41 6th Street (Trellis Letter) 05.08.2008May 9, 2008
Mrs. Elizabeth Margol
41 6h Street
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
RE: trellis, fence
Dear Mrs. Margol
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
BUILDING AND PLANNING
800 SEMINOLE ROAD
ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA 32233-5445
TELEPHONE: (904) 247-5800
FAX: (904) 247-5845
http://ci.atlantic-beach.fl.us
This letter is to confirm that, as we discussed this morning, the proposal to install trellises at the
northern and southern open air extents of the easternmost (oceanfront) deck on the house located at
41 6'" Street is acceptable, provided that:
(1) The trellises are designed primarily as landscape elements for the purpose of supporting plant
materials;
(2) The trellises do not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height above grade; and,
(3) The trellises are not attached to and/or covered by a solid roof structure.
The following definitions from Section 24-17 of the Zoning, Subdivision and Land Development
Regulations are pertinent to this determination:
Fence shall mean any horizontal Structure constructed of wood, vinyl, lattice, masonry, wire,
metal or similar materials for the purpose of enclosing, screening or separating Land. Open
frames, open trellises, or similar open landscape fixtures, designed solely to support
landscaping and plant materials shall not be construed as a Fence.
Structure shall mean that which is built, constructed, placed, or erected, which is thirty (30)
inches or more in height, including modular, manufactured and mobile homes, storage tanks,
or other manmade facilities and infrastructure such as, towers, smokestacks, utility poles, and
overhead transmission lines, but excluding fences not over six (6) feet in height and
landscape features that do not contain a solid or screened roof such as trellises,
arbors, pergolas, fountains and statuary. Buildings constructed with a connected solid
roof structure shall be considered as a single Structure.
Landscaping means any combination of living plants, native or installed, including grass,
ground covers, shrubs, vines, hedges, or trees. Landscaping may also include Landscape
elements such as rocks, pebbles, sand, mulch, walls, or fences, trellises, arbors, pergolas or
fountains provided no such Landscape element has a solid roof.
Building Permits Clerk Shirley Graham and Building Official Michael Griffin have confirmed that there is
no requirement to obtain a building permit for the construction of such landscape elements. However,
your designer and/or contractor are welcome to confer with Mr. Griffin, should they have questions
regarding structural issues.
41 a Sheet (Margo!)
May 9, 2008
Page 2 of 2
Finally, as specified in Section 24-157(a), "within required front yards, the maximum height of any fence
or wall shall be four (4) feet." Construction of the 4' picket fence in the front yard, as discussed, will
require application to the Building Department for the appropriate permit Also, please check with Field
Representative Trey Hatch (655-1765) to determine if the existing DEP permit covers construction of a
fence seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line, as proof of this will be required at the time of
submission for the local fence permit.
Please feel free to contact me at (904) 270-1605 if you need additional information.
Sincerely,
Erika Hall
Planner
cc: Sonya Doerr, Community Development Director
Michael Griffin, Building Official