This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Fire Code."
Reference is herewith made to NFPA 1, Fire Code, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), such edition as currently adopted by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Said code is hereby adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this article, with the additions, insertions, deletions, and changes as found herein.
A. 
Reserved.
A. 
All new one- and two-family dwellings constructed hereafter shall have installed as part of the structure, a working automatic fire sprinkler system in accordance with this chapter, and which automatic fire sprinkler system shall be approved by the Officer of the State Fire Marshal.
B. 
Approved automatic sprinkler systems shall also be installed in all new buildings in which construction exceeds any of the following criteria:
(1) 
Three stories in height.
(2) 
Forty feet in height.
(3) 
One hundred thousand cubic feet in volume.
C. 
All such sprinkler systems shall be equipped with approved supervisory equipment which will transmit a local evacuation signal and transmit an alarm signal to an approved receiver, except that one- and two- family dwellings need not transmit an alarm signal to an approved receiver.
D. 
This section shall apply only to applications for building permits after the effective date of this section for the construction of new buildings or to make substantial renovations in existing buildings where the remodeled building will meet any of the criteria set forth in Subsection B. In the case of existing buildings being substantially remodeled, the Fire Chief or their designee may grant a waiver from compliance with the requirements of this section where it is determined that the permittee will suffer economic hardship and the cost of the system will be disproportionate to the cost of the renovations and/or the fire danger involved.
E. 
In all cases where sprinkler systems are installed, whether or not required by this section, no such system shall be modified, extended or altered without notification to the Saco Fire Department.
F. 
Once an automatic fire sprinkler system has been installed and is operational, no one shall remove it or cause the water supply to be disconnected or interrupted without first notifying the Fire Department.
G. 
Approval of sprinkler systems and supervisory equipment shall be made to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
The Fire Chief is herewith designated as the City official to supervise and enforce this article.
A. 
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Fire Chief may take appeal to the Mayor and City Council.
B. 
Any appeal may be taken within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed by filing with the Mayor and City Council a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof, except that in the case of a building or structure which, in the opinion of the Fire Chief, is unsafe or dangerous, the Fire Chief may, in their order, limit the time for such appeal to a shorter period. The Fire Chief shall forthwith transmit to the Mayor and City Council all the details upon which the action appealed from was taken.
The following provisions shall apply to violations of the laws and ordinances set forth in this article, and all monetary penalties shall be civil penalties:
A. 
The minimum penalty for starting construction or undertaking a land use activity without a required permit shall be $100 and the maximum penalty shall be $2,500.
B. 
The minimum penalty for a specific violation shall be $100 and the maximum penalty shall be $2,500.
C. 
The violator may be ordered to correct or abate the violations. Where the court finds that the violation was willful, the violator shall be ordered to correct or abate the violation, unless the abatement or correction will:
(1) 
Result in a threat or hazard to public health or safety;
(2) 
Result in substantial environmental damage; or
(3) 
Result in substantial injustice.
D. 
If the City of Saco is the prevailing party, it shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees and costs, unless the court finds that special circumstances make the award of these fees and costs unjust. If the defendant is the prevailing party, the defendant may be awarded reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees and costs, as provided by court rule.
E. 
The maximum penalty may exceed $2,500, but shall not exceed $25,000, when it can be shown that there has been a previous conviction of the same party, within the past two years, of the same law or ordinance.
F. 
All proceedings arising under the provisions of locally administered laws and ordinances shall be brought in the name of the City of Saco, and fines shall be paid to the City of Saco.