ANSWERS TO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What building codes has Mount Desert adopted?
A. Requirements Per the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, Town of Mount Desert Land Use Zoning Ordinance (LUZO) and The Town of Mount Desert Building Code.
Q. What are the Set Back Requirements?
A. Check the setbacks requirements for your district in the LUZO section 3.6.
Q. Can I begin work without a Permit?
A. No. For all work that requires a permit, you must have that permit in hand prior to beginning any work.
Q. How can I get a permit application?
A. You may pick them up at the Town Office, call or e-mail ceo@mtdesert.org the Code Enforcement Office at 276-5731 to have one mailed, or download from the website.
Q. How long does it take to get a Permit?
A. The average time after application is received is 1-3 working days, longer if Planning Board Approval is required.
Q. How long is a permit good for?
A. Must start work within 12 months of issuance or the permit is void.
Q. What requires an inspection?
A. Anything that requires a permit.
Q. How are Inspections done?
A. Call the Code Enforcement Office at 276-5731 or e-mail them at ceo@mtdesert.org 24 hours in advance to schedule an inspection. The owner is responsible for all inspections.
Q. What are the requirements for egress windows?
A. Sill height no more than 44’ off floor net clear opening 5.7 square feet. The minimum net clear opening height is 24” and the net clear opening width dimension is 20” (NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 24.2.2.3) See Chart
Q. What are the requirements for railings and guards on stairs and decks?
A. Handrails on stairs shall be not less than 34 in. (86 cm) and not more than 38 in. (96 cm) above the surface of the tread, measured vertically to the top of the rail from the leading edge of the tread. (NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 7.2.2.4.5).
Guards shall be not less than 42 in. (107 cm) high. Open guards, other than approved, existing open guards, shall have intermediate rails or an ornamental pattern such that a sphere 4 in. (10.1 cm) in diameter shall not pass through any opening up to a height of 34 in. (86 cm). (NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 7.2.2.4.6)
Q. What are the requirements for fireplace and chimney clearances?
A. Chimney – NFPA 211 Code – The minimum air space clearance between interior masonry chimneys (where any portion of the chimney is located within the exterior wall of the building) and combustible materials shall be at least 2”. The minimum air space clearance between exterior masonry chimneys (where the chimney is located completely outside the exterior wall of the building, excluding the soffit or cornice area) and combustible material shall be at least 1”. The air space shall not be filled; however, this shall not eliminate the firestopping requirements.
A. Fireplaces - All wood beams, joists, studs, and other combustible material shall have a clearance of not less than 2 in. (51 mm) from the front faces and sides of masonry fireplaces and not less than 4 in. (102 mm) from the back faces of masonry fireplaces. Spaces between headers or trimmers of combustible material and masonry fireplaces shall be firestopped with noncombustible material. The material used for firestopping shall be galvanized steel not less than 26 gauge [0.19 in. (0.483 mm)] in thickness or noncombustible sheet material not more than 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) thick. Woodwork, such as wood trim, mantels, and other combustible material, shall not be placed within 6 in. (152 mm) of a fireplace opening. Combustible material above and projecting more than 11/2 in. (38 mm) from a fireplace opening shall not be
placed less than 12 in. (305 mm) from the top of the fireplace opening. Masonry fireplaces shall have hearth extensions of brick, concrete, stone, tile, or other approved noncombustible material properly supported and with no combustible material against the underside thereof. Wooden forms used during the construction of hearth and hearth extension shall be removed when the construction is completed. Where the fireplace opening is less than 6 ft2 (0.56 m2), the hearth extension shall extend at least 16 in. (406 mm) in front of the facing material and at least 8 in. (203 mm) beyond each side of the fireplace opening. Where the fireplace opening is 6 ft2 (0.56 m2) or larger, the hearth extension shall extend at least 20 in. (508 mm) in front of the facing material and at least 12 in. (305 mm) beyond each side of the fireplace opening.
Q. What are the stair requirements?
A. Residential – ~Riser heights not exceeding 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm) and tread depths of not less than 10 in. (25.4 cm) shall be permitted for stairs in new construction. (NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 24.2.5.1 Exception No. 4).
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