An Act To Provide Options to Municipalities Concerning the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code

Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §9724, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 261, Pt. A, §7, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §9724, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 261, Pt. A, §9, is further amended to read:

Sec. 3. 10 MRSA §9724, sub-§4,  as enacted by PL 2007, c. 699, §6, is amended to read:

Sec. 4. Retroactivity. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 9724, subsection 3 applies retroactively to December 1, 2010.

summary

Current law requires the adoption of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code by all municipalities with more than 2,000 residents by July 1, 2012, including those municipalities without a building code. An ordinance that conflicts with the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code is considered void as of December 1, 2010.

Beginning December 1, 2012, this bill requires a municipality, regardless of size, that has adopted a building code, including a building code or portion of a building code related to residential, commercial or existing structures or an energy code, as of January 1, 2011, to adopt the comparable portion of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code. The municipality is required to adopt only that portion of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code that relates to the code already in place in that municipality. This bill also delays voidance of a conflicting municipal ordinance until December 1, 2012.