[Ord. No. 02032014 §1, 2-3-2014[1]]
A. 
Purpose. In order to provide for the safety and welfare of the citizens of the community during severe windstorm events, a storm shelter, safe room, or community safe room shall be required in all Single-Family Dwelling Districts "R-1," Two-Family Dwelling Districts "R-2" and all Multiple-Family Dwelling Districts "R-3" and "R-4." Community storm shelters or safe rooms shall be located within one thousand (1,000) feet of all residential units to be served.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this Division, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
STORM SHELTER or SAFE ROOM
A reinforced area of a dwelling(s) designed to withstand severe windstorms and meeting the standards of the International Code Council/National Storm Shelter Association (ICC/NSSA 500:2008 Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters) or FEMA Publications 320 or 361.
C. 
Construction of the storm shelter or safe room shall be as submitted to, and approved, by the City Building Official.
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 1 of this ordinance also repealed former Division 5, Safe Rooms, which comprised Sections 400.1400 through 400.1510, as adopted and amended by Ord. No. 111808 §1(400-805) through §1(400-805.11), adopted 11-18-2008.
[Ord. No. 02032014 §1, 2-3-2014]
A. 
This Division does not apply to the repair, reconstruction, remodeling, or addition to existing structures unless the reconstruction or addition totals more than fifty percent (50%) of the current assessed value as determined by the Cass County Assessor.
B. 
This Division is not applicable to new development of habitable structures that are constructed with a basement with walls that are a minimum of eight (8) feet deep and are located at least seventy-five percent (75%) below grade as measured by the surface area of the basement walls that are exposed above grade from the exterior of the habitable structure.
C. 
This Division is not applicable to new development of habitable structures that are constructed within one thousand (1,000) feet of a community storm shelter or safe room which serves that residential unit(s).
[Ord. No. 02032014 §1, 2-3-2014]
The enforcement of this Division may be waived by the purchaser for which a single-family structure is being built or by the builder/developer of the single-family dwelling if no purchase contract exists. The waiver shall acknowledge that the City of Peculiar is in a high-risk zone for severe weather, including tornadoes, and request a waiver of this Division applicable to the construction of the structure. The waiver must be signed by the proposed purchaser or the builder/developer, as applicable, and must be presented to the City; a waiver by the purchaser shall include a copy of a fully executed construction contract signed by the proposed purchaser.