Item H19BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: September 16, 2015 Department: Building
Bulk Item: Yes X No Staff Contact Person/Phone #: Christine Hurley, 289-2517
Ed Koconis, 453-8727
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution of the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners adopting Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) "Technical Topic:
Guidance for Pools and Outdoor Kitchens/Bars in Flood Hazard Areas" dated November 2010 as
required pursuant to Monroe County Code Section 122-2(c).
ITEM BACKGROUND: Chapter 122 of the Monroe County Code "Floodplain Management"
includes rules for interpreting flood hazard issues. The building official shall be guided by the current
edition of FEMA's 44 CFR, and FEMA's interpretive letters, policy statements and technical bulletins
as adopted from time to time by the board of county commissioners. FEMA's Technical Bulletins
("bulletins") provide guidance concerning the building performance standards of the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP), which are contained in Title 44 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.
The bulletins are intended for use primarily by State and local officials responsible for interpreting and
enforcing NFIP regulations and by members of the development community, such as design
professionals and builders. New bulletins, as well as updates to existing bulletins, are issued
periodically as needed. The bulletins do not create regulations; rather they provide specific guidance
for complying with the minimum requirements of existing NFIP regulations. Adopting these
documents as well as internal County policies would serve to allow the County to not only remain in
the NFIP as stated in Section 122-1(b), but also to move forward with the intent of becoming eligible
to enter FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS). The proposed resolution would adopt FDEM
"Technical Topic: Guidance for Pools and Outdoor Kitchens/Bars in Flood Hazard Areas" dated
November 2010 as required pursuant to Monroe County Code Section 122-2(c).
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
January 18, 1994 — BOCC approved Ordinance No. 002-1994 adding the language "as adopted by
resolution from time to time by the Board of County Commissioners" to the rules for interpreting flood
hazard issues.
July 15, 2015 — BOCC rejected proposed ordinance amending Section 122-2(c) and directed staff to
continue proposing resolutions for adoption of both new and amended documents to be used by the
building official for guidance on floodplain management.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: NIA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval
TOTAL COST: N/A INDIRECT COST: NIA BUDGETED: Yes No NIA
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE: NIA
COST TO COUNTY: NIA SOURCE OF FUNDS: NIA
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes _ No NIA AMOUNT PER MONTH N/A Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty X�S'r"� V OMB/Purchasing
Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included X Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM 4
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VA
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. - 2015
A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPTING FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (FDEM)
"TECHNICAL TOPIC: GUIDANCE FOR POOLS AND OUTDOOR
KITCHENS/BARS IN FLOOD HAZARD AREAS" DATED
NOVEMBER 2010 AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO MONROE
COUNTY CODE SECTION 122-2(C)
WHEREAS, Monroe County is currently a participating community in the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and is working on internal County policies to improve upon its
interpretation of NFIP regulations; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County desires to become eligible to enter FEMA's Community
Rating System (CRS); and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Code Section 122-2(c), in part, requires that in interpreting
other provisions of this chapter, the building official shall be guided by the current edition of
FEMA's 44 CFR, and FEMA's interpretive letters, policy statements and technical bulletins as
adopted by resolution from time to time by the board of county commissioners;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Pursuant to Monroe County Code Section 122-2(c), the Board hereby adopts
FDEM "Technical Topic: Guidance for Pools and Outdoor Kitchens/Bars in Flood Hazard
Areas" dated November 2010, a copy of which is attached hereto.
Section 2. The Clerk of the Board is hereby directed to forward one (1) certified copy of
this Resolution to the Building Department.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting held on the 16"' of September, 2015.
Mayor Danny L. Kolhage
Mayor pro tem Heather Carruthers
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner David Rice
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
(SEAL)
ATTEST: AMY HEAVILIN, CLERK
Deputy Clerk
Mayor Danny L. Kolhage
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
A A�P-M—aZo—
STEVENFORM:
T..5
ASSISTANT OU lY ATTORNEY
Date
Technical Topic: Guidance for Pools and Outdoor Kitchens/Bars in Flood
Hazard Areas
Floodplain Management Office
Florida Division of Emergency Management
November 2010
Several questions have been asked recently about how communities should review and regulate
pool equipment and pool controls when pools are installed in special flood hazard areas.
Another question was asked about "outdoor kitchens" and outdoor bars. DEM has reviewed
various guidance documents published by FEMA and finds no guidance that explicitly addresses
these types of development.
The NFIP requirements are intended to satisfy two performance expectations: that development
is "reasonably safe from flooding" and that development is undertaken in ways that "minimize
flood damage." For buildings, the primary way those expectations are satisfied is by elevating
the lowest floors to or above the flood level. For all of the requirements, which vary somewhat
by flood zone (i.e., A zone or V zone), see 44 CFR Section 60.3 or the flood damage prevention
regulations adopted by all flood -prone communities in Florida.
The NFIP regulations and local regulations also require that utilities, equipment and appliances
that serve buildings must be elevated or they must comply with a performance -based alternative
that allows location below the Base Flood Elevation if "electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing,
and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as
to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of
flooding" [see 44 CFR 60.3(a)(3)(i)].
However, the NFIP does not have explicit requirements for equipment and applicances that do
not serve buildings, such as pool equipment and pool controls or outdoor kitchens/bars. Local
Foodplain management regulations require communities to regulate all development, and the
term "development" is broadly defined. Thus, all activities are regulated. The question then
becomes what are the standards that should be used when reviewing non -building development?
Below is guidance that is specific to pools (and pool controls, equipment and tanks), followed by
guidance for outdoor kitchens and bar setups on restaurant/hotel decks and patios.
And finally, DEM is aware that some people believe that whether something is or is not covered
by federal flood insurance influences whether and how communities regulate development in
special flood hazard areas. This is not correct. Communities are required to regulate all
development.
floods kem.myflorida.corn
DEM Floodplain Management Office Helpline: 850-413-9960
Tech Topic: Pools, Outdoor Kitchens (November 2010)
Guidance for Regulating Swimming Pools, Pool Controls, Pool Equipment and Tanks in
Flood Hazard Areas in Florida
Florida's communities are required to issue permits for development in special flood hazard
areas, including the installation of swimming pools and associated controls, equipment and
tanks, local officials must examine these proposals and consider the following:
1. Pools. How the pool itself is handled depends on the flood zone and whether the pool is
in -ground, above -ground, or a combination (perhaps with associated grading and fill).
The following provisions were recently approved and will appear in the 2010 Florida
Building Code, Building and the 2010 Florida Building Code, Residential. In the
meantime, these provisions offer guidance that meets the intent of the NFIP and local
floodplain management regulations:
2010 Florida Building Code, Building
424.1.1 Flood hazard areas. Public swimming pools installed in flood hazard areas
established in Section 1612.3 shall comply with Section 1612.
Note: Sec. 1612 refers to ASCE 24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction,
which includes provisions for pools in Sec. 9.5. Primarily, pools are to withstand
flood -related loads and load combinations and if structurally connected to a
structure, designed to function as a continuation of the structure. Additional
requirements apply in coastal high hazard areas (V zones) and Coastal A Zones.
R424.2.4.2.1 Flood hazard areas. Private swimming pools installed in flood hazard areas
established in Section 1612.3 shall comply with Section 1612.
2010 Florida Building Code, Residential
A ZONES
R322.2.4 Pools in flood hazard areas. Pools that are located in flood hazard areas
established by Table R301.2(1), including above -ground pools, on -ground pools, and in -
ground pools that involve placement of fill, shall comply with Sections R322.2.4.1 or
RB322.2.4.2.
Exception: Pools located in riverine flood hazard areas which are outside of
designated floodways.
R322.2.4.1 Pools located in designated floodways. Where pools are located in
designated floodways, documentation shall be submitted to the building official, which
demonstrates that the construction of the pool will not increase the design flood elevation at
any point within the jurisdiction.
R322.2.4.2 Pools located where floodways have not been designated. Where pools are
located where design flood elevations are specified but floodways have not been
designated, the applicant shall provide a floodway analysis that demonstrates that the
proposed pool will not increase the design flood elevation more than 1 foot (305 mm) at any
point within the jurisdiction.
Tech Topic: Pools, Outdoor Kitchens (November 2010) 2
V ZONES
R322.3.3.1 Pools. Pools in coastal high -hazard areas shall be designed and constructed in
conformance with ASCE 24.
Note: For additional guidance on pools in V Zones, also see FEMA Technical
Bulletin 5, Free -of -Obstruction Requirements,
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/techbul.shtm.
2. Pools and Enclosures.
a. Pools in any flood zone shall not be fully enclosed by walls and roofs. Walls on
all sides are not allowed because the resulting building would be an accessory
structure, and the NF1P limits the use of accessory structures that are below the
Base Flood Elevation to parking of vehicles and storage. Pools are not allowed in
enclosures, even if the walls are glass, breakaway walls (V zones), or walls with
flood openings (A zones) because recreational use is not a permitted use. Pools
may be surrounded with lattice, insect screening, or aluminum screening.
b. The NFIP allows pools to be placed under elevated buildings only if the top of the
pool and accompanying deck or walkway are flush with the existing grade, and
only if the space around the pool is not enclosed on all sides with walls (see
explanation above regarding enclosing pools with walls). Designs for V zone
buildings with pools underneath must be certified by a registered design
professional that the building and pool will not be subject to flotation or
displacement that will damage building foundations during a flood. [Note: For
additional guidance on swimming pools in V Zones, see FEMA Technical Bulletin 5,
Free -of -Obstruction Requirements,
litt ://www.fema.«ov/ lan/ revert/flood lain/techbul.shtm.]
3. Pool controls. Pool controls must be elevated to or above the Base Flood Elevation.
Pool controls shall not be mounted on walls intended to break away under flood loads. If
controls cannot be elevated and still comply with safety requirements, the controls may
be permitted below the Base Flood Elevation if on a separate GFCI circuit.
4. Pool equipment. In the interest of meeting the expectation that the equipment is
"reasonably safe from flooding" and to "minirnize flood damage," communities should
not simply ignore the risk and allow equipment installations at -grade. Pool equipment
must either:
a. Be elevated and securely anchored to a platform; the height of the platform could
either be to/above the Base Flood Elevation or as high as practical, given
limitations on the owner's access (partial elevation reduces exposure to more
frequent flooding than the base flood); or
b. If not elevated, be anchored to prevent flotation and protected to prevent water
from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of
flooding.
Tech Topic: Pools, Outdoor Kitchens (November 2010) 3
5. Pool equipment buildings. Buildings that house pool equipment are accessory
structures. The buildings must either be elevated or, if not elevated, be constructed to
comply with the pertinent requirements for accessory buildings (allowed if used only for
parking or storage) based on the flood zone.
6. Tanks. Tanks must meet the requirement to either be elevated or anchored to resist
anticipated flood loads (e.g., see ASCE 24, Section 9.6).
7. Pool chemicals. Communities are encouraged to specify that pool chemicals are stored
above the Base Flood Elevation.
Tech Topic: Pools, Outdoor Kitchens (November 2010) 4
Guidance for Regulating Outdoor Kitchens and Bars in Flood Hazard Areas in Florida
Florida's communities are required to issue permits for development in special flood hazard
areas, including the installation of outdoor kitchens and structures for outdoor bars. Local
Officials must examine these proposals and consider the following:
1. Structures associated with outdoor kitchens/bars. Any structure that is not a walled
and roofed building must comply with the applicable provisions of the local floodplain
management regulations and the Florida Building Code, Building or the Florida Building
Code, Residential. If located in flood hazard areas, structures such as counter tops and
bars with roof/shade coverings are not required to be elevated provided the structure is
anchored to prevent flotation during conditions of flooding.
2. Decks and patios. Decks and patios may be constructed below the Base Flood Elevation
provided the deck/patio is:
a. Structurally independent from the building; or
b. If structurally connected, the building and deck/patio must be designed to function
as a continuation of the load -bearing structure; and
c. If located in a V zone, the lowest horizontal structural member shall be at or
above the Base Flood Elevation and elevated on piles or columns in conformance
with the standard V zone requirements. [Note: For additional guidance on decks
and patios in V Zones, see FEMA Technical Bulletin 5, Free -of -Obstruction
Requirements, http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplaiii/techbul.shtm.]
3. Appliances and equipment. In the interest of meeting the expectation that appliance
and equipment installations are "reasonably safe from flooding" and to "minimize flood
damage," communities should not simply ignore the risk and allow installations at -grade.
Appliances and equipment must be anchored to prevent flotation and protected to prevent
water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of
flooding.
4. Electric service. Electric service must be on a separate GFC1 circuit.
5. Sink drainage. Communities must require that drainage for outdoor kitchen sinks and
bar sinks be designed to prevent the infiltration of floodwaters into municipal wastewater
systems.
Tech Topic: Pools, Outdoor Kitchens (November 2010)
BOCC AGENDA ROUTING SLIP r rr
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Agenda Item Subject: Resolution adopting Monroe County "Elevation Certificate Review
Policy"
Date: August 17, 2015
Prepared By: Ed Koconis, AICP, Permit Manager
Agenda Deadline: August 20, 2015 BOCC meeting date: September 16, 2015
#
Reviewer
***Internal Deadline to Teresa:***
Notes
Initials
Date
Permit Manager
Senior Director of Building
County Attorney
5 t,J
Deadline: 8r'Is
l
Assistant County Administrator
Deadline:
FINAL review by legal
_X Bulk Approval
Time Approximate Requested
Type of Proceeding:
Ad (Ad map, if applicable)
Surrounding Property Owner Notice:
Public Hearing
Yes
Legislative
Deadline
Deadline NIA
Discussion
Time
Quasi -Judicial
Publish Date
***Reminder***
Once your item is complete and includes all corrections,
email all final word documents to Teresa Smith.