This chapter shall be administered by a Code Enforcement Officer (CEO), who shall be appointed by the Selectmen. The CEO shall inspect all lots and structures for compliance with, and for the enforcement of, the provisions of this chapter. The CEO, in the performance of his/her duties, shall have the right to enter any property at reasonable hours or to enter any structure with the consent of the owner, occupant, or agent to inspect the property for compliance with this chapter.
A building permit shall be obtained from the CEO, except as allowed under § 103-15, prior to any construction, relocation, placement, replacement, demolition, conversion, or alteration that changes the square footage or volume of any structure or part thereof. A permit for a driveway entrance shall be obtained from the Public Works Director or the Maine Department of Transportation as appropriate, as outlined in § 103-17, prior to obtaining a building permit from the CEO.
A permit required under the provisions of this chapter and permits required from the Planning Board (PB) and the CEO under the provisions of Chapter 166, Shoreland Zoning, shall be submitted to the CEO on application forms provided by the CEO. Exterior or interior plumbing permits required by State Plumbing Code and, where applicable, proof of payment of sales tax or current property taxes for mobile homes as required by state law shall be submitted with the application.
The Selectmen, after holding a public hearing, shall establish a schedule of reasonable fees for the administration of this chapter, including but not limited to building permit fees, driveway entrance permit fees, CEO permit fees, PB application fees, and Board of Appeals application fees.
A.
Within seven days of receipt of an application for a building permit, the CEO shall determine if the application is complete. Completeness of the application shall consist of the payment of the building permit fee, exterior and interior plumbing permits as needed, proof of payment of sales tax or current property taxes as needed, a letter of authorization as needed, and the information requested on the building permit application. Failure to submit the necessary information in order for the CEO to understand what the applicant wishes to do will automatically result in a decision, by the CEO, of incompleteness of the application.
B.
If the CEO determines that the application is incomplete, then the CEO shall notify the applicant, in writing, within seven days of the CEO's determination. The CEO shall note the information that is required in order for the application to be deemed complete. The CEO's decision that the application is incomplete can be appealed to the Board of Appeals.
Once an application has been found to be complete by the CEO, the CEO shall have 14 days in which to refer the application for a building permit to the PB where required under the provisions of Chapter 166, Shoreland Zoning, to approve the application for a building permit; to approve the application for a building permit with conditions; or to deny the application for a building permit. The CEO's decision under the provisions of this section can be appealed to the Board of Appeals.
Within 45 days of receipt of a completed application from the CEO, the PB shall approve the application for a building permit, approve the application for a building permit with conditions, or deny the application for a building permit. The decision of the PB under the provisions of this section can be appealed to the Board of Appeals.
Any activity authorized under the issuance of a building permit shall be completed within 12 months of the issuance of the permit. If the activity authorized under the building permit has not been substantially completed, then the authorized activity must cease and a new building permit must be applied for.