San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 19.20 Construction Standards

This chapter provides mandatory standards and specifications for floating docks and marina construction. These regulations apply to structures in both coastal and inland waters under county jurisdiction in addition to all other applicable county regulations, and are organized into the following sections:

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

Any reasonable design or specification will be allowed upon approval by the building official. In areas subject to heavy wave action the building official may require additional provisions to be made to assure a safe installation.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

A permit shall be obtained from the planning department as set forth in Chapter 19.02 of this title prior to any construction of docks, marinas and work of a similar nature as follows:

(1) Application Content and Filing. Plans to be submitted for approval shall include: complete working drawings, plot plan with parking layout, schematics of electrical and mechanical work, and such other plans as may be required to effect completion of the work in a manner satisfactory to the building official. Such plans shall be submitted in duplicate to the planning department. When the facility to be constructed includes plumbing facilities, plans shall be submitted in triplicate.

(2) Plan Preparation. A registered civil engineer shall prepare plans for all floating marinas and any floating dock in excess of four hundred square feet in area or fifty feet in length measured perpendicular to the shoreline.

(3) Encroachment Permit Required. Encroachment permits shall be required prior to any construction done on or in conjunction with county property.

(4) Corps of Engineers permit. Where a permit is required by the corps of engineers for marine construction, the permit shall be obtained prior to the issuance of a county permit.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

(a) Fire Equipment. Firefighting equipment shall be provided and maintained in an operable manner for all commercially operated marinas and dock facilities, as specified by the state fire marshall or local fire chief if a local fire district exists.

(b) Water Supply. Domestic water service to any floating facility shall meet minimum requirements established by the health department and such approval shall be made a part of the construction plans.

(c) Lighting. All commercial piers, floats and docks used for loading of passengers shall be illuminated at a minimum five foot candle level for all such loading areas.

(d) Railings. All railings on floating facilities shall be designed for a minimum twenty pounds per lineal foot horizontal load applied at the top railing. Minimum height of railing shall be forty-two inches above adjacent floor level.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

(a) Restrooms. In addition to other sanitary requirements for buildings, all public floating docks or marinas shall have a minimum of two restrooms, (male and female) for each seventy-five mooring spaces. The maximum walking distance from boat berth to restroom shall not exceed four hundred feet.

(b) Sewage Disposal. Removal of sewage from floating facilities shall be as approved by the health department at the time the construction plans are submitted.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

(a) Anchored Docks. Anchored docks may be used on inland waters subject to provisions for water level fluctuation. The size of anchor cable and the weights of submerged anchoring devices shall be calculated to resist all lateral loads to which the dock is subjected.

(b) Small Private Floating Docks. Private floating docks less than four hundred square feet in area shall meet the flotation and anchorage requirements of this chapter.

(c) Floating docks less than two thousand square feet:

(1) Construction requirements for floating docks less than two thousand square feet (except private floating docks less than four hundred square feet—see subsection (b) above), shall be as follows:

(2) All docks shall be designed for boat moorage on at least one side of the boat unless otherwise approved by the building official. Guard rails shall be provided on all access piers and gangways and floats intended for gathering places such as food distribution areas and similar service areas.

(3) The clear water dimension between opposing rows of finger floats shall be a minimum of a 1.75 times the length of the longest finger float.

(d) Floating docks more than two thousand square feet:

(1) The minimum dimensions for floating docks with a float area greater than two thousand square feet shall be as follows:

(2) The clear water dimension between opposing rows of finger floats shall be a minimum of two times the length of the longest finger float.

(e) Guide Piles. Guide piles shall be installed at ends of all fingers attached to outboard end of main access float and at all floats exceeding thirty-five feet in length in ocean waters and inland waters not subject to fluctuation. Maximum spacing of guide piles for main floats shall be forty feet. Piles shall meet all applicable requirements of the Uniform Building Code.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

The construction materials for floating docks, except private docks of four hundred square feet or less, shall conform to the following standards:

(1) Floatation Units. Shall be concrete, pressure molded fiber glass, reinforced plastic, or expanded cellular plastic coated with an approved material to prevent physical or chemical damage.

(2) Metal Parts. Iron and steel parts shall be heavily galvanized or equally protected with a corrosion-resistant coating.

(3) Deck Surfaces. May be concrete, plastic or wood. Lumber shall be a minimum of 1-⅝-inch net thickness. Plywood shall be marine exterior grade of ¾ inch minimum thickness. All surfaces shall have a non-slip finish.

(4) Lumber. All lumber shall receive a full cell process salt preservation treatment in accordance with the specifications of the American Wood Preserves Association.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

(a) Design Loads. All portions of facility shall be designed to resist full dead load plus live loads. All buoyant units shall resist full design loads with maximum seventy-five percent submergence of unit.

(b) Lateral Loads. All portions of facility shall be designed according to minimum requirements of Uniform Building Code.

(c) Vehicular Loads. All portions of facility shall be designed in accordance with the standard specifications for highway bridges as adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials.

(d) Finger Floats and Main Access Floats. The minimum design live load shall be 15#/s.f. or a 500# concentrated load on one square foot at any location, whichever causes the worst condition.

(e) Fueling Floats and Similar Service Area Floats. The minimum design live load shall be 20#/s.f. or a 500# concentrated load on one square foot at any location, whichever causes the worst condition.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

(a) Gangways shall be provided at the end of all main floats. Where the gangway rests on the main float, adequate width shall be provided at the main float to provide a clear width of eight feet on one side or four feet on each side of the gangway to the edge of the main float.

(b) Gangways shall be designed for a live load of 50#/sq. ft. minimum. Special float conditions may require a greater live load to be considered, subject to the approval of the building official.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)