Sanford building department

Sanford’s Code Enforcement Office reviews plans and issues building, electrical, and plumbing permits and certificates of occupancy for property inside the City of Sanford. It also answers zoning and land-use questions and inspects properties for code compliance. The office is in City Hall at 919 Main Street. It’s open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and closed Fridays. York County doesn’t issue building permits, so Sanford projects go through the city.

What needs a permit

City Code § 90-5 requires a permit from the Building Official before anyone builds, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, converts, demolishes, or changes the use of a building or structure. Installing or altering plumbing fixtures or septic system components also needs a permit. Emergency work can start without one, but you must get the permit the next day the office is open.

The zoning ordinance (§ 280-3-2) adds that no building or sign may be built, structurally altered, enlarged, or moved without a permit. The contractor, builder, and developer share responsibility for permits with the property owner. Start of work includes clearing and grubbing, grading, and excavation, not just construction.

Applying

Sanford uses paper applications. Print the building permit, electrical permit, or certificate of occupancy form from the Code Enforcement permit-applications page. Fill it out, sign it, and bring it to the Code Enforcement Office with your supporting documents. The page also posts a curb cut application and a 2021 energy code compliance worksheet. The city calls that worksheet a required construction document.

The building permit application (revised September 2025) asks for:

• Plot plan and site plan. Show the size and location of new and existing structures, distances to lot lines and streets, and distances to wetlands and water bodies. Property lines and setbacks are the applicant’s responsibility.
• Construction drawings. All new construction needs a detailed plan set with cross sections and construction details.
• Fair market value of the project, excluding only land and architectural fees.
• Contractor details for building, plumbing, heating, electrical, masonry, and site or septic work, or a note that the owner will do the work.
• Related approvals, where they apply. Examples include Central Maine Power service, sewer availability from the Sanford Sanitary District, an HHE-200 septic design, a road opening permit, and state or federal permits.
• A recorded deed for a new building on a vacant lot.

The applicant must be the owner or an agent with the owner’s written permission. The zoning ordinance gives the Code Enforcement Officer seven days to approve, deny, or refer a building or use permit application. Projects that need site plan review are sent to the Planning Director. That includes some commercial, industrial, and multifamily work. If plans change after a permit is issued, you need a new permit.

Fire Marshal review

Under City Code § 128-22, permits for anything other than one- and two-family homes are issued after the State Fire Marshal’s Office reviews and approves the project, where state review is required. Sanford doesn’t have a full-time fire marshal and works with the State Fire Marshal’s Office (207-626-3880).

Fees

The City Council sets permit fees in Chapter 120 of the City Code (last amended May 2025):

Item	Fee
Application, owner-occupied single-family home	$25
Application, all other applicants	$75
Building	Greater of $0.25 per sq ft or $12 per $1,000 of work
Demolition	$10 per $1,000 of work
Sign	$25 plus $1 per sq ft
Certificate of occupancy	$50 per residential unit, $150 per business unit, $55 home occupation
Electrical permit minimum	$75
Plumbing permit minimum	$40, plus $10 per additional fixture

Building permit fees double if work starts before the permit is issued. A late electrical permit costs $100 plus the regular fee. If your stated project cost is below national standards, the city can recalculate the fee.

Inspections

All inspections need at least 24 hours’ notice. The building permit lists the standard inspections:

1. Foundation, before backfill, including drainage and dampproofing
2. Fireplace and chimney
3. Framing, before insulation and wall coverings
4. Rough plumbing
5. Rough electrical
6. Final inspection for occupancy

The office has its own electrical inspector. Call (207) 502-0085 to schedule electrical inspections. Electrical work can’t begin without a permit.

Permit time limits and occupancy

A building permit expires if work doesn’t start within six months of issuance, or isn’t substantially complete within 18 months. On written request, the Code Enforcement Officer can extend either deadline by up to six months. See building permit expiration and extensions.

You need a certificate of occupancy before using a new, altered, enlarged, or relocated building. It’s also required to add dwelling units, start a home occupation, change a building’s use category, or change who occupies nonresidential space. Temporary certificates can be issued for up to six months during construction. For single-family homes, they can be renewed if you show progress.

Codes in force

City Code § 90-13 adopts the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC), the state plumbing and subsurface wastewater rules, and the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments. Since April 7, 2025, MUBEC has used the 2021 IBC, IEBC, IRC, IECC, and IMC and the 2019 ASHRAE 62.1, 62.2, and 90.1 standards. New one- and two-family homes now need a radon mitigation system. The building permit form also cites NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) and the National Electrical Code as adopted by Maine.