From a strictly fiscal standpoint, many communities have experienced increases in land 

 values around marinas that have measurably broadened their tax bases. In several cases the 

 expansion of waterfront boating facilities has been directly responsible for a new and 

 significant prosperity in the surrounding area. The many locally sponsored information and 

 development programs testify to the value placed on marinas. The time and effort devoted 

 to the drafting and adoption of regulations controlling the operation of small-craft facilities 

 also demonstrate this favorable concern on behalf of local governments. 



In some instances, a small-craft harbor is located to serve not one but two or more cities; 

 in others, the harbor serves only the coastal area of a large city or county, and people living 

 inland have Uttle or no interest in boating and will not support community efforts to 

 establish boating facilities. For either situation, the formation of a harbor district or some 

 other improvement district may be the best solution. Most States have laws under which 

 special districts can be formed, and when established by a vote of the people living within 

 the designated district boundaries, they are vested with such taxing privileges and 

 development and regulating authority as to enable them to provide the locally desired 

 harbor facilities. These districts have all the capabilities of a city or county government in 

 the area of boating-facihties development and come under the same general category of local 

 government insofar as small -craft harbors are concerned. 



Some special districts and authorities that have been established for other purposes or for 

 recreational facilities development in general also are endowed by law with small-craft 

 facilities development capabilities. They include port districts, recreation districts, 

 water-resources districts, and port authorities; each may be considered an agency of local 

 government in later discussions. 



b. Regulations and Permits. The regulations and permit requirements originating at local 

 government level are generally intended to complement the State and Federal regulations 

 applicable to a given area. The local regulations are usually more broad in scope and more 

 detailed in technical coverage because they must take into account those characteristics of 

 the local environment that may have a special impact on local construction or development. 

 The design, construction, and maintenance of a marina complex must comply with the 

 regulations established by the local pubhc entity governing the area in which it is built. The 

 minimum standards and requirements for marina construction will be set forth in 

 ordinances, codes, rules, and regulations of the public entity, whose administrators will 

 usually measure compliance therewith against a set of documents such as: (a) Uniform 

 Building Code, (b) Uniform Plumbing Code, (c) Uniform Wiring Code, (d) National Electric 

 Code, (e) Water and Sewerage Standards, (f) Standard Land Development Specifications, 

 (g) Standard Design Specifications, and (h) Uniform Fire Code. Local site characteristics 

 may dictate additional regulations intended to reduce damage from hurricanes, tornados, 

 earthquakes, and extreme weather conditions. Some local codes apply specifically to 

 marinas, such as berthing facility and fire protection standards for boatyards and marinas. 



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