This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Life Safety Code."
Reference is herewith made to the NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), such edition as currently adopted by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Said code is hereby adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this article, with the additions, insertions, deletions, and changes as found herein.
A. 
Reserved.
The Fire Chief or their designee is herewith designated as the City official to supervise and enforce this article.
A. 
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Fire Chief with regard to the enforcement of this code may take appeal to the Mayor and City Council.
B. 
An appeal may be taken within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed by filing with the Mayor and City Council a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof, except that in the case of a building or structure which, in the opinion of the Fire Chief, is unsafe or dangerous, the Fire Chief may in his/her order limit the time for such appeal to a shorter period. The Fire Chief shall forthwith transmit to the Mayor and City Council all the papers upon which the action appealed from was taken.
The following provisions shall apply to violations of the laws and ordinances set forth in this article, and all monetary penalties shall be civil penalties:
A. 
The minimum penalty for starting construction or undertaking a land use activity without a required permit shall be $100 and the maximum penalty shall be $2,500.
B. 
The minimum penalty for a specific violation shall be $100 and the maximum penalty shall be $2,500.
C. 
The violator may be ordered to correct or abate the violations. Where the court finds that the violation was willful, the violator shall be ordered to correct or abate the violation, unless the abatement or correction will:
(1) 
Result in a threat or hazard to public health or safety;
(2) 
Result in substantial environmental damage; or
(3) 
Result in substantial injustice.
D. 
If the City of Saco is the prevailing party, it shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees and costs, unless the court finds that special circumstances make the award of these fees and costs unjust. If the defendant is the prevailing party, the defendant may be awarded reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees and costs, as provided by court rule.
E. 
The maximum penalty may exceed $2,500, but shall not exceed $25,000, when it can be shown that there has been a previous conviction of the same party, within the past two years, of the same law or ordinance.
F. 
All proceedings arising under the provisions of locally administered laws and ordinances shall be brought in the name of the City of Saco, and those fines shall be paid to the municipality.