Resolve, Directing the Development of a Building Code and Building Rehabilitation Code Implementation Plan
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0677
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development

Legislative Document 
No. 677 
S.P.214 
February 9, 2007 
Resolve, Directing the Development of a Building Code and Building 
Rehabilitation Code Implementation Plan 
Reported by Senator DOW of Lincoln for the Community Preservation Advisory 
Committee pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 4350, subsection 10. 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed under Joint Rule 218. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Sec. 1. 
Maine building code and building rehabilitation code 
implementation plan. Resolved: That the Executive Department, State Planning 
Office, with assistance from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of 
Economic and Community Development and the Maine Historic Preservation 
Commission, collectively referred to in this resolve as "the agencies," shall develop a plan 
for implementing the Maine Model Building Code and the International Existing 
Building Code; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Duties. Resolved: That in the development of the plan, the agencies shall 
consider the following: 
1. What agency should provide oversight and administration of the codes; 
2. How code updates should be handled; 
3. Outreach, communication and technical assistance to municipalities; 
4. Training and certification of code officers, architects and builders; 
5. Enforcement and appeal procedures; 
6. Estimated costs to implement mandatory codes; 
7. Projected costs for code administration; 
8. Funding options for initial implementation and ongoing administration; 
9. Identification of overlap between codes; 
10. Guidance to municipalities regarding overlap between codes; 
11. 
If rulemaking or statutory changes are needed to facilitate certain kinds of 
development, such as development of historic properties; 
12. 
Phase-in dates for code adoption by service center communities, nonservice 
center communities with codes and towns adopting codes for the first time; and 
13. Funding or incentives to put codes in place; and be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Public participation. 
Resolved: 
That in developing the plan the 
agencies shall solicit input from interested parties, including, but not limited to, other 
state agencies, the Maine Municipal Association, groups representing Maine building 
officials and inspectors, builders, architects, engineers, real estate developers and public 
safety officials; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Completion date; report. Resolved: That the agencies shall complete 
the development of the implementation plan by January 15, 2008. The report must 
include a recommended implementation schedule. 
The Executive Department, State 
Planning Office ·shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and 
Economic Development by February 15,2008 with the results of the implementation plan 
development. The Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic 
Development is authorized to submit legislation relating to the report to the Second 
Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve is a recommendation of the Community Preservation Advisory 
Committee. 
The bill directs the Executive Department, State Planning Office, with 
assistance from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Economic and 
Community Development and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, to develop a 
plan for implementing the Maine Model Building Code and the International Existing 
Building Code.