Ordinance 85-2473 ORDINANCE NO. 85-2473
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE MIAMI
BEACH CITY CODE BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW
ARTICLE IX ENTITLED "SMOKE DETECTORS" ;
MANDATING INSTALLATION OF SMOKE DETECTORS IN
CERTAIN DWELLING AND SLEEPING UNITS AND UNDER
CERTAIN CONDITIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVER-
ABILITY; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
THEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA:
SECTION 1 .
That Chapter 14 of the Miami Beach City Code be and the same is
hereby amended by the addition of a new Article IX entitled,
"Smoke Detectors" , Section 14-76 to read as follows:
Sec. 14-76 Definitions as used in this Article
A. "Adult Congregate Living Facility" (ACLF)
shall be defined as any state licensed
building or buildings, section of the
building, or distinct part of a building ,
residence, private home , boarding home , home
for the aged or other place, whether operating
for profit or not, which undertakes through
its ownership or management to provide, for
the period exceeding twenty-four (24) hours,
housing , food service, and one or more
personal services for four or more adults , not
related to the owner or administrator by blood
or marriage, who require such services. Any
facility with fewer than four adults will be
included within the meaning of this
definition, if they formally or informally
advertise or solicit the public for residence
or referrals and holds itself out to the
public tobe an establishment which regularly
provides such services.
B. "Dwelling Unit" shall be defined as any
room or group of rooms which forms a single
habitable unit with facilities which are used
or are intended to be used for living ,
sleeping , cooking , or eating. Such units
shall contain independent cooking and sleeping
facilities.
C. "Hospital" shall be defined as any
establishment offering services more intensive
than those required for room, board, personal
services and general nursing care and offers
facilities and beds for use beyond twenty-four
(24) hours by individuals requiring diagnosis ,
treatment, or care for illness, injury,
deformity, infirmity abnormality, disease, or
pregnancy and regularly makes available at
least clinical laboratory services, diagnostic
X-ray services and treatment facilities for
surgical or obstetrical care, or , other
definitive medical treatment of similar
extent.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY-1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE -MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
D. "Nursing Home" shall be defined as a
state-licensed facility providing long-term
care of the chronically ill, the physically-
disabled, and the aged who are unable to move
about without the aid of another person or
device.
E . "Owner" shall be defined as any person,
firm, corporation or other legal entity who
individually or jointly or severally with
others holds the legal or beneficial title to
any buildings, facilities , equipment or
premises subject to the provisions of this
chapter . The term shall include the owners'
duly authorized agent, purchaser , devisee,
fiduciary, property holder or any other
person, firm, corporation or legal entity
having a vested or contingent interest or , in
the case of a leased premises, the legal
holder of the lease or his legal
representative.
F. "Sleeping Area" shall be defined as a
bedroom or room intended for sleeping or a
combination of bedrooms or rooms intended for
sleeping within a dwelling unit, which are
located on the same floor and are not
separated by another habitable room, such as a
living room, dining room or kitchen, but not a
bathroom, hallway or closet. A dwelling unit
may have more than one sleeping area; provided
that said sleeping area not include common
usage areas in structures with more than one
dwelling unit, such as corridors , lobbies and
basements.
G. "Sleeping Unit" shall be defined as a room
or group of rooms intended for rental to
transients on a day-to-day, week-to-week , or
month-to-month basis, not intended for use or
used as a permanent dwelling and without
cooking facilities.
H. "Smoke Detector" shall be defined as a
device which detects visible or invisible
particles of combustion.
I . "Substantially Rehabilitated" shall be
defined as any improvement to a structure
which is valued greater than one-half of the
assessed valuation of the building.
J. "Transient Residency" shall be defined as
occupancy with the intention of the parties
that the occupancy be temporary.
SECTION 2.
That Chapter 14 of the Miami Beach City Code be and the same is
hereby amended by the addition of a new Article IX, Section 14-77 ,
to read as follows:
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY-1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE-MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
Sec. 14-77 Requirements
A. The owner of each dwelling or sleeping unit
which is constructed or substantially
rehabilitated under a building permit
issued after the effective date of this
ordinance, shall install smoke detectors
as required by the Life Safety Code of
the National Fire Protection Association,
1981 edition. No Certificate of
Occupancy may be issued for any dwelling
or sleeping unit unless smoke detectors
have been installed as required by this
ordinance.
B. Within six (6) months of the passage of this
ordinance all owners of existing dwelling
or sleeping units must install either:
(1) a battery operated smoke detector
meeting the requirements of U.L. 217
(Standards for Single and Multiple
Station Smoke Detectors) or,
(2) a permanently wired smoke detector
"hardwired" to a permanent non-shut
off circuit, said installation
meeting the requirements of U.L. 268
(Smoke Detectors for Fire Protective
Signaling Systems) .
SECTION 3.
That Chapter 14 of the Miami Beach City Code and the same is
hereby amended by the addition of a new Article IX, Section 14-78 ,
to read as follows:
Sec. 14-78 Locations
A. The owner of each dwelling unit shall install
such smoke detectors within the dwelling
unit to protect the sleeping areas .
B. Any owner subject to this Act may not install
a smoke detector in a dead air space, such as
where the ceiling meets the wall.
SECTION 4 .
Chapter 14 of the Miami Beach City Code and the same is hereby
amended by the addition of a new Article IX, Section 14-79 , to
read as follows:
Sec. 14-79 Installation
A. "Hard wire system" smoke detectors must be
capable of sensing visible or invisible
products of combustion and shall be
installed in a manner approved by the
Chief of the Fire Department or his
designee, who shall have the authority to
promulgate rules for such installations.
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY-1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE-MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
B. Any connection of smoke detectors to the
building ' s electrical system will require
an electrical permit in compliance with
the provisions of the National Electrical
Code, N.F.P.A. 70-1981 edition.
C. Smoke detectors shall be maintained in
operative condition at all times as
specified in N.F.P.A. 702E 1978 edition.
SECTION 5.
Chapter 14 of the Miami Beach City Code be and the same is hereby
amended by the addition of a new Article IX, Section 14-80 , to
read as follows:
Sec. 14-80 Exceptions
The provisions of this Act shall not apply to:
1. All buildings that have an automatic fire
detector system or an automatic alarm system
or otherwise required to install smoke
detectors under the provisions of the South
Florida Building Code, 1979 edition, and any
subsequent amendments thereto.
2 . All hospitals and licensed nursing homes ,
as defined in this article, shall be exempt
from the provisions of this ordinance, but
shall comply with the requirements of the
South Florida Building Code and Florida
Administrative Code.
3 . All single-family and two-family dwelling
structures, as defined in the Miami Beach
Zoning Ordinance No. 1891.
4. All ACLF' s governed by the smoke detector
requirements as set out in Chapter 14B, Miami
Beach City Code, and any subsequent amendments
thereto.
SECTION 6 .
Chapter 14 of the Miami Beach City Code be and the same is hereby
amended by the addition of a new Article IX, Section 14-81 to read
as follows:
Sec. 14-81 Penalties for Violation
All persons charged with the violation of this
article shall be tried in the County Court or
before such appropriate forum as designated by
law. Violations of this article shall be
considered a first degree misdemeanor . Any
person violating said article shall be deemed
guilty of a separate offense for each and
every day or portion thereof during which any
violation of any of the provisions of this
article is committed or continued.
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY-1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE -MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
SECTION 7 .
Chapter 14 of the Miami Beach City Code be and the same is hereby
amended by the addition of a new Article IX, Section 14-82 to
read as follows:
Sec. 14-82 Inspection and Maintenance of smoke
detectors
(a) The responsibility of the owner of the
premises having smoke detectors to
inspect and maintain such devices
subject to the responsibilities set
forth below.
(b) The detectors shall be inspected on an
annual basis to determine if such
systems are operating correctly subject
to the provisions stated below. No
occupational license shall be issued to
a premises until a certificate of
inspection is submitted to the Chief of
the Fire Department or his designee.
(c) In residential tenancies using battery
operated smoke detectors within the
dwelling units, the lessor (or his
agent) shall state under oath that: (1)
each lessee has been notified by
certified mail as to the purpose of the
smoke detector and how it is tested; (2)
that the responsibility is upon the
lessee to notify the lessor (or his
agent) as to any malfunctions. However ,
if the lessee is physically or mentally
unable to inspect the smoke detector in
his dwelling unit, said tenant shall
notify the lessor (or his agent) in
writing of the inability to inspect and
shall provide accessibility to the
lessor (or his agent) within seven (7)
days to test the operation of the smoke
detector . Thereafter , until the
termination of the lessee' s interest in
the dwelling unit, the lessor (or his
agent) shall be responsible to correct
any malfunctions.
(d) Any owner or lessor who fails to correct
a malfunctioning smoke detector within
seven (7) days from notice shall be
guilty of violating this article and
shall be subject to the penalties
specified in §14-81, Miami Beach City
Code
(e) In hotels, motels or any other dwelling
unit other then a condominium unit or
apartment, the innkeeper or owner shall
be responsible for maintaining and
inspecting the smoke detectors.
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY-1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE-MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA 33139
(f) In owner occupied condominium units, the
owner of said unit shall be responsible
to maintain and inspect the smoke
detector .
(g) On hard-wire smoke detector systems , a
tag or sticker shall be placed on the
system by the contractor or company
performing the inspection. The
inspecting company or contractor shall
then supply the owner or his designee
with a receipt which will include the
date of inspection and statement that
the system is operating properly. A
copy of said receipt shall be forwarded
along with the application for
occupational license .
SECTION 8 . SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, sentence , clause, phrase or portion of
this ordinance is, for any reason, held invalid or
unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent
provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance.
SECTION 9 . REPEALER.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be and
the same are hereby repealed.
SECTION 10 . EFFECTIVE DATE.
This ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days after adoption in
accordance with law on April 13 , 1985 .
PASSED and ADOPTED this 3rd day of
YOR
ATTEST:
C l-I-A„1- ?7 .
Vlell 'tJ
CITY CLERK
1st Reading - February 20, 1985
2nd Reading - April 3, 1985 (as amended)
(REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER SIDNEY S . WEISBURD
AND COMMISSIONER STANLEY H. ARKIN) FORM APPROVED
LDH/dme LEGAL DEPT.
6154F -6- BY /vkv. 13ctiva:fr-
Date 3 -55- •
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY-1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE-MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
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