§ 4-37. Definitions.

The following terms are defined for general use in the Coastal Construction Code:

(a)

Beach means the zone of unconsolidated material that extends landward from the mean low 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 for damage to life or adjacent property.

(c)

Building support structure means any structure which supports floor, wall or column loads, and transmits them to the foundation. The term shall include beams, grade beams, or joists, and includes the lowest horizontal structural member exclusive of piles, columns, or footings.

(d)

Coastal Barrier Islands means geological features which are completely surrounded by marine waters that front upon the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and are composed of quartz sands, clays, limestone, oolites, rock, coral, coquina, sediment, or other material, including soil disposal, which features lie above the line of mean high water. Mainland areas which were separated from mainland by artificial channelization for the purpose of assisting marine commerce shall not be considered coastal barrier islands.

(e)

Coastal building zone on coastal barrier islands is defined as the area five thousand (5,000) feet landward from the coastal construction control line or the entire island whichever is less. On barrier islands for which no coastal construction control line has been established, the "coastal building zone" is the area five thousand (5,000) feet landward from the mean high water line or the entire island, whichever is less.

(f)

Column action means the potential elastic instability in piles or columns resulting in axial or lateral bending of the member due to compressive stress.

(g)

Construction mean the carrying out of any building, clearing, filling, excavations or substantial improvements in the size or use of any 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 or loose sediments, usually sand-sized, lying landward of the beach, and deposited by natural or artificial means.

(i)

Major structure includes but is not limited to residential buildings including mobile homes, commercial, institutional, industrial, and/or 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 nineteen-year period. (See F.S. § 177.27(15)).

(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, driveways, 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 ornamental construction. It shall be characteristic of minor structures that they be considered to be expendable under design wind, wave, and storm forces.

(l)

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; electrical power plants, transmission and distribution lines, transformer pads, vaults, and substations; roads, bridges, streets, and highways; underground storage tanks; communications buildings and towers; flagpoles and signs over fifteen (15) feet in height.

(m)

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.

(n)

Substantial improvement means any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds a cumulative total of fifty (50) percent of the market value of the structure either:

a.

Before the improvement or repair 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 commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions 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 specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the State Inventory of Historic Places.

(Ord. No. 124-86-2, § 1(107), 4-7-86; Ord. No. 125-86-3, §§ 1, 2, 12-1-86)