Building Codes, Ordinances

Any building or structure constructed, operated or maintained for use by the general public, including, but not limited to, all buildings or portions of buildings used for:
(1) State, municipal, or county purposes; 
(2) Education; 
 (3) Health care, residential care nursing homes or any facility licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services; 
(4) Public assembly;  
(5) A hotel, motel, inn or rooming or lodging house;  
6) A restaurant;  (Clarified as 50 or more occupants); 
(7) Business occupancy of more than 3,000 square feet or more than one story; or   
(8) Mercantile occupancy of more than 3,000 square feet or more than one story.  

A NEW fire alarm being installed in an occupancy within the list of one of the 8 occupancy types listed above, if not already included in the construction permit through this office.  This applies regardless of if a fire alarm is not required for the occupancy type.  If a fire alarm system is being installed within one of the 8 occupancies listed above, they shall obtain a permit through the SFMO. 

 Any NEW NFPA 96 Commercial cooking hood systems with fire suppression being installed requires a permit through this office regardless of the occupancy.  The only exception would be within a dwelling. 

 Also, the trigger for a Maine Licensed design professional in accordance with Title 32 §226 is $50,000.00.  Any project $50,000.00 or greater requires a Maine Licensed design professional to stamp the drawings that are submitted to the Office of State Fire Marshal for permitting.

Lastly, “Barrier-Free” is the ADA portion of our permitting process.  This is never a stand-alone permit. 

All barrier free permits required a construction permit, either through a delegated community or through the SFMO, as well as the building code surcharge.  For new construction, it is mandatory to obtain a Construction and barrier free permit for the 8 occupancy classifications listed above.  This also applies for projects exceeding $75,000.00 unless the design professional provides certification that the project meets ADA requirements.