Maine Building Codes...

[ChunksMcgoo]

Looking for anyone from Maine, or familiar with Maine building codes. I am having a hard time finding the actual codes online, can only seem to find the amendments and debate about the new codes set to go into effect, apparently.

I don't want to jump the gun, but as someone who is looking to build my own home, it is starting to sound like new statewide codes in Maine may have me looking at land in a different state. (Still in the shopping around process).

Any insight?

[NCLee]

Looking for anyone from Maine, or familiar with Maine building codes. I am having a hard time finding the actual codes online, can only seem to find the amendments and debate about the new codes set to go into effect, apparently.

I don't want to jump the gun, but as someone who is looking to build my own home, it is starting to sound like new statewide codes in Maine may have me looking at land in a different state. (Still in the shopping around process).

Any insight?

I don't have a clue about Maine.

That said, here in NC, the first place to look to determine what you can or can't do on your property is with the local government where the property is located. Within a town, the local town's goverment office. If not within a town's boundries, the next stop is at the county level. (Or the next higher governing body within the state.)

Generally zoning regs and building codes are two different things. Zoning tells me that I can build a doghouse on my place. Tells me how far it must be from the property line, maximum square feet, sometimes even the color that I can paint it.

Building code tells me how it must be built to pass inspection. What size lumber (can't be a 2x4, must be a 2x6 rafter, for example), size junction boxes for the electrical wire used to install a light fixture -- physical contruction specifications. From the foundation to the peak of the roof, covering framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and more.

In searching for property, it's the local ordiances that can make or break you. Generally, and I mean generally, building codes are to national standards with exceptions most notably being in areas with above average risks for disasters. Up north, snow load, down south wind damage from hurricanes, and areas with high earthquake potential.

Find a likely spot in Maine. Then, determine the first level of applicable government. Check their requirements. If not suitable to your needs, move on to another location. The reason why I mention this, is because there's a wide degree of variance in zoning here in NC. The more remote, rural, the area the less restrictive, in some cases. Here, where I live is near a small town in an agricultural area. Yet, our county ........... (you fill in the blank) decided to adopt the zoning ordiances from a nearby METRO county. :mad::mad: Other locations within the state, from what I understand, haven't gone to that extreme, yet.

Hope this helps, a bit.
Lee

[kfander]

I haven't heard of anything that would cause me to be alarmed. I was permitted to build this summer, using a primitive graywater system, and it wasn't a particularly traumatic process.

As for statewide codes, are you looking to build in the unorganized territories? If so, they are under LURC jurisdiction, and they have always been a problem. However, given the new political climate and the fact that LURC barely escaped being dismantled during the last legislative session, I would think they would be easier, rather than harder, to deal with right now. LURC's status is still under review.

A large part of the reason I bought the hundred acre parcel that I bought was that it was in the town limits of a small town, although no utilities are extended to my property. This put me outside the jurisdiction of LURC, allowing me to deal with a local building inspector rather than the statewide Land Use Regulation Commission.

When you speak of statewide building codes, that's what comes to mind. Other than that, there are statewide standards on graywater systems, but they didn't seem overly unreasonable to me.

[ChunksMcgoo]

http://bcap-ocean.org/code-information/maine-uniform-building-and-energy-code-mubec

I was reading about the MUBEC nonsense. Looked like any community over 2,000 (and I don't know what constitutes a community, might just mean I would need to be farther from Houlton than a few properties I have looked at) would have to follow a statewide code, and some examples I saw in debates includes restrictions on staircases, needing a sprinkler system, etc.

Not having a knee-jerk reaction, but after a few weeks of looking around Maine become frontrunner for my plans, and I just wanna know quickly if I should open my search back up to other areas.

Since I would like to build my own cordwood place, I need someplace that is going to allow me that shred of freedom without adding 10k to the price and needing a ton of contractors and inspectors every step of the way.

[Cat Lover]

First off, I reccomend tis site: http://bulk.resource.org/codes.gov/ There are very many codes posted there.

Scrolling to the entries from Maine, I don't see the general building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical codes listed. I suspect that these matters are handled locally in Maine.

That said, you can surf the codes adopted by other states for the various editions of 'model' codes.

There's no substitute for 'good design.' Time and again, I find 'good design' not only meets code today, it often anticipates changes that won't happen for years.

Building "to code," on the other hand, is usually bad design, and often fails to meet code - ironically.

[ChunksMcgoo]

Oh, I understand what you are saying Cat Lover, and my issue is not whether they will approve of my structural plans, as I am not planning on cutting corners about things.

My concern is things like needing expensive sprinkler systems, or the law many states have about not being able to incorporate lumber you produce yourself, etc. I am also learning from my boss's husband, who is an engineer and master electrician, and I think by the time I am ready in a year and a half to two years, I could handle most of the basic running of the wiring, etc. One of my requirements is simply that I want to be able to do what I can handle, not only to save money, but to have the pride and sense of accomplishment of what I did for myself and didn't have to hire someone else to do.

[kfander]

I see what you mean. I haven't looked over the MUBEC code very carefully, because what I wanted to do seemed to be pretty easily acceptable, so I don't know how stringent it might be on sprinkler systems and such. I was permitted to build with a primitive graywater system and no running water, with an option to add that whenever I get around to having a well drilled. Before buying anything, you might want to visit with the local inspector for an idea of what may or may not be permitted. This is what I did, to ensure that I wasn't buying a hundred acres of land that I couldn't do anything with.

[ChunksMcgoo]

haven't found all the things I have been looking for, but I did just run across the minutes from a board of building codes and standards meeting from May, and it says that Maine's stance on native lumber law is that the wood used does not have to be stamped and graded, but it must be of sufficient quality for the construction.

... Now to find the rest of the codes I am looking for...

[Cat Lover]

OK, it looks like my post was completely misunderstood ... or, perhaps, I misunderstood the original question.

I was assuming that the OP wanted to build something that met his local codes, and wanted to know where to find them without spending a huge amount of cash. The link I posted is a big help in that area.

Bulk Resource does not list every code for every state - for the simple reason that not every code is administered statewide in every state. In many cases, it is up to the local county or town to decide what codes to enforce.

Let me give two examples:
1) Bulk Resource will not list any "Nevada Electrical Code," because the State does not have one. Enforcement is done on the local level, with every town able to write whatever rules they like. In practice, they're all on a recent version of the NEC, with perhaps a few minor local ammendments; and,

2) major parts of Missouri have no code enforcement whatever- especially once you're outside a town's borders. Other parts of Missouri are extremely regulated.

Whatever your local situation is, your best starting point is the nearest building inspection department. They ought to be able to explain the local practices. Bulk Resource will then be able to provide you with the specific codes.

"Cutting corners" is often in the eye of the beholder. Every building code has undergone extensive revision in our lifetime. The house you grew up in would not be acceptable to today's codes. This is largely because our lives have changed.

There's no 'one code.' Yet, all the codes interact with each other. For example, a heating system will be affected by parts of the Electrical, the Mechanical, and the Plumbing codes. Even the general building code and fire code willl have an effect.

If you want a 'simple' guide, I recomment the comprehensive (about $40) "Code Check" guide put out by the Taunton Press. It can be a real eye-opener to see all the details, all the different codes, that govern something as simple as installing a water heater.

Your building codes will also address things that are not directly part of the house: things like the distance from the property lines, drainaige, and utility access. The various utility companies will also have their requirements.

I caution you to be careful with your assumptions. "Expensive sprinkler systems" is a good example; a household system is not nearly as involved as the systems you see in factories, and there are many details that bring the cost WAY down. Indeed, you're likely to find the newer electrical changes to be far more expensive ....