§ 14-11. Specific methods of construction and requirements.

Pursuant to Broward County Administrative Provisions for the Florida Building Code, the following specific methods of construction and requirements apply:

(1)

Elevation requirements. All new buildings and substantial improvements of buildings shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the elevation required in the Florida Building Code or the base flood elevation plus one (1) foot, whichever is higher.

(2)

Limitation on use of fill to support buildings and structures. The use of fill to elevate buildings and structures is not permitted, (with the exception of the interior area of slab-on-stem-wall construction). 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, walkways, and similar ancillary uses.

(3)

Limitations on enclosed areas below base flood elevation. For buildings in special flood hazard areas, the following limitations apply to enclosed areas below elevated buildings:

a.

For enclosures that are four (4) feet or higher above the interior grade or floor, a declaration of land restriction (nonconversion agreement) which shall be submitted with the building permit application.

b.

Subject to constitutional limitations, the floodplain administrator is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections to determine the condition of enclosed areas.

c.

Floodplain administrator is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey, at reasonable hours, those portions of structures and premises for which nonconversion agreements are established by this article.

d.

The owner, operator, lessee, occupant, or the person in charge of every dwelling, dwelling unit, hotel and rooming house and business establishment shall give the floodplain administrator free access for the purpose of making such inspection, examination and survey; and, shall supply, as correctly and promptly as possible, all information requested by the inspecting officer.

e.

The floodplain administrator shall be provided with official identification and shall exhibit such identification when making any inspection.

(4)

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 repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a building or structure or any combination of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a building or structure taking place during a two-year period, the cumulative cost of which equals or exceeds fifty (50) percent of the market value of the building or structure before the improvement or repair is started. 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 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.

( Ord. No. C-14-26, § 2, 6-17-14 ; Ord. No. C-17-06 , § 3, 4-4-17)