean Sea Level Datum.
(o) "One Hundred Year Storm' or "100-Year Storm' means a
shore incident hurricane or any other storm with accompanying
wind, wave, and storm surge intensity having a one percent chance
of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, during any
100-year interval.
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(p) "Seasonal high-water line" means the line formed by the
intersection of the rising shore and the elevation of 150 percent
of the local mean tidal range above mean high water.
(q) "State MinimUm Building Code" means the building code
adopted by a municipality or county pursuant to the requirements
of Section 553.73, Florida Statutes.
(r) "Substantial Improvement" means any repair, reconstruc-
tion, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or
exceeds a cumulative total of 50 percent of the market value of
the structure either:
(a) Before the repair or improvement is started; or
(b) If the structure has been damaged and is being
restored, before the damage occurred.
For the purposes of this definition, "substantial improvement" is
considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall,
ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commen-
ces, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimen-
sions of the structure. The term does not, however, include
either any project for improvement of a structure to comply with
existing state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifi-
cations which are solely necessary to assure safe living condi-
tions; or any alteration of a structure listed on the National
Register of Historic Places or the State Inventory of Historic
Places.
Section"9-596. Coastal Construction Requirements Generally.
Construction within the coastal building zone and on coastal
barrier islands shall meet the requirements of this chapter. All
structures shall be designed so as to minimize damage to life,
property, and the natural environment. Assistance in determining
the design parameters to minimize such damage may be found in the
reference documents listed in Section 9-603.
Section 9-597. Structural Requirements for Major Structures
(a) Design and Construction: Major structures, except for
mobile homes, shall be designed and constructed in accordance
with section 1205 of the 1986 revisions to the 1985 Standard
Building Code using a fastest-mile wind velocity of 110 miles per
hour except for the Florida Keys which shall use a fastest-mile
wind velocity of 115 miles per hour. Major structures, except
mobile homes, shall also comply with the applicable standards for
construction found elsewhere in the Standard Building Code of
1985 with 1986 accumulated revisions.
(b) Mobile Homes: Mobile homes shall conform to the
Federal Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards or the
Uniform Standards Code ANSI Allg.1, pursuant to Section 320.823,
Florida Statutes, as well as the requirements of Section 9-597
(c).
(c) Elevation, Floodproofing, and Siting: All major
structures shall be designed, constructed and located in compli-
ance with the National Flood Insurance Regulations as found in 44
CFR Parts 59 and 60.
Section 9-598. Design Conditions.
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(a) .Velocity Pressure: Major structures, except mobile
homes, shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of
Section 1205 of the 1986 revisions to the 1985 Standard Building
Code using a minimum fastest-mile wind velocity of 110 or 115 mph
as appropriate. Ail construction occurring in the Florida Keys
shall use a minimum design fastest-mile wind velocity of 115 mph.
These minimum design pressures are as follows:
Table 1205.2A
Velocity Pressure (psf)
Buildin~ Height 60 feet or less
Mean Roof Fastest-Mile Wind Velocity, V (mph)
Ali
0-15 25 28
20 28 30
40 34 37
60 38 41
Table 1205.3A
Velocity Pressure (psf)
Building Height 60 feet or les~
Fastest-Mile Wind Velocity, V (mph)
Coastal Exposure
Height (ft) 110 115
0-30 35 38
31-50 40 44
51-100 47 51
100-200 54 60
200-300 61 67
300-400 66 72
400-500 70 82
(b) Foundations: The elevation of the soil surface to be
used in the design of foundations, calculation of pile reactions
and bearing capacities shall not be greater than that which would
result from the erosion reasonably anticipated as a result of
design storm conditions. Foundation design and construction of a
major structure shall consider all anticipated loads acting
simultaneously with live and dead loads. Erosion computations
for foundation design shall account for all vertical and lateral
erosion and scour producing forces, including localized scour due
to the presence of structural components. Foundation design and
construction shall provide for adequate bearing capacity taking
into consideration the type of soil present and the anticipated
loss of soil above the design grade as a result of localized
scour. Erosion computations are not required landward of coastal
construction control lines established or updated since June 30,
1980. Upon request the Department of Natural Resources may
provide information as to those areas within coastal building
zones where erosion and scour of a 100-year storm event is
applicable.
(c) Wave Forces: Calculations for wave forces resulting
from design storm conditions on building foundations and super-
structures may be based upon the minimum criteria and methods
prescribed in the Naval Facilities Enaineering Command Desian
Manual, NAVFAC DM-26, U.S. Department o~ Navy; Shore ~rotecti6n
~%Bil~. U.S. Department of the Army Corps of Engineers; U.S.
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Department of the Army Coastal Engineering Research Center
Technical Papers and Reports; the Technical and Design Memoranda
of the Division of Beaches and Shores, Florida Department of
Natural Resources; or other professionally recognized methodolo-
gies which produce equivalent design criteria.
Breaking, broken, and nonbreaking waves shall be considered
as applicable. Design wave loading analysis shall consider
vertical uplift pressures and all lateral pressures to include
impact as well as dynamic loading and the harmonic intensifica-
tion resulting from repetitive waves.
(d) Hydrostatic Loads= Calculations for hydrostatic loads
shall consider the maximum water pressure resulting from a fully
peaked, breaking wave superimposed upon the design storm surge
with dynamic wave setup. Both free and hydrostatic loads shall
be considered. Hydrostatic loads which are confined shall be
determined by using the maximum elevation to which the confined
water would freely rise if unconfined. Vertical hydrostatic
loads shall be considered both upward and downward on horizontal
or inclined surfaces of major structures (i.e. floors, slabs,
roofs, walls). Lateral hydrostatic loads shall be considered as
forces acting horizontally above and below grade on vertical
inclined surfaces. Hydrostatic loads on irregular or curves
geometric surfaces shall be determined by considering the sepa-
rate vertical and horizontal components acting simultaneously
under the distribution of the hydrostatic pressures.
(e) Hydrodynamic Loads: Hydrodynamic loads shall consider
the maximum water pressures resulting from the motion of the
water mass associated with the design storm. Full intensity
loading shall be applied on all structural surfaces above the
design grade which would affect the flow velocities.
Section 9-599. Structural Requirements for Nonhabitable Major
Structures
Nonhabitable major structures need not meet the specific struc-
- tural requirements of Section 9-597, except that they shall be
designed to produce the minimum adverse impact on the beach and
dune system and shall comply with the applicable standards of
construction found in the Standard Building Codes 1985 edition,
with 1986 accumulated 'revisions. All sewage treatment and public
water supply systems shall be flood-proofed to prevent infiltra-
tion of surface water anticipated under design storm conditions.
Underground utilities, excluding pad transformers and vaults,
shall be flood-proofed to prevent infiltration of surface water
expected under design storm conditions or shall otherwise be
designed to function when submerged under such storm conditions.
Section 9-600. Structural Requirements for Minor Structures
Minor structures need not meet the specific structural require-
ments of Section 9-597, except that they shall be designed to
produce the minimum adverse impact on the beach and dune system
and shall comply with the applicable standards of construction
found in the Standard Building Codes 1985 edition, with 1986
accumulated revisions.
Section 9-601. Location of Construction
Construction, except for elevated walkways, lifeguard support
stands, piers, beach access ramps, gazebos, and coastal or shore
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protection structures, shall be located a sufficient distance
landward of the beach to permit natural shoreline fluctuations
and to preserve dune stability. Construction, including excava-
tion, may occur to the extent that the natural storm buffering
and protection capability of the dune is not diminished.
Section 9-602. Public Access
Where the public has established an accessway through private
lands to lands seaward of mean high tide or water line by pre-
scription, prescriptive easement, or other legal means, develop-
ment or construction shall not interfere with such right of
access unless a comparable alternative accessway is provided.
.The developer shall have the right to improve, consolidate, or
relocate such public accessways so long as they are=
(a) Of substantially similar quality and convenience to
the public;
(b) Approved by the local government and approved by the
Department of Natural Resources whenever improvements
are involved seaward of the coastal construction
control line; and
(c) Consistent with the coastal management element of the
local comprehensive plan adopted pursuant to Section
163.3178, Florida Statutes.
Section 9-603. References
Assistance in determining the design parameters and methodologies
necessary to comply with the requirements of this chapter may be
obtained from:
Shore Protection Manual, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, 4th
edition, 1984.
U.S. Department of the Army, Coastal Engineering Research
Center's Technical Papers and Reports.
Florida Department of Natural Resources, Division of Beaches
and Shores Technical and Design Memoranda.
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Design Manual. NAVFAC
DM-26, U.S. Department of the Navy.
Coastal Construction Manual, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, February, 1986. (Please note that the wind design
section is based upon the 1982 edition of the Standard
Building Code with the 1984 accumulated amendments and not
the 1985 edition of the Standard Building Code with the
1986 revisions as required by section 161.55(1) (d),
Florida Statutes.)
~ That all ordinances or parts of ordinances which
are in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
~ That should any section or provision of this
ordinance or any portion thereof, any paragraph, sentence, or word be
declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such
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decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder hereof as a
whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invalid.
· ~TJ~I&I~-_~ That this ordinance shall become effective on
passage of second and final reading, with its provisions to apply to any
permits issued on or after January 1, 1987.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second 8and6 -final
reading on this the 30th day of December , 19.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
First Reading December 16, 1986
Second Reading December 30, 1986
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