BUILDING NOTIFICATION ORDINANCE

BUILDING NOTIFICATION ORDINANCE TOWN OF SUMNER, MAINE
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
	To provide a means of alerting the Town of construction, alteration, placement, or replacement of structures for assessment and tax purposes, and to provide a means for notification when the application is in violation of existing Town Ordinances.

SECTION 2. AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION
	A. Authority
		1. This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to Title 30, M.R.S.A. §1917 and Title 30, M.R.S.A. §2151.
		2. This Ordinance shall be known as the "Building Notification Ordinance for the Town of Sumner, Maine," adopted and effective by vote of the Town Meeting on September 13, 1988 and amended at the Town Meeting on February 27, 1990.
	B. Administration
		1. The Town Clerk or Secretary shall issue Notifications, and the Planning Board shall administer this Ordinance.

SECTION 3. NOTIFICATION
	A. Notification
		1. Before the construction, relocation, placement, expansion, or alteration of any building is commenced, the owner or his agent shall obtain a Building Notification from the Town Office to cover such work when the work provides over 100 sq. ft. of space, or is a structural change, or creates an assessed value of $1000 or more (new roofing, siding, etc.).
	B. Life of Permit
		1. A Building Notification shall become void unless construction or foundation thereunder is commenced with six (6) months from date of approval, unless such time is extended by the Planning Board.
	C. Notification Fees
		1. The fees for a Building Notification shall be $1.00.

SECTION 4. PLUMBING
	All plumbing and sewage disposal shall be in strict conformance with the State of Maine Laws and the State Plumbing Code.

SECTION 5. ELECTRIC UTILITY COMPANIES
	Utility companies are hereby forbidden to attach services to a building until they have proof furnished by said builder or owner that they have a Building Notification for same.

SECTION 6. AMENDMENTS TO THIS ORDINANCE
	This Ordinance may be amended by majority vote of the Legislative Body.

SECTION 7. ENFORCEMENT
	This Ordinance shall be enforced pursuant to Title 30, M.R.S.A. §4966 and all penalties and remedies contained within that statute, as amended, shall apply to any violation of this Ordinance.
		A. Any violation of this Ordinance shall be deemed a nuisance.
		B. It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer to enforce the provisions of this Ordinance. If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that any provision of this Ordinance is being violated, he shall notify in writing the person responsible for such violation, indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it. A copy of such notices shall be maintained as a permanent record.
		C. When the above action does not result in the correction or abatement of the violation or nuisance condition, the Municipal Officers, upon notice from the Code Enforcement Officer, are hereby authorized and directed to institute and 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 Ordinance in the name of the Municipality. (It is not the desire of the Town to become embroiled in legal enforcement action. Every reasonable effort to settle misunderstandings will be made before seeking such action.)

SECTION 8. CONFLICTING PROVISIONS
	Whenever the regulations made under authority hereof differ from those described by any Federal or State Statute, Ordinance, or other regulations, that provision which imposes the greater restriction or the higher standard shall govern.

SECTION 9. VALIDITY
	If any section, clause, provision, portion or phrase of this Ordinance shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any Court of competent authority, such holding shall not affect, impair or invalidate any other section, clause, provision, portion or phrase of this Ordinance.

SECTION 10. PENALTY FOR VIOLATION
	Any person or persons, Firm or Corporation owning or having control of any building or premises in the Town of Sumner and not obtaining a Building Notification will be liable for all back taxes as assessed by the Town. All burden of proof as to the date of noncompliance rests with the violator. In addition, at the discretion of the Board of Selectmen, a fine of up to 10% of the assessed value of the new construction may be levied for each year of violation.