A Building Permit is required to:

1. Erect, add onto, relocate or make structural changes to a building. This includes: an attached or detached accessory building such as a garage, carport, breezeway, storage shed, porch or patio, or permanently enclosing an existing porch.
2. Install, relocate or remove interior partitions or walls.
3. Enlarge, decrease or otherwise modify existing doors or windows.
4. Install fire escapes, cellar stairs fire-rated enclosures or fire-retarded cellar ceilings in multiple dwellings.
5. Repair fire damage.
6. Demolish any structure.
7. Erect an attached or unattached, open or covered deck.
8. Install or replace a masonry chimney or metal flue stack.
9. Install a swimming pool, in-ground or above ground.
10. Install a permanent outdoor fireplace or barbecue.
11. Install a fuel tank, gasoline tank, or other flammable liquid or gaseous tank either above or below grade.
12. Install a satellite antenna.
13. Install or replace a solid burning or gas burning device (i.e. wood stove, gas insert, etc.)
14. Re-roof a dwelling.
15. Install or replace plubming fixtures.
16. Install or replace any electrical outlets, wiring, permanent fixtures and breatker or fuse boxes.  Any new or replacement electrical service installations also require a permit.
17. Install a fence.
18. Install or replace windows and exterior doors.
19. Install or replace a generator.
20. Install or replace solar panels.
21. Install a new driveway.

A Building Permit is NOT required to:

1. Make ordinary repairs which replace existing materials with new materials of like class and kind. For example, replacing porch steps or railings or making a minor roof repair or minor repair to a chimney or foundation wall does not require a permit.
2. Install or replace gutters or downspouts.
3. Install nonconductive, nonmetal siding.
4. Install or replace sidewalk on private property.
5. Pave or replace an existing driveway.as long as you are not increasing the length or width of the driveway. If you are changing the dimensions of the driveway, you may need approval from the Planning Board before you proceed.

1. A BASEMENT CANNOT BE USED FOR LIVING SPACE UNLESS IT HAS:
   1. A primary entrance/exit.
   2. An opening for emergency use that leads directly to the exterior, such as another door or window no higher than 4'6" off the finished floor, with 18" of clear opening and a 4 sq. ft. minimum total opening.
   3. A ceiling height of at least 7'6".
   4. One exterior wall the entire length of the habitable space, at or lower than the floor level of the space.
   NOTE: Recreation rooms are a different situation. Please visit the Building Department for your particular area.

1. INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR STAIRS MUST HAVE:
   1. Minimum tread depth of 9" plus 1 1/8" nosing for closed riser stairs.
   2. Minimum tread depth of 9" for open riser stairs.
   3. Maximum riser height of 8 1/4 with no variation of more than 1/8 in any one run of stairs.
   4. Stair widths of not less than 2'6" between handrails.
   5. Minimum clear headroom of 6'6" (or 6'4" for cellar stairs).
   6. Handrails if more than three risers.
   7. Handrails on both sides if stairs are open on both sides.
   8. Railings, at least 30" high, on porches and balconies if 18" or more is off adjacent floor or grade.

1. DOORS MUST BE:
   1. At least 36" wide for main entrance doors.
   2. At least 32" wide for other doors that exit the home.
   3. At least 6'8" in height.

1. ALL HABITABLE SPACE (INCLUDES LIVING ROOMS, BEDROOMS, DINING ROOMS, AND SUCH) MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE EMERGENCY EXIT WHICH:
   1. Must be in addition to the main entrance/exit from the room.
   2. Must have a total of at least 5.7 sq. ft. of area.
   3. Must have at least 20" of total clear opening in width and height.
   4. Cannot be more than 3'6" off from the finished floor, and must lead to "Legal Open Space."

1. SMOKE DETECTORS:
   1. At least one must be hardwired to a lighting circuit.
   2. Must be adjacent to any sleeping areas, on or near the ceiling.
   3. We suggest others be installed on every floor of the building.

1. CHIMNEYS:
   1. Prefabricated chimneys must be installed according to manufacturer specifications.
   2. Masonry chimneys must have:
      1. Clean-outs with noncombustible doors sealed tight.
      2. Flues mortared with non-water soluble refractory cement.
   3. Must have a 2" minimum clearance to combustible interior, and 1" minimum clearance to combustible exterior.
   4. Chimneys must terminate at least 3' above the roof and at least 2' above anything within 10' of the chimney.
   5. NFPA 211 and TEK SPEC 3, must be followed.
   6. Plans and specifications for all solid fuel burning appliances and prefab chimneys must be submitted for review and approval by the Fire Code Inspector.

1. FIRE SEPARATIONS:
   1. Garages attached to or within 5 feet of a structure must be separated from the dwelling by construction having a fire-resistance rating of at least 3/4 of an hour.
   2. Doors and jambs in the common wall must be at least three-fourths of an hour rated and equipped with a self-closing device. This door cannot open into a room used for sleeping.

1. NATURAL GAS OR L.P GAS FURNACES AND WATER HEATERS:
   1. Must be installed to manufactures specifications and/or NFPA 54, THE FUEL GAS CODE.
   2. Be sure that there is adequate combustion air for the appliances. This is necessary in enclosed rooms as well as open cellars.
   3. If the appliance is located on a floor that has habitable space, then the door to the room must be self-closing and be protected with noncombustible material on the furnace side of the door.

1. MISCELLANEOUS:
   1. Foundations must have anchor bolts, at least 6' o.c.
   2. Bathrooms without windows must have mechanical ventilation; vented to the exterior.
   3. Waste piping underground and under concrete must be cast iron.
   4. Water heater and boiler relief valves must have a pipe extension to within 12" of the floor.
   5. Firestopping must be installed as per the attached sheets.
   6. Any opening in a bearing wall that is over six (6) feet, rough opening width must have double jack studs installed to support the header.