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	Is my property within a floodplain? It depends where the property is located. The Code Enforcement Department maintains the official Flood Insurance Rate Maps that illustrate where special flood hazard areas are located. We hope to have... What types of businesses can I operate on my property? Every property in the City of Saco falls into a zoning district. Each district has a list of uses that are appropriate to that particular zoning classification. The Zoning Ordinance outlines "per... Can I subdivide or split my property? It depends on how the property is zoned. Each zoning classification has minimum lot frontage, depth and size requirements. A lot may also be part of a previously approved subdivision, in which case an... How is my property zoned? It depends on where the property is located. The City of Saco has 23 different zoning districts and 3 overlay districts ranging from low density residential to heavy industrial. To access the zoning m... Do I need a license to perform electrical or plumbing installations? The owner of a single-family owner-occupied dwelling may perform all electrical and plumbing work without a license within his or her own dwelling unit. All appropriate permits must be obtained and al... How much does a building permit cost? That depends on the project you plan to undertake. Use this link to bring you to the permit fee page of our web site: www.sacomaine.org/departments/codes/fees.shtml. If you do not see a corresponding ... Do I need a permit if I build a deck/porch/garage/etc., the same size and in the same location as the one I am replacing? Yes. This constitutes reconstruction as opposed to a repair and since the Building Code regulates all new building components, a building permit is required. I own (or operate) a food establishment in Saco and understand that there is a new Food Service Code adopted by the State. Where can I get a copy of these new rules and regulations? The Food Code is available from the State of Maine website: www.maine.gov/dhhs/eng/el/publications.htm or can be ordered from Health Inspections Program, Division of Environmental Health, Key Plaza Bu... Can I build on a private road? Yes, the City of Saco still allows private roads, but they are strictly regulated. There are now minimum design standards and a review of the plan to construct a new private road or improve an existin... I’m having a chimney built. What do I look for? All chimneys need to be constructed to the standards found in the National Fire Protection Associations’ publication NFPA 211. When hiring a contractor to build a masonry chimney, the contractor must ... What about smoke detectors? All smoke detectors in new construction must be “hard wired” (connected to the electrical system in the house) with battery back-up and located within 10 feet of any sleeping area, inside each sleepin... What size must stairways be? For one and two family residences, the minimum width for a stairway must be 3 feet. The minimum height clearance must be at least 6 feet 8 inches at all points measured vertically above the tread. Tre... Where do I measure setbacks? Always measure setbacks from property lines and not street lines. In many instances, a survey may be required to determine exactly where these property lines are on the face of the earth. What other permits may I need before I start my project? That depends on where you are located in the City and what the project is. Some other permits that may be required can involve review by the Department of Environmental Protection, especially if you a... Do I need a “fire wall” between my garage and my house? There are requirements for construction of garages and they are different if the garage is adjacent to the living space or if there is living area located above the garage. If the garage abuts the hou... How high must handrails be and how do I measure them? In all construction, handrails must be graspable (not a 2 by 4), usually 1 - to 2 inches in cross section and mounted securely to the wall at a height of between 34 to 38 inches measured vertically fr... How high must a guardrail be? In One and Two family residences, a guardrail must be at least 36 inches high above the floor with balusters places so that no space is larger than 4 inches. Guards are required for any deck that is o... What is an "egress window"? An egress window is a window that is required by State and local codes to be installed in all habitable rooms in new construction. When installing a single or double-hung window, the area is measured ... How much lead-time is needed for an inspection? Generally, an inspection can be scheduled if giving a 24-hour notice, and sometimes even the same day, but to assure an inspection when needed, a longer lead-time is recommended. When should I call for an inspection? For septic system installations, a minimum of three inspections is required. The first is to inspect the soil below the leach field, whether the leach field is made of stone or a proprietary device su...