Scenic Shores Neighborhood Association: Dock Ordinance - Ch 36

Revisions to the existing Chapter 36 to

add Water Department provisions.

New provisions are underlined.

Deleted provisions are strikethrough.

This building chapter is designed to apply to private and commercial docks, piers and boathouses. As well as, docks, piers and boathouses that might be regulated by Fort Worth on other bodies of water such as the Trinity River Vision Lake or the Fort Worth side of Lake Arlington. Therefore, some wording is phrased in general terms instead of being specific to Lake Worth.

Chapter 36

Docks, Piers and Boathouses

3601 General. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to any body of water within the corporate limits of Fort Worth that is under the jurisdiction and control of the City of Fort Worth. In the absence of other provisions, this chapter may be used on bodies of water not under the control of the City of Fort Worth.

This chapter and the “Docks, Piers and Boat House” standards, adopted elsewhere, may be more stringent than this code and other construction codes.

3601.1 Variances/Water Department Release. Lake Worth is owned by the City of Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Water Department has the charge for the safety of the water, as well as, safe usage of the water system. As such, some provisions in this chapter shall be designated as a regulation from the Water Department and will be identified as (WD). Any such section identified with (WD) cannot be granted a variance by the Construction and Fire Prevention Board without first obtaining a release from the Director of the Water Department.

3602 Definitions. The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings shown herein.

DEAD LOAD. The permanent inert weight of materials of construction incorporated into the structure, including fixed or permanent attachments, such as bumpers, railings, winch stands, roof structures, etc.

As further defined in Chapter 16, the weight of materials of construction incorporated into the building, including but not limited to walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding and other similarly incorporated architectural and structural items, and fixed service equipment including the weight of cranes. All dead loads are considered permanent loads.

DECKING. The surface material that forms the floor of the structure.

As further defined in Chapter 16, an exterior floor supported on at least two opposing sides by an adjacent structure, and/or posts, piers or other independent supports.

DOCK, PIER, OR BOAT HOUSE (or any combination). A structure extending from the shore into the water to permit the landing and mooring of vessels. The term “dock”, “pier” or “boat house” includes the anchoring system and any walkways or bridges that will attach to the structure itself.

FLOTATION LIVE LOAD. The total load that a dock can carry without capsizing or sinking. The flotation live load is equal to the dead load plus the live load.

HUNT ABSORPTION TEST. A test documenting the rate at which flotation material absorbs liquid, as well as the quantity of liquid absorbed.

LAKEFRONT PROPERTY LINE. The property line that borders the regulated water area. (For Lake Worth, “as shown on the final plat of record or survey for the property”.)

LAKE WORTH MANAGEMENT OFFICE (LWMO). That group in the Water Department responsible for review and approval for all improvements to structures at or in Lake Worth, and who shall administer the requirements of that department.

LIVE LOAD. Any moving or variable superimposed load on the structure.

As further defined in Chapter 16, those loads produced by the use and occupancy of the building or other structure and do not include construction or environmental loads such as wind load, snow load, rain load, earthquake load, flood load or dead load.

LOADS. Forces or other actions that result from the weight of building materials, occupants and their possessions, environmental effect, differential movement and restrained dimensional changes. Permanent loads are those loads in which variations over time are rare or of small magnitude, such as dead loads. All other loads are variable loads.

REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER (RPE). A professional engineer currently registered with the State of Texas as a professional engineer with a specialization in civil or structural engineering and experience in dock and pier construction.

STRUCTURAL DEAD LOAD. The weight of the structure and its ability to support itself.

STRUCTURE. When used in this Chapter shall be inclusive of entire dock, pier or boat house, including the walkway, anchoring system, cables, floats, electrical, plumbing and any other related components or materials installed in conjunction with the construction, maintenance, or use of the dock.

WALKWAY (or BRIDGE). A passage that provides access from the land or a boat dock, marina, or other floating facility.

3603 Permit Required. No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, or move any dock, pier, boathouse or combination to any body of water within the corporate limits of Fort Worth, that is under the jurisdiction and control of the City of Fort Worth, without complying with the provisions of this chapter.

Each application for a permit, together with plans for a dock, pier, boathouse, or any combination thereof shall be submitted as specified in Chapter 1 of this code and as may be specified in other City codes.

Where such structures are constructed on Lake Worth or any body of water subject to the jurisdiction of another department of the City of Fort Worth, the additional approval of such department shall be obtained.

Submittal of a permit application is not permission to begin work. Construction is not permitted to begin until a permit is ISSUED.

3604 3602 Use. Docks, piers and boathouses for private use shall normally be classified as a Group U Occupancy. Other occupancies may be allowed when the use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, together with the approval of any other appropriate department of the City of Fort Worth, and the construction complies with this code for said use.

3605 3603 Design and Design Loads.

3605.1 General. When designed by an RPE, the RPE shall apply the appropriate loads when doing calculations. Such factors shall include, but not be limited to:

a. dead load

b. live load

c. roof load

d. wind load and wave action; which should be considered as simultaneously applied

e. when intended to have boats attached to the structure for storage, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind and wave, on the boat that are transferred to the structure shall also be considered.

f. when intended to have boats lifted out of the water, the effects of such estimated loads, such as wind on the boat and dead load of the boat, that are transferred to the structure shall also be included.

g. surface areas at and above the water line, when authorized, including walls, screens, tarps, etc.

h. except as allowed for in Section 3605.3, flotation devices shall be designed to withstand the same dead load and live load as a fixed structure.

3605.2 All Occupancies. Regardless of the occupancy category assigned, all structures shall comply with the following provisions:

a. Piles shall conform to Chapter 18 of this Code.

b. All docks, piers and pier platforms boathouses shall be designed to withstand the live and dead loads as specified in Chapter 16 of this code, based upon the Occupancy classification as assigned by the Building Official.

Exception: Private residential structures, classified as a Group U, may use the design loads as specified in Section 3605.3.

c. (WD) Structures shall be able to withstand a minimum of four-foot high wave action at normal water levels. (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.) Floating docks must be designed with anchorage footing and piers to remain in place without floating off at the normal water levels (For Lake Worth, up to 601 ft. above sea level.)

d. (WD) Cables and chains used in anchoring systems shall be designed with a minimum working load safety factor of 3.0 for cable and 2.0 for chains.

e. (WD) Walkways and bridges shall have a maximum slope under dead load of a 4:1 ratio to any direction at the lowest expected water level. (For Lake Worth, 594 ft. above sea level.)

3605.3 Group U Occupancies. When private structures associated with residential uses are assigned a Group U Occupancy classification, the design provisions provided in Section 3605.3.1 through 3605.3.2, may be used in lieu of Chapter 16.

3605.3.1 Flotation devices shall be designed to support the dead load plus 30-pounds per square foot (PSF) live load applied to deck area.

3605.3.2 Structural frame shall be designed to support the minimum live load shall be 40 pounds per square foot (PSF) live load applied to the full surface area of the deck.

3606 3604 Dock and Pier Construction. 3604.1 General. Docks and piers shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements for construction as follows: The proposed design shall incorporate the following minimum provisions:

3606.1 3604.1.1 Piles. Wood piles shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in diameter. Metal piles shall be a minimum of three (3) inches inside diameter pipe. Such piles shall be driven to a minimum depth of twenty-four (24) inches below the top layer of silt. Such piles shall be driven in pairs, one on either side of the platform, and braced as required by section 3606.6. Such piles shall not be spaced apart more than ten (10) feet center to center.

3606.2 3604.1.2 Box cribs. Sets of structural columns of the same size forming a box crib may be used. Such crib shall be braced as required in Section 3606.6 and anchored as required in Section 3607.

3606.3 3604.2 Beams. Beams shall be defined as those members which connect to piles to support the stringers. All beams when of wood shall be a minimum 2-inch material.

3606.4 3604.3 Stringers. Stringers shall be defined as those members usually supporting the decking. All stringers when of wood shall be of a minimum 2-inch material. Pipe stringers shall be a nominal 2-1/2-inch I.D. and spaced not more than eighteen (18) inches O.C.

3606.5 3604.4 Decking.

3606.5.1 3605.4.1 Wooden platform decking shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.5.2 3605.4.2 Other materials, to include lightweight concrete or metal decking may be used when approved by the Building Official. Such decking shall meet the load requirements of Section 3605.

3606.6 3604.5 Bracing.

3606.6.1 3604.5.1 All wooden bracing shall be of a minimum nominal 2-inch material.

3606.6.2 3604.5.2 Bracing shall be accomplished by one or more of the following methods:

a. Cross or “X” bracing. Cross or “X” bracing may be used on each set of pier and box cribs.

b. Beams. Beams may be used as bracing, provided the connections give sufficient support to resist horizontal forces equivalent to that of cross or “X” bracing.

c. Knee bracing. Knee bracing shall be used on each pier attached to and paralleling the platform deck. Pipe knee bracing shall be a nominal 2-1/2 inch I.D.

3606.7 3604.6 Attachment of deck. Attachment of the platform deck to beams and piles shall be accompanied accomplished by one or more of the following methods:

a. By attaching the beams to the piles and box cribs by lag bolts.

b. By caps: Wood caps shall be a minimum nominal 4-inch material and anchored by bolts and welded.

3607 3605 Anchorage of Floatation and box crib structures. Such structures shall be anchored with solid units that will provide the following anchorage:

a. Docks and piers less than fifty (50) feet in length: An anchor on each corner that will support one-fourth of the total dead load plus one-eighth the total live load.

b. Docks and piers fifty (50) feet or more in length: Anchors at the midpoint of the piers.

c. All docks and piers shall be anchored to the shore line.

d. All anchors shall be of masonry, concrete, or steel and shall be securely fastened to the dock or pier by rope, cable, chain, or other approved methods.

3608 3606 Required Water Proofing.

3608.1 3606.1 All wood below one (1) foot above spillway elevation on lakes (for Lake Worth, 601 feet) or below one (1) foot above the 50-year flood elevations on other bodies of water shall be treated lumber. Creosote is not allowed.

3608.2 3606.2 All metal, including bolts, lag bolts, and fasteners, shall be galvanized or painted with paints of similar materials approved for immersion in water.

3609 3607 Floatation Material. All flotation units shall adequately support the dead and live loads of all beams, stringers, and platforms. Data shall be submitted to and approved by the Building Official showing that the buoyancy of such units will support the loads imposed.

Only flotation units made of materials which will not affect the water quality in any way may be used. Materials which are considered unacceptable for this purpose include but are not limited to standard steel 55 gallon drums, any metal which may corrode in the aqueous environment, and any material which may release toxic or hazardous material into the lake proper. Flotation units shall be constructed of material that has never been used in any manner for storage of toxic or hazardous material. Proof that the flotation units meet the above requirements must be provided to and approved by the Building Official.

(a) (WD) Flotation material shall be extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, or a copolymer of polyethylene and polystyrene and shall have a minimum density of 0.9 pounds per cubic foot, and be of consistent quality throughout the float. Beads shall be firmly fused together, and there shall be no voids inside the encasement. Flotation material shall have a water rate absorption of less than 3.0 pounds per cubic foot over seven (7) days when tested by the Hunt Absorption Test. Other flotation material may be considered if it meets all of the requirements set forth in this chapter.

(b) (WD) Flotation material shall be encased in solid polyethylene or a polyurethane type coating, both of which shall be watertight and have a nominal thickness of 0.125 inches.

(d) (WD) Materials which are considered unacceptable for this purpose include but are not limited to standard steel 55 gallon drums, any metal which may corrode in the aqueous environment, and any material which may release toxic or hazardous material into the lake proper.

(e) (WD) All flats shall be warranted for a minimum of eight (8) years against sinking, becoming waterlogged, cracking, peeling, fragmenting, or losing beads, and shall not be prone to damage by animals.

(f) (WD) Floats that are punctured, exposing the foam to erosion or deterioration, shall be replaced immediately.

3610 3608 Boathouse construction. Construction of boathouses or other structures shall meet or exceed the requirements for framing and coverage as specified in other parts of this code. When, in the opinion of the Building Official, the load of the intended use exceeds the capability of the minimum construction design specified in Section 3604, plans and specification may be required to be designed by an engineer registered in the State of Texas a Registered Professional Engineer (RPE).

3611 (WD) Prohibited uses.

3611.1 (WD) Toilet facilities. No toilet facilities of any type shall be allowed on any Structure built past the Lakefront Property Line.

3611.2 (WD) Fuel pumping. Fuel pumping facilities exceeding 55 gallons are not allowed on structures that extend past the Lakefront Property Line.

3612 (WD) Safety devices.

3612.1 (WD) Photocell light. Any Structure that extends more than 100 feet from the Lakefront Property Line shall be equipped with a white photocell light of no less than 200 lumens that operates continually from dusk to dawn. Such lighting shall be provided with a cover on the top of the light to minimize light dispersion upward. The LWMO may require that lighting be placed on structures less than 100 feet from the shoreline when in LWMO decides it is warranted to enhance boating safety. It is the Dock owner's responsibility to ensure that all required lighting is properly maintained and operational at all times.

3612.2 (WD) Water supply A potable water supply can be plumbed to the first floor (lower deck) provided that backflow prevention devices are installed and inspected in accordance with 12.5, Article V, Division 3, Cross Connection Control of the City Code and the Plumbing Code as adopted by the City Council.

3613 3609 Hazardous structures. The requirements of this chapter are considered minimum requirements for safety purposes. Any such structures that do not meet these requirements shall be considered hazardous and shall be abated, as provided by Section 116 102 of this Code. If the Tarrant County Water Control and Improvement District Number One regulations are more restrictive than the City of Fort Worth regulations, the Tarrant County Water Control and Improvement District Number One regulations apply.

Building Code Permit requirements

107.1.1 Lake Worth docks, piers or boathouses. The following provisions apply for permit submittal for docks, piers or boathouses on Lake Worth.

(a) Persons seeking to construct a Dock, Pier or Boathouse or Walkway must submit to two (2) complete sets of the project plans for the Structure, which shall include but not limited to the anchoring system, and any Walkways or Bridges that will attach to the proposed Structure.

(b) When an existing Structure will be used as part of the newly proposed Structure the project plans must include a complete description of the existing Structure. The existing Structure must also comply or be brought into compliance with the specifications set forth in these regulations.

(c) The project plans must include a description of the site that shows the location of the primary lot, the extension of property lines out into the water area and a key plan, either included on the site plan or on a separate sheet, to show the location on or to Lake Worth the body of water.

(d) The project plans must be signed and sealed by an RPE and contain a statement that the proposed Structure complies with the specifications set forth in this code Article and any and all structural design provisions in the Building Code.

Exception: Flat piers, 600 square feet or less in size, with no structures above the walking deck except a guardrail, inclusive of no canopy or no storage space, may be exempt from the engineering provision unless otherwise required by the building official. In calculating the 600 square feet area, the walkway area shall not be included unless wider than 6 feet, in which case, the entire walkway area shall be considered.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure, such as lifts, decking, railing, or awning systems.

(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

Residential Code Permit requirements

R106.1.1 Lake Worth docks, piers or boathouses. The following provisions apply for permit submittal for docks, piers or boathouses on Lake Worth.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure, such as lifts, decking, railing, or awning systems.

(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

Permit requirements.

The following provisions from the Water Code will are converted into permit requirements language for both the Residential and Commercial codes as listed above.

SECTION 18-19. Application to the LWMO.

Exception: Flat piers 600 square feet or less in size, with no structures above the walking deck except a guardrail, inclusive of no canopy or no storage building, may be exempt from the engineering provision unless required by the building official. In calculating the 600 square feet area, the walkway area up to 6 feet in width shall not be considered.

(e) Each project plan set must also include a copy of the manufacturer’s certified plans for any components that will be part of the structure, such as lifts, decking, railing, or awning systems.

(f) The project plans and manufacturer’s certified plans must be based upon the actual conditions at the site of the proposed Structure.

Scenic Shores Neighborhood Association

Dock Ordinance - Ch 36 - Sept 21, 2010

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