BUILDING PERMIT ORDINANCE
OF THE
TOWN OF VASSALBORO
June 2005
The purpose of this ordinance is to assure compliance with existing state and local regulations governing land use and subsurface wastewater disposal; secure the comfort, convenience, safety, health and welfare of the people of the Town of Vassalboro; and protect the environment and to promote the development of an economically sound and stable community.
AUTHORITY
This Ordinance is enacted pursuant to the Home Rule provisions of the Constitution of the State of Maine and the Home Rule and Police Power Statutes of the State of Maine.
This Ordinance may be amended by a majority vote of any legal Town Meeting when such amendment is published in the Warrant calling for such meeting.
Where the provisions of this Ordinance conflict with this or any other ordinance, the stricter standard shall apply, and should any section or provision of this Ordinance be declared invalid, such invalidity shall not void or make invalid any other section of this Ordinance.
All applications for permits required by this ordinance shall be made in writing. The application for permits shall be in a form as the Municipal Officers shall prescribe and shall contain a description of the proposed work. The applications shall be filed with the town office prior to the start of any work. A permit is valid only for the named applicant and is non-transferable.
The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply to all new construction, reconstructions, alternations, additions, relocations and replacement of any building or part thereof in the Town of Vassalboro. Under the provisions of this ordinance, a permit is not required for normal maintenance and repairs, such as painting, roofing, foundation repair, and siding. Accessory structures or additions located in the Shoreland Zone shall obtain permits. Questions as to the necessity of securing a permit shall be directed to the Code Enforcement Officer.
When the proposed construction or alternation conforms to the provision of this Ordinance, the Code Enforcement Officer shall promptly grant the permit in writing over his/her signature, All building permits shall be void unless work thereunder is commenced and at least 30% of the estimated total cost of the building, including exterior siding, is complete within two (2) years from the date of approval. This permit section does not apply to property located within the Shoreland Zone. The Shoreland Zoning Ordinance provides a separate permit system governing these properties.
If the proposed construction or alteration is in conflict with this ordinance a permit shall not be issued until such conflict has been removed.
Any modifications to the description or scope of the project above and beyond minimal changes shall require a revised permit application, payment of an additional one-half of the application fee, and a permit prior to beginning the work.
All electrical wiring, heating systems, and sewerage disposal systems shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Statutes of the State of Maine and the Maine State Plumbing code.
Permit fees for building in the Town of Vassalboro will be set by the Selectmen. The Planning Board shall make recommendations to the Board. The fee structure will be reviewed annually by both bodies.
Fees shall be paid to the Municipal Treasurer. If any person, including any owner, and contractor, or any authorized agent, fails to obtain any permit in accordance with the Ordinance until after the work has begun, then the fees set forth above shall be three (3) times the regular permit fee, in addition to any enforcement action that may be taken.
A permit to place a manufactured housing unit (as defined in Title 10 M.R.S.A. Chapter 951 § 9002 and § 9061) on individual housing lots, on undeveloped lots where single-family dwellings are allowed shall be issued only if the following conditions have been met:
1. The applicant presents an approved subsurface disposal application or has written approval from the Vassalboro Sanitary District to connect the District’s sanitary system.
2. The manufactured home must have a pitched roof prior to be located on-site. A pitched roof is defined as a roof with a pitch of 2 or more vertical units for every 12 horizontal units of measurement and which is covered with asphalt or fiberglass composition shingles or other materials, but specifically excludes corrugated metal roofing material.
3. The manufactured home has an exterior siding that is residential in appearance but this exterior siding shall not consist of vertical metal siding.
4. Manufactured homes located within the legal borders of the Town of Vassalboro as of the date of the adoption of this Ordinance do not have to meet the above requirements if they are being re-located within the Town of Vassalboro.
5. An approved septic system or sewer connection has been made available.
New homeowners shall be required to place in a location visible to the road, numerals four inches (4”) in height to identify the building for emergency purposes. If applicable, the mailbox of the residence will have identifying numerals on both sides of at least four inches (4”) in height.
Appeal for the decision of the Code Enforcement Officer shall be made to the Board of Appeals and from the Board of Appeals to Superior Court. Such appeal shall be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of the order being appealed.
The Building Ordinance shall supercede all former ordinances and shall become effective immediately after approval by the voters of the Town of Vassalboro.
With the enactment of this ordinance, the Building Permit Ordinance of June 1999 as amended is repealed.