A. 
No person, firm, or corporation may commence work on any of the following without first obtaining a permit from the Building Official:
(1) 
Constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, converting, demolishing, or changing the use of any building or structure;
(2) 
Installing, removing, or altering plumbing or plumbing fixtures, or subsurface wastewater disposal systems or components;
B. 
Emergency work may be undertaken without first obtaining a permit, and a permit must be obtained on the next day the office is open following commencement of such work.
C. 
Fees for permits and inspections under this article shall be as set forth in the permit fee schedule adopted by the City Council.
D. 
For permit fees based on the cost of work or square feet of the area of the work, whichever has a greater value, after calculation. If the proposed project cost submitted by the applicant is less than that as would be indicated by national standards, the City of Sanford reserves the right to determine the proposed project cost based on those standards and assess the permit fee accordingly.
E. 
Except for emergency work, the fee for any permit obtained after work has been commenced shall be double the fee otherwise provided for in the fee schedule pursuant to this section.
F. 
The Code Enforcement Director shall adopt a policy authorizing refunds of any fee under this section, where appropriate.
A. 
No person, firm, or corporation having ownership or interest in a building, structure, or property shall allow any building, structure, or property to be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy.
B. 
No final certificate of occupancy shall be issued where any condition of the building, structure, or property is not in compliance with any section of the Code, except where phased occupancy is specifically provided for in approved permits or plans.
A. 
Any person, firm, or corporation who owns, occupies, or controls a building, structure, or premises shall be guilty of an offense and subject to the penalties and remedies provided in this chapter and 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452 if that person, firm, or corporation does any of the following:
(1) 
Violates a provision of this article, or any codes adopted pursuant to this article;
(2) 
Allows a violation to occur or remain at any building, structure, or premises that any person, firm or corporation owns, occupies, or controls;
(3) 
Fails to comply with any lawful order issued pursuant to this article; or
(4) 
Builds inconsistently with any approved permit or plan.
B. 
The imposition of a penalty for a violation does not excuse that violation or allow it to continue.
In addition to the remedies otherwise provided, the following specific remedies shall also be available.
A. 
The Building Official may issue a stop-work order, prohibiting that any additional work be completed until any violations are remedied. A fee to remove any stop-work order shall be set forth in the fee schedule adopted pursuant to this article.
B. 
Where any establishment exceeds the posted occupant limit, the Building Official, the Fire Chief, and/or their designees, may order any performance, presentation, spectacle, or entertainment to be stopped until the condition is corrected.
C. 
Where any violation of any provision of the Code, including failure to comply with any subdivision or site plan approved by the Planning Board, or condition imposed by the Zoning Board of Appeals, shall be found to exist and after the issuance of a notice of violation by the Building Official, the Building Official shall notify the City Manager, who may then institute any and all actions and proceedings, either legal or equitable, including seeking injunctions of violations and the imposition of fines that may be appropriate or necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter in the name of the City. The City Manager shall inform the City Council before instituting action in court, but need not obtain the consent of the City Council, and the City Manager may institute any action for injunctive relief without first informing the City Council in circumstances where immediate relief is needed to prevent a serious public harm.
D. 
For the purposes of eliminating violations and recovering penalties without court action, the City Manager may enter into administrative consent agreements in the name of the City.
A. 
An aggrieved party may appeal from a final decision made pursuant to this article to the Board of Appeals within 30 days from the action of the Building Official.
B. 
The Board of Appeals shall have no authority to waive requirements of the code.
C. 
The order of the Building Official shall not be stayed during any such appeal.
A. 
Nothing in this article shall be construed to relieve any responsible party from liability, or lessen such liability, for damages to persons or property caused by a defect in work performed pursuant to this article.
B. 
No officer or employee charged with the enforcement of this article when acting for the City in the discharge of their duties shall render themselves personally liable for any damages that may occur to any person or property as a result of their acts in the discharge of their duties.
C. 
The City shall not be rendered liable for any damage to persons or property arising out of any permit, inspection, or other action taken pursuant to this article.