Town Of Cape Elizabeth
Town Services
Code Enforcement
Information Forms
Building Permits* (issued 08/01/10-08/30/10)
Building Permit * (issued 07/01/10-07/31/10)
General Office Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Fee Schedule
Recommended Standards for the Installation of Woodburning Stoves*
Maine Uniform Building Code FAQ* (March 2010)

(*Adobe's Acrobat Reader required.)

Citizens who use these forms should still consult with the Code Officer, Bruce Smith, concerning their building plans to ensure that they are applying for work that is permitted in the town's ordinances.

Fill out these forms online*, print, and mail or bring in to Town Hall: (all applications reflect fees effective 11/11/08)

(*Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required for forms and applications. Download it for free here.)


General Office Information
Office Hours: 7:30-5:00 Monday
7:30-4:00 Tuesday-Friday
Telephone: 207-799-1619
Fax: 207-799-5598
Mailing address: P.O. Box 6260
Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107
Street address: 320 Ocean House Road
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Email: bruce.smith@capeelizabeth.org
Code Enforcement Officer: Bruce A. Smith
Office Manager: Aniko Varadi
Staff Members: Janet Moran

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which codes are used in the Town of Cape Elizabeth?
What type of permits are required and issued by the Code Office?
When is a building permit required?
When should I call for an inspection?
How much lead-time is needed for an inspection?
When is a certificate of occupancy required?

Which codes are used in the Town of Cape Elizabeth?

ICC International Residential Code (2003) (as of Aug. 3, 2007)
ICC International Building Code (2003) (as of Aug. 3, 2007)
ICC International Fire Code (2003) (as of Aug. 3, 2007)
The National Electrical Code-NFPA 70-Latest Edition
The Maine State Plumbing Code 10-144 CMR 238
The Maine Subsurface Waste Water Disposal Rules 144A CMR 241

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What type of permits are required and issued by the Code Office?

  1. Building Permit -- a permit to construct, alter, enlarge, or relocate buildings and/or structures.
  2. Electrical Service Permit -- a permit to install electrical services.
  3. Electrical Wiring Permit -- a permit to install electrical wiring.
  4. Plumbing Permit -- a permit to install plumbing fixtures and the associated distribution and waste lines.
  5. Waste Water Disposal Permit-- a permit to install septic systems or components thereof.
  6. Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Permit -- a permit to install those systems.
  7. Flood Hazard Permit -- a permit to construct, relocate, replace, enlarge, or modify any structure located in a special flood hazard area.
  8. Demolition Permit -- a permit for the demolition of a building or structure or major portion thereof.
  9. Health Permit -- a permit issued to a food or food service establishment to assure sanitary conditions.
  10. Sign Permit -- a permit for the placement of the following signs, including: Temporary residential development or construction signs; permanent signs at the entrance to residential subdivisions, housing for the elderly, condominium or multiplex development; home occupation signs; civic organization signs; municipal signs; commercial business signs.
  11. Use Permit for the following:

There may be other permits and/or approvals necessary from other departments within the Town; i.e. Planning Board, Public Works, Zoning Board of Appeals, Town Clerk's Office, prior to, during, or after issuance of a permit by this office.

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When is a building permit required?

A building permit is required for the construction, structural alteration, enlargement, or relocation of a building or structure. Permits are not required for ordinary repairs as long as such repairs do not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means of egress , or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the exit requirements, nor is a permit required for the replacement of siding and/or roofing.

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When should I call for an inspection?

Inspections are required for virtually every phase of construction, including but not limited to the following:

  1. Foundation -- footings, waterproofing, drainage, walls.
  2. Rough-in -- framing, plumbing, electrical wiring.
  3. Insulation.
  4. Electrical Service, both temporary and permanent.
  5. Septic system -- tank, pump station, septic field and other components before backfilled.
  6. Final inspection of septic system site to assure the stability of the soil i.e. grasses growing.
  7. Final inspection for certificate of occupancy.
  8. Any conditions imposed by either or both the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.

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How much lead-time is needed for an inspection?

Generally, an inspection can be scheduled if given a 24-hour notice, and sometimes even on the same day, but to assure an inspection when needed, a longer lead-time is recommended.

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When is a certificate of occupancy required?

A. For occupancy of a building, structure, or portion thereof for which a building permit was issued.

B. When there is an increase in the number of dwelling units in a structure.

C. When a home occupation, home business, home day care, or accessory dwelling unit is established.

D. When there is a change in the use of a nonconforming use.

E. Occupancy and use of vacant land or change in use of land, except in the raising of crops.

F. Any change in the use of a building from one category of use to a more intensive category of use. (Chapter 19 Article VI, Section 19-6-4,E of the Zoning Ordinance).

G. Any activity for which site plan approval is required by the Planning Board.

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Fee Schedule effective 11/11/08. Click to download printable fee schedule)

Building Permit

·         Minimum fee up to $2500.00 = $25.00

·         Projects over $2500.00 = 1% of estimated value ($10.00 per thousand)

Late fee –Double the full fee           

 

Change of Use – Dwellings, Business or Premise -- $50.00

 

Moving of Dwellings -- $500.00

 

Demolition of Dwellings -- $50.00

 

Sign Permit -- $25.00 per sign

 

Flood Hazard Development Permit -- $150.00

 

Elevators and Towers -- $25.00 ($7.00 per additional $1000.00 of value)

 

Pumps, tanks for flammable storage -- $50.00

 

Temporary Stands, Booths – for sale of merchandise or other business -- $25.00

 

Ventilation, Sprinklers, or Automatic Fire Detection -- $25.00

 

Subsurface Waste Water Disposal System

 

  • Engineered system without variance--$300.00
  • Engineered system with variance -- $320.00
  • Non-engineered system without variance -- $100.00 
  • Non-engineered system with variance -- $120.00      
  • Primitive Disposal system --$100.00
  • Separate Laundry Disposal -- $50.00
  • Seasonal Conversion permit -- $50.00
  • Alternative Toilet -- $50.00
  • Disposal Field Only Engineered System, without variance --  $250.00
  • Disposal Field Only Engineered System, with variance -- $270.00
  • Disposal Field Only non-engineered System, without variance -- $75.00
  • Disposal Field Only non-engineered System, with variance -- $95.00
  • Treatment Tank Only Engineered -- $100.00
  • Treatment Tank Only non-engineered – 75.00
  • Holding Tank -- $100.00

 

Plumbing Permits

  • Internal 1-3 Fixtures -- $40.00
  • $8.00 each additional fixture

 

Electrical Wiring Permit      Minimum Permit Fee: $25.00

            1-10 Lights, Receptacles & Switch Outlets -- $25.00

11-24 Lights, Receptacles & Switch Outlets -- $50.00

Over 25, Lights, Receptacles & Switch Outlets -- $ 100.00

Appliance Circuits: Disposals, Dishwashers, Electric Heaters,

Hot Water Heaters, Ranges, Washing Machine, Clothes Dryer

                                                                   -- $15.00 EACH

Air Conditioning -- $50.00

            Refrigeration -- $50.00

 

Electrical Service                                                                  

 100, 200, 3-phase (each) -- $50.00                                         

 Each Additional Meter, Sub-Panel -- $50.00 

 

Heating Permit   

Heating unit -- $50.00   (primary or secondary heat source)

Sign permit -- $25.00

Health permit-- $50.00

                                                                       

 

 

                       

           

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS FEES

 

 

COPIES                                                               .25

 

ZONING ORDINANCE                               $25.00             FREE ONLINE

SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE                    $20.00             FREE ONLINE

SIGN ORDINANCE                                     $ 5.00              FREE ONLINE

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN                          $40.00             FREE ONLINE

FORT WILLIAMS MASTER PLAN             $40.00             FREE ONLINE

GREENBELT PLAN                                     $20.00

GREENBELT SIGN                                      $3.00

TOWN CENTER PLAN                                $15.00

VISUAL ACCESS                                        $10.00

 

 

PLANNING BOARD FEES

 

SUBDIVISION APPLICATION PER LOT/UNIT                                     $200.00

PRIVATE ACCESS WAIVER APPLICAION                                           $300.00

AMENDMENTS TO ADOPTED PLANS OR CONDITIONS                  $300.00

WETLANDS ALTERATION PERMIT APPLICATION                           $300.00

SITE PLAN REVIEW                                                                                   $400.00

REMOVAL OF EARTH MATERIALS APPLICATION                           $300.00

\RENEWAL                                                                                                $100.00

PUBLIC ACCESS WAIVER                                                                       $300.00

 

 

ZONING BOARD FEES

 

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APPLICATION                                $150.00

 

 

COPIES OF BOARD MEETING AUDIO/VIDEO TAPES: PREPAYMENT REQUIRED

           

HOURLY STAFF FEE (EQUALS LENGTH OF MEETING)       $17.00/HR

AUDIO TAPE            2.00 each

VIDEO TAPE            $  3.00 each

 

PRINTER COSTS FROM NORTHERN DATA

                        WE PROVIDE ALL LABELS

           

            ADDRESS LABELS --                                                              $00.10 each

                                   

 

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