City building department · Maine
Auburn building department
Permits, inspections, and official contacts for City of Auburn Planning, Permitting and Code Department.
Verified Checked against 6 official sources
Contacts & online services
- Phone
- (207) 333-6601 Planning & Permitting; (207) 333-6600 City Hall
- Office
- 60 Court Street, Auburn, ME 04210
Get directions (opens in a new tab) - Serves
- Auburn · Androscoggin County
- Online services
- Applications · Permit search · Inspections
Check your address first. City of Auburn Planning, Permitting and Code Department handles building permits for property inside Auburn city limits. Property outside city limits is usually served by Androscoggin County or another municipality, even when the mailing address says Auburn.
On this page
Auburn combines planning, zoning, building, housing, plumbing and electrical code work in one Planning, Permitting and Code Department at Auburn Hall, 60 Court Street. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Permit questions go to the Planning & Permitting Assistants at [email protected] or (207) 333-6601.
SmartGov is the front door
All permit applications go through SmartGov, the city’s Granicus-hosted customer portal. Start by creating an account with “Sign Up”. Once you’re in, you can:
- apply for building, electrical, plumbing, sign, address and home-occupation permits
- pay permit fees
- request a code compliance inspection
- report a violation
- search parcel data and view monthly permit reports
- renew a business license
- submit a site plan for development review
Other departments handle some related permits:
| Office | Handles |
|---|---|
| Permitting & Code Enforcement | Building, electrical, plumbing, sign, address, home occupation, MUBEC residential energy compliance |
| Zoning & Planning | Site plans, subdivisions, flood hazard development, phosphorus control plans, Site Law, zoning changes and conformance letters |
| Public Works | Driveway entrances, fill, excavation, utility location, stormwater drainage connection agreements |
| City Clerk | Business licenses, special event/mass gathering and garage sale permits |
New homes need the city’s New Construction Permit Application Checklist and a residential energy code (2021 IECC) compliance form. Both are posted on the Permits page.
Fees
Auburn charges most building permits by square foot, not by project value. These figures come from Appendix A of the Master Fee Schedule (as passed 7-20-26).
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1–2 family new construction, addition, mobile home | $25 + $0.15/sq ft |
| 1–2 family accessory structure | $25 + $0.10/sq ft |
| 1–2 family renovation under $4,000 | $30 |
| 1–2 family renovation over $4,000 | $25 + $0.30/sq ft |
| Commercial/multifamily new construction | $30 + $0.35/sq ft per floor |
| Commercial/multifamily renovation | $30 + $7 per $1,000 of value |
| Pool, above-ground or in-ground (includes electrical inspection) | $50 |
| Fence 6 ft or higher | $25 |
| Change of use | $40 |
| Sign | $25 + $0.50/sq ft |
| Demolition under / over 5,000 sq ft | $50 / $250 |
| Electrical, single and multifamily, per unit | $60 |
If work starts before the permit is issued, the permit fee doubles. Agricultural buildings for crop storage or livestock are exempt from building permit fees, but cannabis buildings are not. Plumbing and subsurface wastewater (septic) permits use the Maine DHHS fee schedule and are paid to the City of Auburn.
Codes in force
- Building: Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code. Applications submitted on or after April 7, 2025 must meet the 2021 editions of MUBEC (the 2021 IBC, IRC, IEBC, IECC and IMC with state amendments). Projects already in review on that date may use the 2015 standards unless Code Enforcement says otherwise.
- Electrical: NFPA 70, 2026 National Electrical Code, in effect July 1, 2026.
- Plumbing: Maine State Internal Plumbing Code, 2021 edition.
- Fire: NFPA 101 and NFPA 1, both 2018 editions.
Homeowner electrical work
If you own and live in a single-family home, you can do all the electrical work in it yourself without a license, as long as you get the permits and inspections. Electrical work in multifamily, commercial and industrial buildings must be done by an appropriately licensed electrician. The city notes that doing it without a license is a Class E crime. To schedule an electrical inspection, contact the Planning & Permitting Office. The City Electrician is Christopher Small, ext. 1152.
Plumbing, septic and Lake Auburn
The city’s Local Plumbing Inspectors issue both internal and external plumbing permits, including septic system designs. They coordinate with the Lake Auburn Watershed Commission on septic and sewer designs inside the watershed. If your lot is in the watershed, expect that extra review.
Fire Prevention and occupancy
The Fire Prevention Division, reachable at (207) 333-6633 ext. 6, handles these items separately from building inspection:
- plan review for new construction and new businesses
- life-safety inspections for businesses and for apartment buildings with 3 or more units
- oil burner inspections
- chimney and stove surveys
- blasting and fireworks permits
- Certificates of Occupancy
The Permits page also posts Fire Department requirements for commercial development review, turning radius and elevator stretcher size. Burn permits are free through the state’s online system.
Boards
The nine-member Planning Board hears zoning requests, reviews site plans and recommends land-use policy to the City Council. The Zoning Board of Appeals reviews decisions made by staff and the Planning Board.
Planning a project?
These guides explain the national model-code rules most departments start from. City of Auburn Planning, Permitting and Code Department decides what applies in Auburn, so use them to prepare your questions.
Nearby building departments
Not the right office? If your property is outside Auburn city limits, one of these may handle it.