City of South Pasadena, FL Chapter 86 Docks and Tie Poles

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Commission of the City of South Pasadena 3-10-1998 by Ord. No. 98-01. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Land development regulations — See Ch. 130.

Watercraft and waterways — See Ch. 193.

§ 86-1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

DECK AREA

That portion of a dock that consists of decking installed parallel to the water and intended to support the weight of a person walking or sitting.

[Added 5-9-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]

DOCK

Any structure, including a pier, wharf, loading platform, accessory structure or boat lift, which is constructed on piling over open water or which is supported by floatation on the waters of South Pasadena.

[Amended 5-9-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]

PRIVATE DOCK

Any dock which will be used by an individual owner, family and friends of the owner on property which is developed as single-family residential property. This definition does not include any dock which is owned in common or used by the residents of a condominium, apartment complex or mobile home park.

TIE POLE

Includes dolphin, batter, sister or mooring piles which are placed to provide anchorage, mooring, structural support or space for a boat or ship.

WATERS OF SOUTH PASADENA

All waters of Boca Ciega Bay lying within the legal boundaries of South Pasadena.

§ 86-2 Docks not requiring a special exception use permit.

[Amended 5-9-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]

Docks not requiring a special exception use permit.

A. Any private dock that meets the applicable criteria set forth in § 86-6 without the need for a variance.

§ 86-3 Tie poles not requiring a special exception use permit.

[Amended 5-9-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]

Tie poles not requiring a special exception use permit:

A. Tie pole(s) proposed at a commercial dock or slip that will not increase the number of permanent mooring spaces above the number approved at the time the dock was constructed. For commercial docks where no record exists as to the number of approved slips, the number shall be presumed to be the number of slips existing as of January 1, 2006. In addition, the tie pole(s) must meet the applicable criteria set forth in § 86-6 without the need for a variance.

B. Tie pole(s) proposed at a private dock that do not result in the creation of more than two mooring spaces and meet the applicable criteria set forth in § 86-6 without the need for a variance.

§ 86-4 Building permits required.

A City-issued building permit is required for the installation of any dock or tie pole within the waters of South Pasadena. A special exception use permit issued by the City Commission is a prerequisite to applying for a building permit, except in cases of exact replacement or for projects which meet one of the exceptions set forth in § 86-2 or 86-3 of this chapter. It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to undertake or allow a third person to undertake on their behalf construction of a dock or installation of a tie pole without a City permit. Violations shall be subject to the general penalty set forth in § 1-16 of this Code.

§ 86-5 Building permit applications; information required.

Each applicant shall file an application for a building permit which includes the following information:

A. A completed application form as supplied by the Department of Community Improvement.

B. A statement describing the existing upland use, the current zoning category and the future land use designation of the property.

C. [1]The width of the water body at the proposed project location.

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, Evidence of title to the adjacent uplands, was repealed 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09. This ordinance also redesignated former Subsections D through F as Subsections C through E, respectively.

D. Permit sketches clearly depicting the proposed project, including:

(1) Property address of adjacent uplands.

(2) North arrow.

(3) Scale (not less than one inch equals 10 feet).

(4) Location of all existing structures (docks and tie poles) located in or floating over aquatic lands and exact square footage of said structures.

(5) Water depths at low tide taken at the seawall and every 20 feet, including the proposed end of the dock.

(6) Linear footage of riparian shoreline.

(7) Location of any mangroves on the upland property or submerged lands.

(8) Location of any sea grasses under the area proposed for the dock or boat lifts.

E. All applications other than those for private docks and tie poles at existing docks shall include plans signed and sealed by a professional engineer.

§ 86-6 Location and size criteria.

[Amended 5-9-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-01]

A. All docks (private and commercial) and all tie poles shall comply with the following criteria:

(1) Not project into the navigable portion of a waterway more than 25%.

(2) Not extend waterward of the seawall or mean high tide water line a distance greater than 300 feet.

(3) Not be located closer than 150 feet from the center line of the Intracostal Waterway.

(4) Not impede the rights of other waterfront property owners to install docks in accordance with this chapter.

(5) Not include any covered boat slip or covered boat lift.

B. Commercial docks shall be limited in width to a maximum of 75% of the width of the property at the waterfront, and the length from the seawall or mean high-water line shall not exceed 75% of the width of the property. Tie pole(s) associated with commercial docks shall also be located within these parameters.

C. Private docks shall not exceed 50 feet in length. The deck area of private docks shall not exceed 500 square feet. Private docks, including all components of any boat lift, shall be located within the middle 1/3 of the applicant’s property measured at the seawall. Tie poles at private docks shall be located no more than 50 feet waterward from the seawall or mean high-water line. Said tie poles shall not be required to be located within the middle 1/3 of the applicant’s property. Tie poles shall not be closer than four feet from the extension of the sidelines of the upland property. Private docks shall not provide permanent mooring for more than two vessels over 10 feet in length.

§ 86-7 Minimum construction specifications.

[Amended 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]

The following minimum construction specifications shall be required for all dock construction:

A. All piling shall be installed at least six feet into the submerged bottom. If impenetrable material is encountered, work shall cease, the Building Official shall be notified and sealed plans showing an acceptable alternate installation shall be required.

B. All metal fastenings shall be hot-dip galvanized or better.

C. All floating docks must have a minimum of 20 pounds per square foot flotation.

D. The intersection of the main dock and finger piers will be constructed by the installation of a pile under the finger pier at the intersection, or by an approved bolted connection; in no case will nailed connections be used.

E. Wave break devices, when necessary, shall be designed to allow for maximum water circulation and shall be built in such a manner as to be part of the dock structure or tie poles.

F. Docks shall be constructed to allow for maximum light penetration. Special restrictions may be applied where natural resources are present on a case-by-case basis.

G. Where appropriate, structures shall provide for passage of pedestrian traffic by elevation or design so as not to obstruct normal pedestrian traffic on lands along the shoreline. The dock or pier shall be constructed in a manner that would minimize harm to natural resources.

H. Catwalks supported by a single pile at each bent and cantilevered structures shall be no wider than 30 inches.

I. No buildings shall be permitted to be constructed over the waters of the city.

J. All docks with boat lifts, davits, or similar lifting mechanisms shall provide cleats, rings, or similar features that can be used to tie down the vessel when it is out of the water in order to stabilize the vessel during high wind.

K. Permits for docks shall be issued only for properties upon which a principal structure exists or upon which a building permit for the principal structure has been issued and the structure is substantially completed.

L. All docks shall meet the minimum construction specifications as required by the Pinellas County Water and Navigational Control Authority.

M. All applications for docks shall be submitted to the City for approval prior to submitting to the Pinellas County Water and Navigation Control Authority for an initial permit. The permit may only be issued by the City after approval from Pinellas County Water and Navigation Control Authority.

§ 86-8 Dock repairs.

[Added 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]

A. All dock repairs, including repairs to or replacement of permitted boat lifts, shall require a permit from the City, unless otherwise provided in this section.

B. Replacement of deck boards, only, on a dock shall not require the issuance of a permit from the City.

C. Residential dock owners shall be permitted to repair or replace residential docks in the same size and configuration as the original permitted dock. A copy of the original permits and drawings shall be submitted with the permit application. If original permits cannot be provided, the application will be reviewed as if it were a new dock permit request. This provision shall supersede requirements for nonconforming structures provided for elsewhere in the Code.

D. Disrepair or dilapidated docks. If any dock falls into a state of disrepair and becomes a dangerous structure, creating risks to the safety and well-being of the community or individual members thereof, the entire structure shall be removed or repaired so as to conform to the requirements of this section.