An Act To Preserve the Economic Viability of Maine's Historic Properties

Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §9726  is enacted to read:

§ 9726.  Historic properties

If an existing condition of a historic property occupied by a business is found out of compliance with the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code or the fire safety codes and standards under Title 25, sections 2452 and 2465 during a routine inspection for business license renewal or a building permit for renovation or new construction or during a random inspection, the property owner must meet only the standards for the condition under the version of the code adopted most recently after the license to operate the business was first issued by the municipality in which the property is located and must update the condition to the next subsequent version of the code in increments of time of no more than 3 years until the condition is brought up to current code standards. For purposes of this section, "historic property" means a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places or designated as a historic property by a certified municipal historic preservation ordinance.

summary

This bill requires that an owner of a historic property occupied by a business has to meet only the standards of the version of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code or the fire safety codes and standards adopted most recently after the business first received its license to operate for a condition found out of compliance during a routine inspection for business license renewal or a building permit for renovation or new construction or during a random inspection.