Prospective home builders in Lewiston-Auburn should keep one thing in mind before putting hammer to nail: be prepared. Remember that old carpenter’s axiom, “Measure twice, cut once”? Building your dream home today requires paying attention to permits, fees, scheduling, building techniques and… asking many questions from your local contractor, planning board, building inspectors and code enforcement officers.

Fortunately, the initial process has become somewhat easier thanks to Lewiston’s and Auburn’s identical permit fee schedules. Although the two cities have their own unique zoning ordinances, their building, plumbing and electrical codes are identical, along with shoreland zoning and flood plains.

“The process is pretty straight forward,” according to Lewiston’s building/plumbing inspector, Gary Campbell, “provided the person has a conforming lot for the zoning in which it’s located.”

The specified lot location is plotted out on the city’s GIS (Geographic Information System) maps with overlays showing floodplain and shoreland areas. “GIS has saved us so much foot traffic and is probably the biggest tool that has allowed us to reduce staff as much as we have in the last 10 years,” said Eric Cousens, Auburn’s city planner and code enforcement officer.

If a homebuilder’s land lot falls within these designated areas, information on the possible need for flood insurance and specific setbacks which must be met are brought to the home owner’s/builder’s attention.

Gil Arsenault, Lewiston’s director of planning and code development, stated that although the city has yet to publish any guidelines as to set procedures for the building process for the person building their own home, local contractors are aware of “the many nuances of zoning issues,” depending on where you plan to build in Lewiston. “We will walk hand in hand with a first time homebuilder to make sure everything is done according to code, resulting in a timely and, hopefully, not too stressful build. The more you learn, the more you [realize what] you don’t know. The key thing to remember is to ask questions.”

Campbell stated that as building inspector, he will visit the home site once the foundation has been poured, checking for proper connection techniques between the footing and foundation walls, doing damp-proofing (tarring of exterior foundation walls) and drainage inspections. Depending on certain scenarios, the next inspections would take place when the framing and roughed-in plumbing is done. More inspections (two) are required for private septic systems being installed on the site. An electrical inspection will also be made along with a final plumbing inspection.

“There may be more inspections now what with the new energy codes in effect,” stated Arsenault.

Campbell warns builders that insulation and its application will also be inspected now as part of the new MUBEC standards. As of December 1, 2010, both cities have adopted the MUBEC, the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, with the most significant change being that of energy conservation for wood framed homes with insulation R and U values having increased.

Cousens said, “A lot of it [MUBEC] is technique. It’s easy to understand the product, but installing it properly is one of the bigger challenges in that code.” With homes being built “energy tight” to fit today’s energy saving demands, proper energy saving design and installation of materials is critical.

Auburn’s building permit allows the builder to start construction within one year from the date of issuance, Lewiston’s construction-start date is six months. While Auburn’s timeline for completion of the build is more dependent on the construction process itself – “do this before you do that” – the city has a two-year limit; Lewiston has a one-year limit. Both Cousens and Campbell did say that extensions are provided by request should the need arise.

The comparison table below reflects the number of single family building permits issued in L-A from 2000 to 2009.

 Year     Lew       Aub

                     2000     26         28                     

2001     43         42

2002     56         42

2003     73         44

2004     65         59

2005     69         40

2006     44         62

2007     33         36

2008     18         17

2009     25         10

Both cities have all the information one may need on their respective websites by following these steps… for Auburn residents: auburnmaine.org / departments / planning & permitting / FAQ. For Lewiston residents: lewistonmaine.gov / departments& divisions / planning/code department.

Remember… ask the questions before applying hammer to nail, measure twice, cut once and may your dreams come true.