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1. When is a Building Permit required?

A building permit is required for the construction or alteration of any building or structure such as: 

• Demolition of a structure
• Change in use or occupancy of any structure 
• Buildings or structures moved into or within the Town of Kennebunk (including sheds; any shed larger than 200 sq.ft. must include plans)
• Swimming pool installation
• Interior alterations (renovations, window replacement, etc.)

A building permit is also required for: 

• Installation of a permanent sign or banner
• Filling, grading, lagooning, dredging or timber harvesting in any Shoreland or Resource Protection Zoning Districts
• Construction or alteration of piers, docks and wharves
• Chimney construction or modification
• Electrical and Plumbing work (including septic system installation)
• Driveway openings (may require additional permits from MDOT and/or Town of Kennebunk Public Services Department)

Additional permits may be required for properties located in the Historic Preservation, Shoreland and/or Resource Protection Zoning Districts. The Code Enforcement Officer shall not act upon any application for building permit until all other permits which may be required by the Zoning Ordinance, and other local ordinances, or under State or Federal law regulations have been received. 

All building permit applications shall include:  

1. A plan drawn to scale including:

• Dimensions (in feet) of the lot
• Any streets, alleys or right of ways on or adjacent to the lot if applicable
• Location and ground coverage of all buildings proposed to be constructed, moved or demolished
• Location of any wetlands and any other water bodies

2. A statement of the intended use of any buildings and the lot even in event of demolition;

3. Septic design for a wastewater disposal system or statement of Sewer District connection approval

Once your permit has been received it has been deemed complete, it will be reviewed by a Code Enforcement Officer.  If there are any questions about your permit application, or if additional information is needed, you will be contacted using the contact information provided on your permit application. 

The Code Enforcement Officer will approve or deny applications for building permit within thirty (30) days from the date of filing a complete application. Current turnaround time for permit issuance is approximately 2-3 weeks.

Once your permit has been approved, you will be notified that your permit is ready to be picked up as well as the cost for the permit.  

If you have additional, specific questions for a Code Enforcement Officer please contact our office to schedule a phone call or a meeting at (207) 604-1303 or via email.  

2. What codes are in effect in the Town of Kennebunk?

The Town of Kennebunk adheres to and enforces the following: 

State of Maine Uniform Building & Energy Codes, which include:

• International Residential Code 2015 edition
• International Building Code 2015 edition
• International Energy Conservation Code 2015 edition
• International Existing Buildings Code 2015 edition

3. How long is a permit valid?

A building permit issued shall become invalid if the authorized work is not commenced within six (6) months after the issuance of the permit, or if the authorized work is suspended or abandoned for a period of six (6) months after the time of commencing the work. A building permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

4. Do I need a permit to put a shed on my property?

Yes, a building permit is required for sheds. In addition, if the shed is larger than 200 sq. ft., plans must be submitted with the building permit application. 

Permit Applications

5. Do I need a permit for replacement windows and doors?

Yes, because the State Model Energy Code requires windows and doors to meet current standards.

6. When is a handrail required?

A continuous handrail is required on both sides of stairs except a single family dwelling unit with three or more risers is required at least on one side. Handrails are required so that all portions of the required width of stairs are within 30” of a handrail.

The clear space between handrail and the adjacent wall or surface shall not be less than 1½”.

All stairway handrails shall have a circular cross section with an outside diameter of at least 1 ¼” and not greater than 2”.

All handrails should return back to support posts or a wall to avoid snagging clothing.

1) Any other shape with a perimeter dimension of at least 4” but not greater than 6¼” with the largest cross-sectional dimension not exceeding 2¼”
2) Approved rails of equivalent grasp ability. In one and two-family dwellings handrail should have a minimum and maximum heights between 34” and 38”, respectively, in all other uses, 36”. Handrail heights should be measured vertically above the nosing of the treads or above the finished floor of the landing or walking surfaces. In residential use, if a handrail is used also as a guardrail, it should be a minimum of 34” measured vertically above the nosing. Except for stairways within a dwelling unit, handrails shall extend at least 12” beyond the top riser and at least 12” plus depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser. At the top the handrail shall be parallel to the walking surface, at the bottom the handrail shall continue to slope for a distance of the depth of one tread from the bottom riser, with the remainder parallel to the walking surface.

Residential Use: If handrail is used as guardrail, no opposite guardrail used as handrail minimum 36".

7. What size does a bedroom egress window have to be?

Every sleeping room shall have at least one (1) operable window or exterior door approved for emergency egress or rescue. The units must be operable from the inside to a full clear opening without the use of separate tools. Where a window is provided as a means of egress or rescue, they shall have a sill height of not more than 44” above the floor.

All egress or rescue windows from sleeping rooms must have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft. The minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be 24”. The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 20”.

To calculate the square footage of the opening, multiply the width of the opening in inches by the height of the opening in inches and dividing by 144. This measurement should be 5.7 minimum.

8. What are the stair riser and tread requirements?

In residential use, the maximum riser height is 7-3/4” and the minimum tread depth is 10”. Tread depth is measured horizontally between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the reads leading edge.

In commercial uses, maximum riser height is 7” and minimum tread depth is 11”.

There shall not be a variation exceeding 3/16” in the depth of adjacent treads or in height of adjacent risers. The tolerance between the largest and the smallest riser or the largest and smallest tread shall not exceed 3/8” in any flight of stairs.

The minimum headroom in all parts of a stairway shall not be less than 6’ 8” measured vertically from the tread nosing or from the floor surface of the landing or platform.

For winders, spiral, circular, and other types of stairs - call for requirements.

Stairway width and landing width for one and two family dwellings shall not be less than 3’.

9. When is a guardrail required?

Porches, balconies, or raised floor surfaces, open sides of stairs located more than 30” above the floor or grade.

Residential: In one and two-family dwelling, guardrails shall not be less than 36” in height for porches, balconies, or raised floor surfaces, and open sides of stairs 34” minimum measured vertically from the nosing of the treads. If guardrails are also going to be used as handrails, see handrail section.

Commercial: In most other uses, guardrails should be at least 42” in height measured vertically above the leading edge of the tread or adjacent walking surface.

Open guards shall have balusters or other construction such that a sphere with a diameter of 4” cannot pass through any opening.

Exception: The triangular openings formed by the riser, tread at the bottom rail at the open side of a stairway shall be of a maximum size such that a sphere 6” in diameter cannot pass through the opening.

Handrails must be installed at least one side of each continous run of treads or flight with 4 or more risers. Also installed at between 34"-38" in height.

10. How much frost protection should I have?

Foundation systems should be four feet (4’) minimum below grade to protect from frost.

11. What R-Values should I insulate to?

Ceiling: R-49
Exterior Wall: R-20
Floor over basement/crawl space: R-30
Basement Wall: R-10 / R-13

12. What are the ventilation requirements for a crawl space?

The minimum net area of ventilation openings shall be not less than one sq. ft. for each 150 sq. ft. of crawl space area. The total area of ventilation openings may be reduced to 1/1,500 of the under floor area where the ground surface is treated with an approved vapor barrier material and one such ventilation opening is within 3’ of each corner of said buildings. The vents may have operable louvers.

13. When is safety glazing required?

Safety glazing is required in hazardous locations. Some examples are windows surrounding whirlpools, hot tubs, showers. Also required for storm doors, sliding doors and individual panes greater than 9 sq. ft. There are also other locations and exceptions, please call the Code Enforcement Office for more detail.