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1.2 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
This section provides definitions for terms in this Code that are technical in nature or that might not be
otherwise reflect a common usage of the word. If a term is not defined in this Article, then the Zoning
Administrator shall determine the correct definition of the term.
Abutting: To reach or touch; to touch at the end or be contiguous with; join at a border or boundary;
terminate on. Abutting properties include properties across a street or alley.
Accessory Unit: See Ancillary Unit, in Section 1.1, Residential Use.
Accessory Structure: An Accessory Structure is a Structure customarily incidental and subordinate to the
Principal Structure and, unless otherwise specifically provided, located on the same premises. "On the
same premises" shall be construed as meaning on the same Lot or on a contiguous Lot in the same
ownership. Where a Building is attached to the Principal Building, it shall be considered part thereof, and
not an Accessory Structure.
Adaptive Use: Rehabilitation or renovation of existing Building(s) for any Use(s) other than the present
Use.
Adult: An adult is a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
Adult Daycare: Afacility which provides limited supervision and basic services on a part-time basis by
day or evening, but not overnight, to three (3) or more adults other than the family/employee occupying
the premises. The term does not include community residential homes, nursing home facilities or
institutions for the aged. See Section 1.1 (Civil Support, Community Support Facility) and Article 6.
Affordable / Workforce Housing: Housing priced up to 120% of the area median income as certified by
the City's Community Development Department.
Affordable Housing: Affordable Housing shall mean a Dwelling Unit, owner -occupied and/or rental
housing with a purchase cost, value, or monthly rental, as applicable, equal to or less than the amounts
established by the applicable standards for those individuals whose income is at or below 60 percent of
Area Median Income as published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
and certified by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Albedo: The ratio of light reflected by a surface.
Alcohol Service Establishment: A place of business selling alcoholic beverages for consumption on the
premises as a principal use. Alcohol service establishments may include, but are not limited to: bars,
taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs or supper clubs.
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Allee: A regularly spaced and aligned row of trees usually planted along a Thoroughfare or Pedestrian
Passage.
Alley: A Thoroughfare (not officially designated as a street) designated by a recorded plat, deed, or legal
instrument, to be a secondary means of vehicular access to the rear or side of properties otherwise
Abutting a street; an Alley may connect to a vehicular driveway located to the rear of Lots providing
access to outbuildings, service areas and parking, and containing utility Easements.
Alterations, Structural: Structural alterations are any change, removal, replacement, reinforcement or
addition of beams, ceiling and floor joists, reinforced concrete floor slabs (except those on fill), load
bearing partitions, columns, exterior walls, stairways, roofs, corridors or other structural materials used
in a Building that support the said beams, ceiling and floorjoists, load bearing partitions, columns,
exterior walls, stairways, roofs, or structural materials used in the Building or Structure. The term is
applicable to any Building or Structure or any part thereof, whether or not permanent or temporary
shoring is used during construction and whether or not additions to or rebuilding of the major portion of
an existing building are being accomplished.
Ambulance Service: A facility which provides emergency medical transportation or paramedical
emergency or trauma care en route to an extended care or medical facility. See Section 1.1 (Civil Support,
Major Facility).
Amusement Ride: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
Animal Clinic: A facility which provides medical and surgical care for sick animals, including overnight
boarding, and may include overnight boarding for seven (7) or less healthy animals, all within a completely
enclosed building. See Section 1.1 (Commercial, General Commercial).
Animal Kennel: Afacility which provides boarding services for eight (8) or more animals. See Section 1.1
(Industrial, Products and Services).
Antennas, miscellaneous: Any roof -mounted Structure intended for the transmission or reception of
radar, radio, television, or telephone communications, excluding traditional single-family residential
television antennas, amateur radio antennas, satellite earth stations and microwave antennas.
Arcade: A covered pedestrian way within a building or along the side of a Building at the first floor, which
may provide access to shops along one (1) or more sides. See Article 4, Table 6.
Architectural Features: Prominent or significant parts or elements of a Building or Structure.
Architectural Style: The characteristic form and detail of Buildings from a particular historical period or
school of architecture.
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Atlas, Miami 21: The atlas adopted under the Miami 21 Code.
Atrium: An indoor, roofed space whose height exceeds one Story and which does not contain a Function
or Use and is utilized primarily as a circulation or informal gathering space serving all occupants of the
Building.
Attainable Mixed -Income Housing: Attainable Mixed -Income Housing shall mean a
development comprised of Extremely Low Income Housing, Affordable Housing, and Workforce Housing;
and may be subject to Density bonuses.
Attainable Workforce Housing: Attainable Workforce Housing shall mean a Development comprised of
Workforce Housing, servicing multiple income ranges between 60% of the Area Median Income and
140% of the Area Median Income, as described in Section 3.16 of this Code.
Auto -Related Commercial Establishment: See Section 1.1. Commercial Use
Auto -Related Industrial Establishment: See Section 1.1, Industrial Use
Average Sidewalk Elevation: The average of the record profile grade elevation of each of the streets
Abutting a development, as determined and on file with the City of Miami Public Works Department.
Awning: A movable roof -like Structure, cantilevered or otherwise entirely supported from a Building, used
to shade or screen windows or doors.
Backbuilding: A single -story Structure with a maximum width of twelve (12) feet connecting a Principal
Building to an Outbuilding. See Article 4, Table 8, Diagram C.
Balcony: An unenclosed habitable Structure cantilevered from a Facade or Building Elevation.
Base Building Line: The officially mapped street lines. Lines so established may fall within the boundaries
of Lots and shall be used instead of the Lot lines adjacent to the streets in determining the Layers and
Setbacks.
Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The elevation of surface water resulting from a flood that has a one percent
(1%) chance of equaling or exceeding that level in any given year as determined by FEMA. The BFE is
shown on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).
Bed and Breakfast: See Section 1.1, Lodging Use.
Bicycle Lane: A lane dedicated for bicycle use demarcated by striping or otherwise separated from vehicle
lanes.
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Bicycle Rack Space: Parking space for any two wheel alternative mode of transportation including:
bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, Segwayg, etc.
Bicycle Route: AThoroughfare designated for shared use of bicycles and automobiles.
Bicycle Shed: An area, approximately circular, that is centered on a common destination, reachable by
bicycle. A Bicycle Shed for purposes of connecting to transit and mapping a Transit Oriented
Development ("TOD") is a five (5) minute ride at a leisurely pace. The area of the Bicycle Shed is
dependent on the type and connectedness of barrier -free bicycle routes available. Five -minutes of travel
is equivalent to one-half (1/2) mile when no dedicated space for bicycles are available; three-quarter (3/4)
mile when improvements like bicycle lanes or shared -use paths are available; and one (1) mile when
premium facilities like linear parks, the Riverwalk, Baywalk, or separated lanes are available for travel.
The City's Bicycle Master Plan further identifies types of bicycle facilities. The outline of the Bicycle Shed
must be refined according to actual site conditions and is subject to change as additional bicycle facilities
are added. (Sometimes referred to as "Bikeshed").
Block: The aggregate of private Lots, passages, rear lanes and Alleys, the perimeter of which abuts
Thoroughfares.
Block Face: The aggregate of all the Building Facades on one side of a block. The Block Face provides the
context for establishing architectural harmony.
Botanical Garden:Agarden of collected growing plants established for the benefit of the Public to serve
as an educational, recreational or scientific center.
Bonus Capacity: The additional Building Capacity awarded for participation in the Public Benefits
Program, as defined in Article 3, Section 3.14.
Brownfield: An area having been used primarily as an industrial or commercial site with perceived or
actual presence of environmentally hazardous substance.
Buffer: An area of land, including landscaping, berms, walls, Fences, and Building Setbacks, which is
located between land Uses of different characters and is intended to mitigate negative impacts of the one
intense Use on a residential or vacant parcel.
Buildable Area: The portion of a Lot remaining after required Setbacks have been provided. Buildings may
be placed in any part of the Buildable area, but limitations on percent of the Lot which may be covered by
Buildings may require Open Space within the buildable area.
Building: Any Structure having a solid roof intended for shelter or enclosing of persons, animals, chattels,
property, equipment or a process of any kind or nature, excluding freestanding tents, freestanding
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awnings, and cabanas and screened enclosures.
Building Capacity: See Floor Area.
Building Code: The State of Florida Building Code.
Building Configuration: The form of a Building, based on its massing, Private Frontage, and Height.
Building Disposition: The placement of a Building on its Lot.
Building Function: The Uses accommodated by a Building and its Lot. Functions are categorized as
Restricted, Limited, or Open, according to the Intensity of the Use.
Building Height: The vertical extent of a Building measured in Stories.
Building Permit: The permit required for new construction and additions pursuant to the City Code.
Build -to line: A line established within a given Lot indicating where the outer edge of a Structure must be
located.
By Right: A use allowed pursuant to zoning review and approval of a Building Permit or issuance of a
Certificate of Use under Article 7, Section 7.1.2.1. Permitted Uses.
Canopy: Afixed-roofed Structure which provides shade or protection and is in whole or in part self-
supporting with open sides.
Capacity: See Floor Area.
Car Shelter: AStructure made of canvas, aluminum, or similar materials, or any combination thereof, on
movable framing for the shade and shelter of one (1) or two (2) private passenger vehicles.
Carport: A portion of a Principal residential Building or a Building accessory to a residential Use designed
to be used for shelter of motor vehicles, unenclosed at the vehicular entry side and for an area at least
equal to twenty percent (20%) of the area of the outer surface of walls, which might otherwise be
constructed along its entire remaining perimeter. Where enclosure exceeds this amount, the shelter shall
be construed to be a garage.
Certificate of Occupancy: As defined by the Florida Building Code.
Certificate of Use: An official City document verifying that a particular Use is in compliance with
applicable sections of this Miami 21 Code pursuant to the requirements of Article IV, Section 2-207 of
the City Code and Section 7.1.2.1 of this Code.
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City: The City of Miami, Florida.
City Code: The Code of Ordinances of the City of Miami.
City Commission: The City Commission of the City of Miami.
Civic: Uses held in private or public ownership but functioning for community purposes such as religious,
cultural, environmental, or educational uses. See Section 1.1.
Civic Building:A Building designed specifically for a Civic Function.
Civic Institution (Cl): Azone with uses primarily dedicated to Functioning for community purposes such
as, cultural, educational, environmental, governmental, public transit, public parking and religious
facilities. See Section 1.1.
Civic Space (CS): Azone with mainly outdoor area dedicated for functioning for community purposes.
Civic Space Types: Open Space defined by the combination of certain physical constants including the
relationship between their intended Use, their size, their landscaping and their enfronting Buildings. See
Article 4, Table 7.
Civic Zone: See Article 4, Table 1
Civil Support Uses: See Section 1.1
Code: The Miami 21 Code. May also be referred to herein as this Code.
College / University: See Section 1.1, Education Use
Commercial Storage Facility: Afacility providing for the storage of office furnishings, archive records and
general personal property of businesses, agencies and professionals. Such personal property is limited to
furniture and other household goods and retail merchandise to be sold at nearby establishments. Storage
of heavy equipment or any property that may be deemed hazardous, such as property which is
inflammable, combustible, explosive or dangerous is prohibited. See Section 1.1 (Commercial, Storage and
Distribution).
Commercial Vehicle: A Commercial Vehicle is any vehicle designed, intended or used for transportation of
people, goods, or things, not including private passenger vehicles and trailers for private nonprofit
transport of goods or boats.
Common Lawn: See Article 4, Table 7.
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Community Facility: See Section 1.1, Civic Use.
Community Garden: A grouping of garden plots available for small-scale cultivation, generally to residents
of apartments and other dwelling types without private gardens. Community gardens should
accommodate individual storage sheds.
Community Residence: See Section 1.1, Residential Use.
Community Support Facility: See Section 1.1, Civil Support Use.
Comprehensive Plan: The Miami Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan.
Configuration: The form of a building based on its massing, Private Frontage and Height.
Construction, Actual: The placing of construction materials in a permanent position and fastened in a
permanent manner; except that, where demolition, excavation, or removal of an existing Structure has
been substantially begun preparatory to new construction, such excavation, demolition, or removal shall
be deemed to be actual construction, provided that work shall be Continuously carried on without
interruption, except for just cause, until the completion of the new construction involved.
Content, Adult: see Adult Entertainment; Specified Anatomical Areas; Specified Sexual Activities; see
Section 1.1 Commercial Use.
Context: Surroundings made up of the particular combination of elements that create specific character
in the area.
Continuously: As defined with reference to Actual Construction defined herein, continuously shall mean
that work is underway for at least fifty percent (50%) of the working days (Monday through Friday,
national holidays excluded) since construction began. See also Construction, Actual.
Cool Roof: A roof that reflects the sun's heat and emits absorbed radiation back into the atmosphere.
Corridor: A lineal geographic system incorporating transportation or Greenways.
Courtyard: Open Space, partially defined by walls or Buildings as regulated by this Code. See Article 4,
Table 7.
CPTED: Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.
Crew Quarters: Accommodations designed and outfitted to accommodate on a non -permanent basis the
crew of vessels being serviced or temporarily stored at established Marinas or Marine Related Industrial
Establishments allowed, in an incidental capacity, on the same property where the primary use which
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they support is established. Crew Quarters' facilities shall be commensurate to the facilities they serve.
See Article 6.
Curb: The edge of the vehicular pavement detailed as a raised concrete or stone element, or flush with a
swale.
Density: The number of Dwelling Units within a standard measure of land area, usually given as units per
acre.
Design Speed: The velocity at which a Thoroughfare is designed for vehicular use.
Development: Development shall have the meaning given it in section 380.04, Florida Statutes.
Development Capacity: see Floor Area.
Director: Unless otherwise specified, the term "Director" shall mean the Director of the Department of
Planning for the City.
Disposition: The placement of a Building on its Lot. See Article 4, Table 8.
District (D):Azone intended to accommodate Uses which because of their specialized performance, Scale
or impact should not be incorporated into the Neighborhood structure.
Dock: See Pier.
Dormitory: See Section 1.1, Residential Use.
Drive -through / Drive-in Facility: A place of business including drive -through banks or teller windows,
drive -through eating and drinking establishments, drive -through windows at liquor or other stores, or at
laundry and dry cleaning agencies, car washes, and similar facilities, but excludes automotive service
stations. See Article 6.
Driveway: A vehicular lane within a Lot, usually leading to a garage or carport. A Driveway in the First
Layer may be used for parking if it is less than the width allowed in the applicable transect, above which
dimension it becomes subject to the constraints of a parking lot.
Dwelling Unit: Residence of a single housekeeping unit. See Article 6.
Easement: A legal instrument, in a form approved by the City Attorney and recorded in the county
records, that allows access through real property of the conveyor.
Educational Use: See Section 1.1.
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Elementary School: See Section 1.1, Educational Use.
Elevation, Building: An exterior wall of a Building not along a Frontage Line (See Facade).
Elevation, Floor: Height of floor level.
Eligible Historic Resource: Archeological sites, individual historic resources, contributing Buildings within
a historic district, as qualified under Chapter 23 of the City Code.
Employment Office:A place of business, other than a hiring hall or labor pool, offering individual job
recruitment by specification of job qualifications and conduct of individual interviews by placement
specialists onsite to meet those job specifications. See Section 1.1 (Commercial, General Commercial).
Encroachment: Building element permissible within required Setback.
Enfront: To place an element along a Frontage Line, as in "Porches enfront the street."
Entertainment Establishment: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
Entertainment Establishment, Adult: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
Entrance, Principal: The main point of access of pedestrians into a Building.
Established Setback Area: Adefined area wherein the Setbacks provided by the Transect designation are
superseded by those originally adopted for a special district under Ordinance 11000, and which continue
and are listed in Article 3, Section 3.3.6 of this Miami 21 Code. The boundaries of Established Setback
Areas are illustrated on Article 4, Diagram 10.
Exception: Permit approved pursuant to the requirements of Article 7.
Extended Care Facility or Nursing Home: An institution which is licensed by the State of Florida to
provide health care or medical supervision for twenty-four (24) or more consecutive hours for three (3) or
more persons not related to the governing authority by blood, marriage or adoption. See Section 1.1 (Civil
Support, Community Support Facility) and Article 6.
Extensive Green Roof: An area atop a roof surface of a Building surfaced with soil and Florida Friendly
Landscaping that are appropriate for South Florida green roof systems, including ground cover, grasses,
herbs, and flowering herbaceous plants, which require little or no maintenance and no permanent
irrigation system. This area will serve to retain stormwater runoff and to mitigate the Heat Island Effect.
The depth of the growing medium shall be a minimum of two (2) inches and a maximum of six (6) inches.
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Extremely Low Income Housing: Extremely Low Income Housing shall mean a Dwelling Unit, owner -
occupied and/or rental housing with a purchase cost, value, or monthly rental, as applicable, equal to or
less than the amounts established by the applicable standards for those individuals whose income is at or
below 30 percent of Area Median Income as published by the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development and certified by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Facade: The exterior wall of a Building that is set along a Frontage Line. (See Elevation, Building).
Family Care Home: Afamily care home is an occupied residence, registered and licensed by the State of
Florida, where five (5) or fewer preschool children from more than one (1) unrelated family receive care
on a regular part-time basis by day or by night and which receives a payment, fee, or grant for any of the
children receiving care, whether or not operated for profit. See Section 1.1(Residential, Community
Residence) and Article 6.
Fence: A permeable metal or wooden wall, independent of a Building, located along a Frontage line. See
Article 4, Table 6.
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Fire Station: A Building housing fire equipment and firefighters. See Section 1.1(Civil Support,
Community Support Facility).
Flea Market: An Open Area or Building used for occasional or periodic sale of goods by individual sellers
for limited periods of time. See Section 1.1(Commercial, Open Air Retail).
Floating Structure: A floating barge -like entity, with or without accommodations built thereon, which is
not primarily used as a means of transportation on water, but serves purposes or provides services
typically associated with a Structure or other improvement to real property. The term "Floating
Structure" includes, but is not limited to, each entity used as a residence, place of business, office, hotel
or motel, restaurant or lounge, clubhouse, meeting facility, storage or parking facility, mining platform,
dredge, dragline, or similar facility or entity represented as such. Floating Structures, as defined herein,
are expressly excluded from the definition of the term "vessel" provided in section 327.02(27), Florida
Statutes (1989), and is also excluded from the definition of "private pleasure craft." Incidental movement
upon water shall not, in and of itself, preclude an entity from classification as a Floating Structure. A
Floating Structure is expressly included as a type of tangible personal property (from section 192.001
(17), Florida Statutes (1989). See illustration included with Ordinance No. 10932, adopted October 24,
1991.
Floorplate: The total indoor and outdoor Floor Area of any given Story of a Building, measured to the
exterior of the wall or balcony.
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Floor Area: The floor area within the inside perimeter of the outside walls of the Building including
hallways, stairs, closets, thickness of walls, columns and other features, and parking and loading areas,
and excluding only interior Atria and open air spaces such as exterior corridors, Porches, balconies and
roof areas. Also means Building or Development Capacity.
Floor Lot Ratio (FLR): The multiplier applied to the Lot Area that determines the maximum Floor Area
allowed above grade in a given Transect Zone.
Food Service Establishment: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
Forecourt: See Article 4, Table 6.
Frontage: The area between a Building Facade and the vehicular lanes of a Thoroughfare, Mean High
waterline of a Waterfront, or Frontage Line of a Civic Space Type.
Frontage, Principal: That Frontage facing the public space such as a Thoroughfare of higher pedestrian
importance (i.e., traffic volume, number of lanes, etc.).
Frontage, Private: The Layer between the Frontage Line and the Principal Building Facade. The Structures
and landscaping within the Private Frontage may be held to specific standards regarding the depth of the
setback and the combination of architectural elements such as Fences, Stoops, Porches and Galleries.
Frontage, Public: The area between the curb of the vehicular lanes and the Frontage Line. Elements of the
Public Frontage include the curb, Sidewalk, planter, street tree, streetlight, street furniture, etc.
Frontage, Secondary: That Frontage facing the public space such as a Thoroughfare that is of lesser
pedestrian importance (i.e., traffic volume, number of lanes, etc.).
Frontage Line: Property Line or Base Building Line Abutting a public space, such as a Plaza or
Thoroughfare, whether at the front, rear, or side of a Lot. Facades parallel to Frontage Lines define the
public realm and are therefore more regulated than the Elevations that coincide with other Lot Lines.
Freeboard: The additional height above the Base Flood Elevation at which the lowest finished floor is
built.
Function: The land Use allowed on property according to this Code.
Funeral Home: Afacility licensed by the state and containing suitable storage room for the dead including
embalming facilities, and may also provide rooms for the display of the dead or ceremonies connected
with burial or cremation. See Section 1.1 (General Commercial).
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Gallery: A covered pedestrian area adjoining the side of a Building on any floor, which may provide access
along one or more sides. See Article 4, Table 7.
Garden: See Article 4, Table 7.
General Commercial: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
General Urban Zone: See Article 4, Table 1.
Government Maintenance Facilities: Building, land, or Structure designed and intended to be used in the
routine upkeep and repair of government owned or leased equipment. See Section 1.1 (Civil Support,
Products and Services).
Green: See Article 4, Table 7.
Green Corridor: See Greenway.
Green Space: An Open Space outdoors, at grade, unroofed, landscaped and free of impervious surfaces.
See Article 4, Table 7.
Greenway: An Open Space Corridor in largely natural condition which may include paths for bicycles and
pedestrians.
Habitable Rooms: Rooms designed and used for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or working or
combinations thereof. Bathrooms, toilet compartments, closets, halls, storage rooms, laundry and utility
spaces, basement recreation rooms, and similar areas are not considered Habitable Rooms.
Habitable Space: Building space which Use involves human presence with direct view of the enfronting
streets or public or private Open Space, excluding Parking Garages, self-service storage facilities,
warehouses, and display windows separated from retail activity.
Hardscape: The nonliving portions of a building's landscaping, such as roads, sidewalks, courtyards and
parking lots.
Heat Island Effect: An elevated temperature in an urban area when compared to rural areas, typically
caused by the increased presence of dark, heat absorbing materials, such as asphalt and dark roofs, in
urban areas.
Height: See Building Height.
Hiring Hall / Labor Pool: A place of business providing employment services for laborers. Such services
generally involve short term hiring of unskilled manual help, with little or no qualifications required, or the
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need of individual interviews by placement specialists. See Section 1.1 (Industrial, Products and Services).
Historic Preservation Ordinance: An Ordinance codified in Chapter 23 of the City Code dedicated to the
preservation of the City of Miami's Historic Property and historic resources as a significant goal in the
City's overall vision for its future.
Historic Property: See Eligible Historic Resource.
Home Occupation: See Home Office.
Home Office: See Section 1.1, Residential Use.
Hospital: An institution having an appropriate license or certificate of need issued by the State of Florida
and providing primary health, medical, or surgical care to persons suffering from illness, disease, injury,
deformity or abnormal mental conditions; and may include related accessory facilities such as
laboratories, outpatient or training facilities. See Section 1.1 (Civil Support, Major Facilities).
Hotel: See Section 1.1, Lodging Use.
House Barge / Houseboat: A Floating Structure used as a residence. Avessel, a private pleasure craft,
consisting of a hull and superstructure supported in the water by integral flotation devices, not suitable
for rough water, and designed and manufactured to be self-propelled. See Article 6.
Housing for the Elderly: Housing development for residents aged fifty-five (55) and over.
Industrial Use: See Section 1.1.
Infill: A development project within existing urban fabric, on a vacant site within a built-up area.
Infrastructure and Utilities: See Section 1.1, Civil Support.
Inn: See Section 1.1, Lodging Use.
Inside Turning Radius: The curved edge of a Thoroughfare at an intersection, measured at the inside edge
of the vehicular tracking. The smaller the Turning Radius, the smaller the pedestrian crossing distance and
the more slowly the vehicle is forced to make the turn.
Intensity: The magnitude of development measured by Floor Lot Ratio permitted in the Restricted, Limited
and Open categories of a Transect Zone.
Intensive Green Roof: An area atop a roof surface of a Building surfaced with soil and a variety of
Florida -Friendly plants that are appropriate for South Florida green roof systems, including herbaceous
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plants and shrubs, and small trees, which require professional maintenance and an advanced green roof
irrigation system. This area will serve the purpose of retaining stormwater runoff and mitigating the Heat
Island Effect. The depth of the growing medium shall be a minimum of six (6) inches. Rooftop farms, urban
roof farms or vegetable farms on roofs are considered Intensive Green Roofs, requiring higher nutrient
applications and focused maintenance. Rooftop farming areas of an Intensive Green Roof must be planted
with appropriate plan material during non -farming periods.
Jail / Detention Facilities: A Building designated by law or regularly used for the confinement of persons
held in lawful custody. See Section 1.1 (Civil Support, Major Facility).
Large Scale Commercial: A commercial business occupying more than 55,000 square feet of Floor Area
with a regional market area, including but not limited to retail or wholesale sales, membership warehouse
clubs, discount stores and department stores. See Article 6.
Laundry / Dry Cleaning Plant: An establishment providing washing, dry cleaning, dyeing, pressing, or
special similar services, not open to or for the direct use of the general public. See Section 1.1 (Industrial,
Products and Services).
Layer: A range of depth of a Lot within which certain elements are permitted as regulated in this Code.
See Article 4, Table 8, Diagram D.
Layer, First: The area of a Lot comprised of the distance between the Base Building Line and the required
Setback including the Private Frontage.
Layer, Second: That portion of the Lot behind the First Layer which includes that portion of the Building
which Enfronts the Thoroughfare.
Layer, Third: That portion of the Lot that is not within the First and Second Layer and is least visible from
the Thoroughfare.
Learning Center: See Section 1.1, Educational Use.
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Legacy Structure: An existing Structure within an NRD area which is maintained or re -purposed by the
property owner that contributes to the character of the District. The Structure must maintain its physical
integrity so that it sufficiently conveys its original character, possess integrity of design, setting, material,
workmanship, feeling and association, and meets specific criteria of the District.
Light Court: See Article 4, Table 6.
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Liner: A Building or part of a Building with Habitable Space specifically designed to enfront a public
space, masking a function without capacity to monitor public space, such as a parking lot, Parking Garage
or storage facility.
Live -Work: See Section 1.1, Residential Uses
Loading Space: An area in which goods and products are moved on and off a vehicle, including the stall or
berth and the apron or maneuvering room incidental thereto.
Lodging Use: See Section 1.1
Lodging Unit: Attached or semidetached living quarters comprised of furnished room(s) of approximately
two hundred (200) gross square feet or more in area, including sanitary facilities but with only limited
kitchen facilities, if any; not qualifying as a Dwelling Unit or efficiency apartment; occupied by transients
on a rental or lease basis for limited periods of time.
Lot:A Lot is any individual Lot, tract or parcel of land, intended as a single Building site or unit, having an
assigned number or numbers, letter or letters, or other name through which it may be identified for
development purposes. A Lot may also be any combination of Lots, tracts, parcels or other areas of land
established by acceptable legal joinder, delineated by a closed boundary and assigned a number, letter or
other name through which it may be identified, intended as a single unit for development purposes.
Lot Area: Lot area shall be the area within the Lot Property Lines, excluding any portions of street rights -
of -way or other required dedications.
Lot, Conforming: A parcel of land meeting the requirements of this Code as to dimensions (width, depth,
or area) and access.
Lot, Corner: A Lot or parcel of land Abutting two (2) or more Thoroughfares at their intersection, or two
(2) parts of the same Thoroughfare forming an interior angle of less than one hundred thirty-five (135)
degrees.
Lot Coverage: The area of the Lot occupied by all Buildings, excluding Structures such as decks, pools,
and trellises.
Lot, Interior: A Lot Abutting only one (1) Thoroughfare.
Lot, Nonconforming: A parcel of land with dimensions or access not meeting minimum requirements of
this Code. See Article 7, Section 7.2.1.
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Lot, Through: A Lot other than a Corner Lot, and with Frontage on more than one (1) Thoroughfare; Alleys
shall not be considered for purposes of this definition.
Lot Line: The boundary that legally and geometrically demarcates a Lot.
Lot Width: The length of the narrowest dimension Frontage Line of a Lot.
Low Income Housing: As established by the City's Community Development Department.
Major Facility: See Section 1.1, Civil Support Use.
Major Recreational Equipment: Vehicles including travel trailers, pickup campers, converted trucks or
buses, motorized homes, tent campers, tents, or other short-term housing or shelter arrangements and
devices, boats and boat trailers, combinations thereof, and other similar equipment, and trailers, cases,
and boxes for transporting recreational equipment, whether occupied by such equipment or not.
Manufacturing and Processing: See Section 1.1, Industrial Use.
Marina: See Section 1.1, Civil Support Use.
Marine -related Industrial Facility: See Section 1.1, Industrial Use.
Marine -related Commercial Establishment: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
Market Rate Housing: As established by the City's Community Development Department.
Microbrewery: An establishment that is primarily a manufacturing facility, where beer is produced for
wider distribution and consumption on premises, with a maximum production of 15,000 barrels of beer
per year. The establishment shall include retail sales, a tasting room, and/or a restaurant where beer
manufactured onsite is served. See Article 6.
Micro Dwelling Unit: An small Multi -Family Residential Dwelling Unit type that shall include sanitary
facilities and kitchen facilities. See Article 6. Table 13.
Middle / High -School: See Section 1.1, Educational Use.
Minor Accessories: An optional part fitted to perform an additional function or enhance performance. For
Recreational Watercraft these include masts, antennae vent stacks and windshields.
Mitigation: Measures taken to eliminate, minimize, or compensate for damages from development
activity.
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Multi -Family Housing: See Section 1.1, Residential Use.
Natural Features: Physical characteristics of a property that are not man made.
Natural Zone or T1 Zone: See Article 4, Table 1.
Navigable Waterway: The navigable part of a waterway, centrally located with respect to the theoretical
axis of the waterway (or the axis of the improved channel of the Miami River) which provides a
throughway or access aisle for manned vessels.
Neighborhood: An urbanized area that is primarily Residential. A Neighborhood shall be based upon a
partial or entire Standard Pedestrian Shed. The physical center of the Neighborhood should be located at
an important traffic intersection associated with a Civic or Commercial use.
Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD): Azoning overlay district. See Section 3.12.
Neighborhood Revitalization District (NRD): An overlay zoning district. See Article 3, Section 3.12.3.
NET: City of Miami's Neighborhood Enhancement Team.
Nonconforming Lot: See Article 7, Section 7.2.1.
Nonconforming Site Improvements: See Article 7, Section 7.2.1.
Nonconforming Structure: See Article 7, Section 7.2.1.
Nonconforming Use: See Article 7, Section 7.2.1.
Nursing Home or Extended Care Facility: An institution which is licensed by the State of Florida to
provide health care or medical supervision for twenty-four (24) or more consecutive hours for three (3) or
more persons not related to the governing authority by blood, marriage or adoption. See Section 1.1 (Civil
Support, Community Support Facility) and Article 6.
Office: See Section 1.1, Office Use.
Office Use: See Section 1.1.
Open Air Retail: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
Open Space: Any parcel or area of land or water essentially unimproved by permanent Buildings and
open to the sky, excluding open parking areas; such space shall be reserved for public or private Use.
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Open Spaces may include Parks, Greens, Squares, Courtyards, Gardens, Playgrounds, Paseos (when
designed predominantly for pedestrians), and pedestrian paths or associated landscaped areas.
Outbuilding: A Building, usually located towards the rear of the same Lot as a Principal Building. It is
sometimes connected to the Principal Building by a Backbuilding.
Park: Atract of land designated and used by the public for active and passive recreation. See Article 4,
Table 7. Also known as Public Park.
Parking Area: Any area designed and used for parking motor vehicles including parking lots and garages,
driveways, garages serving residential Uses, and Thoroughfares.
Parking Garage or Parking Structure: A Structure containing vehicular parking, including mechanical
parking systems.
Parking, Off -site: Spaces provided for vehicles and located outside of the boundaries of the Lots to be
served.
Parking, Off-street: Any land area designed and used for parking motor vehicles including parking lots
and garages, driveways and garages serving residential uses, but excluding areas of Thoroughfares. See
Articles 3 and 4.
Parking, Tandem: The placement of vehicles one behind the other as opposed to side by side.
Parking, Underground: Parking in which the ceiling or roof of the top level does not rise above any
adjoining public Sidewalk.
Paseo: An access way limited to pedestrian use connecting streets, plazas, alleys, garages and other
existing and future public spaces abutting a property. A Paseo shall have a clear path of a miminum of ten
(10) feet in width that is restricted to pedestrian use and lined with active uses having frequent doors and
windows. A Paseo may be roofed above the first floor for (100%) of its length, but any roof portion of
Paseo shall not be counted as Open Space.
Pawnshop: Establishments which provide loans upon delivery of personal goods or other chattel as
security and sell those same items as a secondhand retail service. See Section 1.1 (Industrial, Products
and Services).
Pedestal: In T6 Zones, that portion of a Building up to the eighth Story. Also known as podium.
Pedestrian Orientation: The characteristics of an area where the location and access to Buildings, types
of Uses permitted on the street level, and storefront design relate to the needs of persons traveling on
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foot.
Pedestrian Passage: An Open Space connecting other public spaces, that is restricted to pedestrian use
and limited vehicular access that connects Thoroughfares, Plazas, Alleys, Garages and other public use
spaces, Pedestrian Passage shall have frequent doors and windows.
Pedestrian Shed: An area, approximately circular, that is centered on a common destination. A Pedestrian
Shed is applied to determine the approximate size of a Neighborhood. A Standard Pedestrian Shed is a
barrier -free area interconnected by sidewalks and crosswalks with a one -quarter (1/4) mile travel
distance from the common destination. This is about the distance of a five-minute walk at a leisurely
pace. A Linear Pedestrian Shed is elongated to follow a commercial corridor, measuring one -quarter
mile out from the center line of the corridor. It has been shown that provided with a pedestrian
environment, most people will walk this distance rather than drive. The outline of the shed must be
refined according to actual site conditions, particularly along Thoroughfares. The common destination
should have the present or future capacity to accommodate Transect Zones successional in Density to its
surroundings. (Sometimes called a "walkshed" or "walkable catchment").
Personal Wireless Service Facility (PWSF): Afacility for the provision of personal wireless services, as
defined by the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. A PWSF is any facility for the transmission or
reception of personal wireless services, which may consist of an antenna array, transmission cables,
equipment shelter or Building, access road, mount, and a guy system. Such facilities may include
"monopole" or "lattice tower (tower)" Structures. See Section 1.1, (Civil Support, Infrastructure and
Utilities), and Article 6.
Pervious Pavement System: A porous surface system with a stabilized base that allows water from
precipitation and other sources to pass directly through, thereby reducing the runoff from a site, allowing
groundwater recharge, and naturally cooling the surface through evaporation of water from pavement
voids or from beneath.
Pharmaceutical Laboratories: Pharmaceutical laboratories are facilities equipped and intended for the
testing of pharmaceutical products, particularly their effects on the human body. Such research primarily
entails the evaluation of the absorption, elimination, bioavailability and pharmacodynamics of
medications administered to research participants. Due to the standard protocols associated with such
research, test subjects must remain on -site for prolonged periods including overnight stays. See Section
1.1 (Industrial, Products and Services).
Pier: A platform extending from shore over water used to secure and protect vessels or allow pedestrian
access to extend over water. See Article 6.
Place of Assembly: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
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Planter: The element of the public streetscape which accommodates street trees. Planters may be
continuous or individual and separated.
Playground: See Article 4, Table 7.
Plaza: See Article 4, Table 7.
Porch: An open air room appended to a Building, with floor and roof but no walls on the sides facing
Frontages.
Porte-cochere: See Carport.
Pre -School: See Section 1.1, Educational Use.
Primary -Secondary Grid: Thoroughfare designations appearing on a plan adopted under this Code or a
Special Area Plan. See Article 3, Section 3.9.
Principal Building: A Structure used to enclose or house the primary Use(s) located on a Lot; or the main
Building on a Lot, usually located toward the front.
Principal Dwelling Unit: See Single -Family Residence.
Product and Services: See Section 1.1, Industrial Uses.
Property Line: Demarcation of private property ownership.
Public: Facilities or land owned or operated by a governmental organization.
Public Benefits Program: See Article 3, Section 3.14.
Public Parking: See Section 1.1, Civil Support Use.
Public Storage Facilities: An establishment containing separate, secured self -storage areas or lockers used
for the temporary storage of household items and seasonal or recreational vehicles, small boats, trailers
etc. These facilities cater primarily to the needs of nearby residents. See Section 1.1 (Commercial, General
Commercial) and Article 6.
Recreational Establishment: See Section 1.1, Commercial Use.
Recreational Facility: See Section 1.1, Civic Use.
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Recreational Watercraft: A vessel or craft designed and licensed to move across or through water,
designed and outfitted exclusively for recreational use.
Religious Facility: See Section 1.1, Civic Use.
Research Facility: See Section 1.1, Educational Use.
Rescue Mission: See Section 1.1, Civil Support Use.
Residential Use: See Section 1.1.
Retail Frontage Line: Frontage Lines designated on a Special Area Plan that require the ground level to be
available for retail Use.
Right -of -Way, Public: That land held in trust by the City between the base building lines, including the
sidewalk, swale and parkway area, and the roadway, street and highway.
Roof Terrace: An outdoor space accessible to Building occupants that is designed to provide elevated
views of the surrounding area. The terrace shall be located beyond the second story of a Building with a
minimum size of eight hundred (800) square feet, consisting primarily of Florida Friendly Landscaping and
high-albedo pavement, and may include container gardens and rooftop farming. Extensive, Intensive or a
combination of Extensive and Intensive Green Roof systems may also be provided as additional
landscape.
Rowhouse: A Dwelling Unit that shares a party wall with another Dwelling Unit of the same type.
Rural Zone or T2 Zone: See Article 4, Table 1.
Scale: The spatial relationship among Structures along a street or block front, including height, bulk and
yard relationships. Scale also refers to the proportional relationship of the size of parts to one another
and to the human figure.
Schools: Any public, parochial, private, charitable or non-profit school, college or university, other than
trade or business schools, which may include instructional and recreational uses, living quarters, dining
rooms, restaurants, heating plants and other incidental facilities for students, teachers and employees,
including the Educational Uses such as: pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, college
and university.
Screening: Visually shielding or obscuring one Structure or Use from another by a Liner Building, fencing,
wall, or densely planted vegetation.
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Secondary Grid: See Primary -Secondary Grid.
Setback: The distance from the Base Building Line to the point where a Building may be constructed. This
area must be maintained clear of permanent Structures with the exception of encroachments described
in each Transect Zone.
Shared Parking Standards: An accounting for parking spaces that are available to more than one function.
Shopfront: See Article 4, Table 6.
Sidewalk: The paved layer of the Public Frontage dedicated exclusively to pedestrian activity.
Single -Family Residence: See Section 1.1, Residential Use.
Solar Reflectance: The fraction of solar energy reflected by a material.
Solid Waste Facility: Facility for the disposition of unwanted or discarded material including garbage with
insufficient liquid content to be free flowing. See Section 1.1 (Industrial, Products and Services).
Special Area Plan: See Article 3, Section 3.9.
Special Flood Hazard Area: The land area, as determined by FEMA and shown on the FEMA Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), covered by the floodwaters of the base flood.
Special Training Facility / Vocational: See Section 1.1, Educational Use.
Specified Anatomical Areas: Those areas of the human body, less than completely and opaquely covered,
which consist of: (a) male and female genitals or pubic region; (b) male or female buttocks, anus, anal cleft,
or cleavage; (c) female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; or (d) human male
genitals in a discernibly turgid state. See Section 1.1 (Commercial, Entertainment Establishment, Adult).
Specified Sexual Activities: Those activities which, when described, displayed, exhibited, simulated, or
depicted by whatsoever medium in an adult entertainment service establishment: (a) show the human
genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, or being aroused to a state of sexual stimulation, (b) show acts of
human masturbation, human sexual intercourse, or sodomy; or sexual acts between humans and animals;
(c) show one (1) human being fondling or touching erotically the genitals, pubic area, buttock, anus, or
female breast of another human being. See Section 1.1 (Commercial Entertainment Establishment, Adult).
Square: See Article 4, Table 7.
Stall / Berth: The space where vehicles are placed for parking or loading or unloading operations.
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Stationing: The placing or positioning of a given movable item on a given parcel of land for period of time
exceeding 12 hours.
Stoop: A small stair, landing or ramp connecting a Building entrance to the Sidewalk. Also See Article 4,
Table 6.
Storage and Distribution: See Section 1.1, Industrial Use.
Story: A level within a Building by which Height is measured.
Streetscape: The urban element that establishes the major part of the public realm. The streetscape is
composed of Thoroughfares (travel lanes for vehicles and bicycles, parking lanes for cars, and Sidewalks
or paths for pedestrians) as well as the amenities of the Public Frontages (street trees and plantings,
benches, streetlights, paving, street furniture, etc.), and the visible Private Frontages (Building Facades
and Building Elevations, Porches, yards, Fences, etc.).
Streetscreen: Afreestanding wall required in certain Transect Zones built along the Frontage Line, or
coplanar with the Facade, often for the purpose of masking a parking lot from the Thoroughfare. See
Article 4, Table 8.
Structure: A Structure is anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires fixed location on the
ground or attachment to something having fixed location on the ground or on or below the surface of the
ground or water.
Sub -Urban Zone or T3 Zone: See Article 4, Table 1.
Terminated Vista: A location at the axial conclusion of a Thoroughfare. A Building located at a Terminated
Vista designated on a Special Area Plan is required to be designed in response to the axis.
Terrace: See Article 4, Table 6.
Thoroughfare: Avehicular way incorporating moving lanes and parking lanes within a right-of-way as
part of an interconnected network for vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle mobility.
Tower: In T6 Zones that portion of a Building that extends above the Pedestal.
Towing Service: Establishment which provides for the removal and temporary storage of vehicles but
does not include disposal, permanent disassembly, salvage or accessory storage of inoperable vehicles.
Townhouse: See Rowhouse.
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Transect: A system of ordering human habitats in a range from the most natural to the most urban.
Transect Zones describe the physical character of place at any Scale, according to the Density and
Intensity of land use and urbanism.
Transect Zone (T-Zone): The identification of areas of varying Density whose character is determined by
the requirements for Use, Height, Setback and the form of Building and the form of the enfronting public
streetscape. The elements are determined by their location on the Transect scale. The T-Zones are: T1
Natural, T2 Rural, T3 Sub -Urban, T4 Urban General, T5 Urban Center, and T6 Urban Core, CS Civic
Space, Cl Civic Institutional, CI -HD Civic Institution - Health District, D1 Work Place, D2 Industrial and
D3 Waterfront Industrial. Within T3 through T6 Zones are additional categories, Restricted (R), Limited (L)
and Open (0), and each category shall also be considered a T-Zone.
Transit Corridor: A designation established by the City involving an area not exceeding a one -quarter (1/4)
mile radius from a non -limited access thoroughfare that included designated transit stop locations and is
served by one or more mass transit route(s) with designated transit vehicle(s) operating at an average of
ten (10) minute or less headway Monday thru Friday between the hours of 7am thru 7pm. Multiple transit
routes or types of transit vehicles may be added cumulatively under this definition for the purpose of
parking reductions.
Transit Facility: See Section 1.1, Civil Support Use.
Transit Oriented Development (TOD): A designation established by the City within the Pedestrian Shed
or Bicycle Shed area of a convergence of modes of transit, or a train station.
Transition Line: A horizontal line spanning the full width of a Facade, expressed by a material change or
by a continuous horizontal articulation such as a cornice or a balcony.
Transmission Towers: Freestanding Structures intended for the support of antennas used in the reception
and relay of radar, radio, cellular, television or telephone communications.
Travel Trailer / Recreational Vehicle: Avehicular, portable Structure built on a chassis, designed to be
used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, or vacation purposes. This includes pickup campers,
converted trucks, converted buses, converted automobiles, tent or pop -out campers, tents, or other
short-term housing or shelter arrangements.
Two -Family Residence: See Section 1.1, Residential Use.
Type: A category determined by Function, disposition, and configuration, including size or extent, such as
Thoroughfare types, Civic Space Types, etc.
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Unity of Title: A written agreement executed by and between a property owner and the City whereby the
property owner for a specified consideration by the City agrees that the Lots and or parcels of land
constituting the Building site shall not be conveyed, mortgaged and or leased separate and apart from
each other and that they shall be held together as one (1) tract. Such Unity of Title shall be recorded in
the Public Records of Dade County, Florida and shall run with the land and shall be binding upon the
property owner(s), their successors and assigns. See Article 7, Section 7.1.7. A covenant in lieu of Unity of
Title is acceptable in situations where a unified lot is required by this Code, but a Unity of Title is not
practical due to different ownership. Such covenant must conform to all of the requirements of Article 7,
Section 7.1.7.6 of this Code. The terms Unity of Title and covenant in lieu of Unity of Title shall be
interchangeable for purposes of this Code.
Urban Center Zone or T5 Zone: See Article 4, Table 1.
Urban Core Zone or T6 Zone: See Article 4, Table 1.
Urban Design: Form, in terms of both beauty and function, of urban areas. Urban design is concerned
with the location, mass, and design of various urban components and combines elements of urban
planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and traffic engineering.
Urban Form: The spatial arrangement of a particular environment, as defined by the connectivity of built
mass and form, the natural environment, and the movement of persons, goods and information within.
Use: The purpose or activity for which land, water or Buildings are designed, arranged, or intended, or for
which land or Buildings are occupied or maintained.
USGBC: United States Green Building Council.
Variance: Permit approved pursuant to the requirements of Article 7.
Vehicle Rental Facility: An establishment where motor vehicles are kept and maintained for lease, where
such vehicles are dropped off or picked up and where customers complete all transactions necessary for
the short term lease of such vehicles. See Article 6.
Verge: The space between the Sidewalk and the Curb.
Vessel: Any watercraft, power -driven or not, mobile or stationary, surface, subsurface or hydrofoil,
including but not limited to ships, boats, houseboats, air boats, and sea planes, but excluding Floating
Structures.
Vessel, Commercial: A vessel built, altered, or used for the principal purpose of engaging in water -related
commercial activity, including but not limited to charter boats, fishing boats, cruise ships, and freighters.
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Vessel, Private Pleasure Craft: A vessel which is privately owned or leased primarily for recreational
purposes. Private pleasure craft do not include commercial, official, or scientific vessels. For regulatory
purposes, private pleasure craft are divided into two (2) classes: Minor: Under sixteen (16) feet in length;
Major: Sixteen (16) feet and over in length. Private pleasure craft may or may not contain facilities
qualifying them Residential Use. Where they do contain such facilities, Use within the City limits shall be
governed as provided in this Code and other applicable regulations.
View Corridor: An axial view terminating on a natural or historical feature.
Visibility, Material impediment to: Any material obstruction to visibility that would result in concealment
of a child more than two and one-half (2 1/2) feet in height approaching an intersection, or would
conceal an approaching automotive vehicle or cyclist from such a child. In determining whether a material
Impediment exists to visibility, the speed, direction, and duration of movement to point of potential
collision or contact shall be considered.
Visibility Triangle: See Article 4, Table 8.
Waiver: Permit approved pursuant to the requirements of Article 7.
Warrant: Permit approved pursuant to the requirements of Article 7.
Waterbody: Any body of water separated by a salinity dam from Biscayne Bay including, but not limited
to, Comfort Canal, Little River, Blue Lagoon, and the like. Properties along a Waterbody have been
depicted in Article 3, Diagram 1, titled "Waterways & Waterbodies with Waterfront Properties".
Waterfront: The area of a property that fronts a Waterway or Waterbody and is improved to preserve the
City's natural shoreline and to guarantee Open Space along the water's edge.
Waterway: Biscayne Bay and any body of water navigable to Biscayne Bay; Miami River and its tributaries
from Biscayne Bay to salinity dams or termini, whichever comes first; and the Little River from Biscayne
Bay to the salinity dam. Properties along a Waterway have been depicted in Article 3, Diagram 1,
titled "Waterways & Waterbodies with Waterfront Properties".
Workforce Housing: See Article 3, Section 3.14.
Workforce Housing: Workforce housing shall mean a Dwelling Unit, owner -occupied and/or rental
housing with a purchase cost, value, or monthly rental, as applicable, equal to or less than the amounts
established by the applicable standards for those individuals whose income is between 60 percent to 140
percent of Area Median Income as published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development and certified by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
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Sec. 29-13. - City -owned property sale or lease —Generally.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Charter or the City Code, and except
as provided below, the city commission is prohibited from favorably considering any sale or lease of
property owned by the city unless there is a return to the city of fair market value under such proposed
sale or lease. The city commission is also prohibited from favorably considering any sale or lease of city -
owned property unless (a) there shall have been, prior to the date of the city commission's consideration
of such sale or lease, an advertisement soliciting proposals for said sale or lease published in a daily
newspaper of general paid circulation in the city, allowing not less than ninety (90) days for the city's
receipt of proposals from prospective purchasers or lessees, said advertisement to be no less than one-
fourth ('/4) page and the headline in the advertisement to be in a type no smaller than 18-point and, (b)
except as provided below, there shall have been at least three (3) written proposals received from
prospective purchasers or lessees; however, if there are less than three (3) such proposals received and
if the guaranteed return under the proposal whose acceptance is being considered is equal to fair market
value the city commission determines that the contemplated sale or lease will be in the city's best interest
then, subject to the approval of a majority of the votes cast by the electorate at a referendum, the sale or
lease may be consummated. Any lease for the development of improvements of city -owned property
which has been approved by voter referendum shall require additional voter referendum approval for a
development on City -owned property where the developer has not obtained the necessary building
permits within four (4) years of the effective date of the lease. Such section shall not be applicable when
the delay in the performance of any obligation is as a result of force majeure, or litigation that questions
the validity of the vote, or the City Commission action to place the question for referendum, then the
performance of such obligation shall be extended by the length of the delay. In the case of city -owned
property which is not waterfront, when the value of such property to be sold or leased (individual
leaseholds within a single city -owned property shall not be considered as a single parcel of property for
such valuation purposes) is five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or less, based on an appraisal
performed by a state -certified appraiser, the city commission, by a 4/5 the affirmative vote, may sell or
lease said city -owned property after compliance with the advertisement requirements set forth above but
without the necessity of a referendum.
may:
The above provisions and any other city requirements for competitive bidding shall not apply when:
(a) conveying property to implement housing programs or projects which are intended to benefit
persons or households with low and/or moderate income, the criteria of which to be provided for
by federal and/or state law or by the city commission;
(b) conveying property to implement projects authorized under the Florida Community
Redevelopment Act of 1969, as amended;
(c) conveying property to implement projects of any governmental agency or instrumentality;
(d) disposing of property acquired as a result of foreclosure;
(e) disposing of property acquired in connection with delinquent taxes which properties were
conveyed to the city by the Miami -Dade board of county commissioners under the provisions of
Section 197.592 Florida Statutes, as amended; and
(f) disposing of non -waterfront property to the owner of an adjacent property when the subject
property is 7,500 square feet or less or the subject non -waterfront property is non -buildable.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the city commission, by a 4/5 the affirmative vote,
(a) grant a lessee of city -owned property a one-time extension during the last five years of its
lease, without the necessity of a referendum, for the purpose of funding additional capital
improvements. The extended term shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the original term or
ten years, whichever is less. The granting of such an extension is subject to the lessee paying
fair market rent as determined by the city at the time of such extension and not being in default
of its lease with the city nor in arrearage of any monies due the city; and
(b) amend the Lease Agreement between the City of Miami and Biscayne Bay Restaurant Corp.,
d/b/a Rusty Pelican, dated February 13, 1970, as amended, to (i) extend the lease for an
additional term of fifteen (15) years, with the option to renew for two (2) additional five (5) year
periods, (ii) increase the amount of the minimum guarantee to the City to at least $360,000 per
lease year effective upon execution of the lease amendment, and (iii) require Rusty Pelican to
complete capital improvements to the property, including a public baywalk, in the amount of not
less than $3 Million, within twenty-four (24) months of the effective date of the lease
amendment; and
(c) waive competitive bidding and execute a lease with Dade Heritage Trust, Inc. for the City -
owned building located at 190 Southeast 12th Terrace, for a term of thirty (30) years, with two
(2) thirty (30) year renewals, for minimum annual rent of $600.00 with Consumer Price Index
adjustments, with restrictions, reversions, and retention by the City of all other rights; and
(d) waive competitive bidding and execute a Fifth Amendment to the Lease Agreement with
Aligned Bayshore Marina, LLC, also known as Monty's, to extend the current lease term by an
additional term of approximately thirty-two (32) years (to expire May 31, 2067), with two (2) ten
(10) year options to renew for a total term of fifty-two (52) years (to expire May 31, 2087); which
will increase minimum rent payment by an additional two hundred thousand dollars
($200,000.00) per lease year, for a minimum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) over the
base term of the amended Lease Agreement, or one and three quarters percent (1.75%) of
gross rent receipts from the Property, whichever is greater, as additional rent due to the City
and, commencing January 1, 2019, minimum annual total rent (inclusive of the additional
minimum rent) shall be one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00), plus an
additional twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) to be paid on an annual basis for the full
amended term to a special fund to be established by the City for the benefit of low income
housing renovation; further providing capital improvements to the Property of a minimum of
seven million five hundred thousand dollars ($7,500,000.00) to be spent within three (3) years of
the electorate's approval of the Fifth Amendment to the Lease Agreement; further creating a
capital account requiring a minimum additional investment in the Property of four million dollars
($4,000,000.00) over the amended Lease term, inclusive of the renewal options; requiring a
Transfer Fee payment to the City if the Property is transferred or assigned; and further requiring
a Refinancing Fee payment to the City should the Property be refinanced after the initial
refinancing.
(e) waive competitive bidding and approve the Fifth Modification to the Lease with ESJ JI
Leasehold, LLC, which modifies the remaining term of approximately forty three (43) years and
extends the Term from the year 2060 to the year 2099 and includes a Fifteen (15) year option to
extend the Lease to the year 2114; providing an additional annual rent payment of Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) increasing, once the proposed hotel has
stabilized, to the greater of One Million Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($1,220,000.00)
or Five Percent (5%) of annual hotel gross revenues from a new privately funded hotel
development with a minimum cost of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) with a maximum of
Three Hundred (300) rooms and a maximum height of One Hundred Thirty (130) feet, at ESJ's
expense and option, and a design subject to City approval and successful land use and zoning
changes, as necessary, with said rent being in addition to the currently received greater of
annual rent of Five Hundred Two Thousand One Hundred Sixty Eight Dollars ($502,168.00) and
percentage rent from Jungle Island revenue; with parking spaces sufficient to meet zoning
ordinance requirements; ancillary improvements consisting of retail and/or restaurant space of
up to ten thousand (10,000) square feet and meeting room space of up to thirty thousand
(30,000) square feet; with an aggregate payment of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars
($700,000.00) towards the Ichimura-Miami Japanese Gardens for construction of a walkway to
Jungle Island and necessary repairs and maintenance of the Ichimura-Miami Japanese
Gardens; payments totaling Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) over a ten
(10) year period to be used for affordable housing; establishing a reserve account for capital
repairs of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year; implementing a transfer fee
of Three Percent (3%) of gross sales proceeds if the Property is transferred or assigned;
implementing a refinancing fee of One Percent (1 %) of refinancing loan proceeds if the Property
is refinanced after the initial refinancing.
(f) waive competitive bidding to negotiate and execute a Ground Lease and Master Development
Agreement with Miami Freedom Park, LLC, for a total lease term of ninety-nine (99) years, for
approximately seventy-three (73) acres of City -owned property located generally at 1400
Northwest 37th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33125, also known as Melreese County Club, with a
minimum annual base rent payable to the City equal to the greater of (a) fair market value as
determined by state certified appraisers or (b) five percent (5.0%) of rent from the retail, office,
and hotel development within the Demised Property, but annual base rent of no less than three
million five hundred seventy-seven thousand three hundred sixty-five dollars ($3,577,365.00), in
addition to a contribution to the City of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000.00) payable over
thirty (30) years in annual installments, and any rent increases and/or additional rents
negotiated by the parties; authorizing the use of the Demised Property for a soccer stadium;
with at least one (1) million square feet of art and entertainment center including food and
beverage venues, offices, retail, and a hotel with at least 750 units and conference center with
ancillary commercial uses, guaranteeing a living wage for all on -site employees, further
requiring MFP to undertake the remediation and Site development for a public park of
approximately fifty-eight (58) acres to be developed on property adjacent to the Demised
Property as MFP's sole cost, with any restrictions, reversions, and retention by the City of all
other rights including at least a one (1%) transfer fee payable to the City, with such Lease and
Master Development Agreement requiring City Commission approval by a four -fifths (4/sths)
vote.
Note— See editor's note at the end of this section.
Notwithstanding anything in this Charter to the contrary, the City may enter into leases or
management agreements, for any City -owned submerged lands, with entities having a possessory or
ownership interest in the abutting riparian uplands for building marinas, docks or like facilities, using
methods adopted by ordinance on the condition that such leases or management agreements result in a
return to the City of at least fair market value.
(Res. No. 87-678, § 2(a), 7-9-87/11-3-87; Res. No. 01-841, § 2, 8-9-01; Res. No. 01-843, § 2, 8-
9-01; Res. No. 03-855, § 2, 7-24-03; Res. No. 14-0184, § 1, 5-8-14; Res. No. 14-0225, § 1, 6-12-
14; Res. No. 16-0348, § 3, 7-29-16; Res. No. 17-0351, § 3, 7-27-17; Res. No. 18-0232, § 3, 6-8-
18; Res. No. 18-0309, § 3, 7-18-18)
Editor's note— Res. No. 18-0309, § 3, adopted July 18, 2018, enacted provisions intended for
use as subsection (e). Inasmuch as there are already provisions so designated, and at the
discretion of the editor, said provisions have been redesignated as subsection (f).