Sec. 321.109. - Elevation requirements.

The elevation requirements in this Section 321.109 were adopted as local technical amendments to the Florida Building Code, 6th Edition (2017). However, it is the intent of the City that, pursuant to F.S. § 553.73(5), those changes not expire with subsequent editions of the Florida Building Code. The "6th Edition (2017)" is only mentioned for reference. Those changes are to be memorialized in the Land Development Procedures Manual by the Development Services Division of the Public Works Department. In that document, the strike-out and underlined text will identify the specific modifications to the Florida Building Code through the local technical amendment. For the purposes of this Section 321.109 , the term "flood hazard area" shall mean "special flood hazard area" and "adjusted special flood hazard area" as those terms are defined in Section 652.904 , Ordinance Code. (a) A new Section 1612.4.3 in the Florida Building Code, Building, (renumbered from Section 1612.4.2), was adopted as a local technical amendment to read as follows: 1612.4.3 Elevation requirements. The minimum elevation requirements shall be as specified in ASCE 24 or the base flood elevation plus 2 feet (610 mm), whichever is higher. (b) Section R322.2.1 (Elevation requirements), R322.2 (Flood hazard areas (including A Zones)), in the Florida Building Code, Residential, was amended as a local technical amendment to read as follows: R322.2.1 Elevation requirements. (1) Buildings and structures in flood hazard areas, including flood hazard areas designated as Coastal A Zones, shall have the lowest floors elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 2 feet (610 mm), or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. (2) In areas of shallow flooding (AO Zones), buildings and structures shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to a height above the highest adjacent grade of not less than the depth number specified in feet (mm) on the FIRM plus 2 feet (610 mm), or not less than 4 feet (1,220 mm) if a depth number is not specified. (3) Basement floors that are below grade on all sides shall be elevated to or above base flood elevation plus 2 feet (610 mm), or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. Exception: Enclosed areas below the design flood elevation, including basements with floors that are not below grade on all sides, shall meet the requirements of Section R322.2.2. (c) Section R322.3.2 (Elevation requirements), R322.3 (Coastal high-hazard area (including V Zones and Coastal A Zones, where designated)), in the Florida Building Code, Residential, was amended as a local technical amendment to read as follows: R322.3.2 Elevation requirements. (1) Buildings and structures erected within coastal high-hazard areas and Coastal A Zones shall be elevated so that the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural members supporting the lowest floor, with the exception of pilings, pile caps, columns, grade beams and bracing, is elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 2 feet (610 mm), or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher. (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. (5) Walls and partitions enclosing areas below the design flood elevation shall meet the requirements of Sections R322.3.5 and R322.3.6. (Ord. 2023-615-E , §§ 2, 3; Ord. 2025-30-E , § 12) Editor's note— Ord. 2023-615-E , §§ 2 and 3, amended the Code by repealing former § 321.109, and adding a new § 321.109. Former § 321.109 pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Ord. 2019-803-E .