Tents and Canopies
Are all of the city code appropriate? Here is a look at the one about tents and canopies
Backyard tents not cool in Tampa
By JANET ZINK, Times Staff WriterPublished May 29, 2006
The city says they can turn into deadly missiles during hurricanes. You're allowed to set one up, but for only 30 days.
"It's a health, safety and welfare issue," said Curtis Lane, director of Tampa's code enforcement department. Other local jurisdictions don't regulate the tents, but Tampa has concerns.
High winds could hurl the tent down the street, turning the poles into deadly missiles, Lane said."
Here is what other communities think about this issue
Sally Eichler, codes compliance director for St. Petersburg, said large canopies, often used to protect cars or boats, require a permit in the city.
But there are no rules regulating what some call "screen rooms."
"The expectation is that it would be taken down in preparation for any kind of a storm or high wind," she said. "It makes more sense to go after the big things."
Larry Lara, code enforcement program manager for Pinellas County, chuckled when he heard about Tampa's rules.
"There's different community standards for different communities, but my gosh," he said, then apologized for making light of Tampa's regulations."
Perhaps this is one that should be brought back to City Council to be changed. Keep the part about not having the canopies in your front driveway, but remove the part about tents in back yards.
"Sec. 27-148. Tents.
Tents may be erected only as temporary structures provided that the activity for which the tent is being used is consistent with the uses permitted in the underlying zoning district. There shall be no extension to the duration or time frame for which a tent may be erected as specified in this section. Structures erected for longer periods of time than allowed by this section must be designed as permanent structures and comply with current building codes, land development regulations and fire codes.
(a) Tents one hundred (100) square feet or less in covered area are subject to the following limitations:
(1) Tents are allowed on public right(s)-of-way during special events or festivals as designated and approved by city council pursuant to a parade, block party or road festival permit, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of such permit, or on private property located contiguous to a public right-of-way that has been closed during a parade, block party or festival. Tents are also allowed in City of Tampa parks if approved by the City of Tampa Parks Department in connection with an event of limited duration, on residential property when erected for five (5) days or less for an activity normally associated with a residential use, or as otherwise provided by law.
(2) One (1) tent of this size may be permitted per zoning lot or portion thereof, only as an accessory to an existing approved principal structure. An exception to this condition may be given when multiple tents are requested in conjunction with a major festival and when an approved assembly permit for the zoning lot has been issued through the City of Tampa Fire Marshal's office.
(3) A tent may be erected for no more than thirty (30) total cumulative days during any consecutive twelve-month period.
(4) The tent must be placed in compliance with the minimum setback requirements of the underlying zoning district.
(5) The tent may not block access to any required parking spaces, or impede the safe passage of any vehicle in a parking lot.
(6) All tent installations shall comply with the latest edition of the applicable Fire Safety Codes.
(7) All electrical, plumbing or mechanical installations shall be permitted through the applicable City of Tampa Departments.
(8) Tents shall be taken down in cases of impending tropical storms twenty-four (24) hours in advance."
7 comments:
Like tent poles are the only thing that can become dangerous during a hurricane?! I can think of much more dangerous items than some alluminum poles. When I was staying at my grandma's in Bellair Beach August of 2000 (forget the name of the hurricane) I saw a cast iron bench move across a porch and almost smash through a patio window!
I've got to disagree with you on this one because, as Montgomery Scott would say, "Ye canna change the laws o'Physics."
Storms don't differentiate which side of your house debris is; if it's in the path of the wind, whether it's in front, behind, or to the side of your domicile, the wind, coming from the right direction, will pick it up and do bad things with it.
If a storm comes aground, half the houses would have taken their canopies and whatnot off of the leeward side of the structures, and left them on the windward side - in other words, the least-effective damage prevention strategy possible.
For the safety of your home, and your neighbors', the city of Tampa's policy makes sense.
Rafe, I understand your point. But by the same logic they should also ban grills, benches, tiki torches, or anything that a irresponsible person might not bring inside when there's a storm coming.
if it is pretty obviously going to be a structure that is impacted by high winds - we are not even talking hurricanes here - we get some pretty big blasts of wind with the summer rains here - then why should it be allowed to be built? I think the current code is fine.
I think the difference, fundamentally, is that all those other things aren't, essentially, big sails that are prone to catching the wind and flying around - it takes a lot more wind to send a lawn chair tumbling than a tarpaulin flapping.
reminders to secure anything that isn't bolted down when bad weather's coming are always appropriate, but it doesn't need to micro-manage our lives. having formal guidelines for the most at-risk items seems like a reasonable compromise.
You can't legislate common sense.
Here's a question along the line of the topic.
I have a big grand oak on my property that could blow over and do some real damage to mine or my neighbors houses.
The city wouldn't let me cut it down if I wanted to for safety ( wouldn't want to anyway because I like trees).
But lets say I did want to and they stopped me. Will the city assume liability for any damage it may cause and cost of removal? If they tell me what I can or can't do with it I would think that they should take responsibility for it.
The 30 day limit is stupid. IT IS NOT FOR SAFETY REASONS. If the only reason for the thirty day limit was to prevent hurricane missles then it is ineffective anyway. What if your thirty days of usage is during a hurricane? Well, Duh!? how does that help? Besides, the hurricane issue is solved by rule number 8 which says that the tents must be removed within 24 hours of a possible impending tropical storm. That is the only rule needed to prevent spearing someone (which I have never heard of happening, yet).
Also, if they really wanted to protect people from these missles, then why the heck do they not make this regulation widely known?
No, the truth of the matter is, that some prick on the city commission did not like his or her neighbor's ugly tent being visible from their yard; so like all pricks with power they made a rule so their neighbor could not have that tent anymore.
Let's face it, if the rule really made sense, then there would be a lot more support for it in other jurisdictions.
The restriction should be repealed and the instigator should have to apologize to their neighbor for abusing their power. MORONS is power! sheesh!
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