5646-R4_ML&P_TownOfBuxton_2016-2017_AnnualReport_Web

2017 Annual Report Code Enforcement Office

As shown in the table below, there has been a consistent trend of activity in residential construction. This past year there was an increase in commercial construction, with the addition of new businesses and expansions of existing ones. The Maine Legislature recently adopted the 2015 International Building Codes (IBC). The Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code adopted in 2010 has been following the 2009 IBC and IRC (Residential Code). Municipalities of 4,000+ population must follow the new codes on or before April 23, 2018. This code should be in effect for at least five years. To accommodate the tiny home movement (that has created many conflicts with the residential, plumbing, and electric codes) the State has added Appendix V “Tiny Houses” as a guide for towns to follow when issuing permits for tiny homes of 480 sq. ft. or less. Tiny homes are not exempt from Maine subsurface disposal rules or the electrical code for dwellings. The code office is also a point of coordination with the Pleasant Point Park Committee and a group of Eagle Scout candidates. They have been marking the walking trails in the park and have made trail improvements adding new foot bridges and path bridges in wet and muddy areas of the trail in the summer and fall of 2017.

Respectfully submitted by

Peter Gordon Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector

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