Okaloosa County BOCC — July 7, 2015 — Public Hearing - Adoption of 2014 Florida Building Code and 2011 — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: July 7, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: Public Hearing - Adoption of 2014 Florida Building Code and 2011 National Electrical Code DEPARTMENT: Growth Management BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Conduct a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance adopting by reference all volumes of the 2014 Edition of the Florida Building Code as well as the 2011 National Electrical Code. BACKGROUND: Through Chapter 553 of the Florida Statutes, the Florida Legislature has created a single, unified building code (“The Florida Building Code”) to be applied uniformly throughout the state by all local enforcement agencies. The County first adopted the Florida Building Code through Ordinance 07-32 in June 2007. Approximately every three years, the Florida Building Code Commission updates the Code which all local enforcement agencies must then adopt. As a local enforcement agency, Okaloosa County must enforce the most current version of the Code. The 2014 Building Code took effect on July 1, 2015, and so the County Code needs to be amended to reflect the version now in effect. Because the Florida Building Code Commission does not adopt a state-wide electrical code, Okaloosa County utilizes the National Electrical Code (NEC). The 2008 NEC was in effect when the County last updated its Building Code ordinance. Since that time, the 2011 NEC has been published and so needs to be incorporated into the County Code, as well, though the County is not required to do so by law. There are no fee increases associated with the adoption of the proposed ordinance. The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the proposed ordinance. PUBLIC COMMENT/OPPOSITION: As of the date of this writing, there has been no public comment or opposition to the proposed changes. OPTIONS: The Board may adopt the ordinance or choose not to do so; however, the 2014 Building Code will remain in effect even if the Board does not adopt the ordinance. STAFF FINDINGS: Staff finds that the proposed ordinance is consistent with Chapter 553 of the Florida Statutes, the Okaloosa County Comprehensive Plan, and furthers the health safety, and welfare of the citizens of Okaloosa County. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners conduct a public hearing regarding the proposed ordinance then, in consideration of the facts presented herein as well as any other facts that may be presented during the course of the public hearing, decide whether or not to adopt the proposed ordinance, and act accordingly. If the Board decides to approve the ordinance, the following motion is recommended: "Motion to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the County Code, Ordinance 07-32, as amended, to incorporate all volumes of the 2014 Florida Building Code and 2011 National Electrical Code." RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator