The Division has a staff of fourteen which last year performed more than 6200 field inspections. Over the past year, a Zoning Specialist position was created to better assist the Permitting Team with the high construction volume. To enhance customer service, credit and debit card payment services have been added, permit applications and checklists are now available on the City’s website at www.portlandmaine.gov and plans for electronic on- line permitting are in the works for 2006.
Last year, building permits were issued for more than $120 million in construction activity. This number reflects the continued growth of construction activities and value that has lasted nearly a decade. The impact of this growth on the local and regional economy is tremendous.
| Numbers | No. of Permits | $ Value | |
| Permit Highlights* | |||
| Commercial/Indus. | 327 | $ 76,370,844 | |
| Multi-family | 107 | $ 14,709,042 | |
| Single & Two Family | 502 | $ 25,490,760 | |
| Swimming Pools | 15 | $ 197,528 | |
| Signs | 152 | $ 18,000 | |
| Total | 3,372 | $123,919,022 | |
| *Includes new construction, additions and alterations | |||
Field inspections are the best way to ensure quality construction and safe conditions on all commercial and large residential building projects. For greater efficiency, the Code Enforcement Officers are cross-trained to perform all types of field inspections including building location, foundation, framing, mechanical and final inspections. Each year, all of Portland’s food service establishments are inspected under a performance-based system. Those that receive marginal or unsatisfactory scores are re-inspected until a satisfactory score is achieved. To ensure the safety of some of our most vulnerable citizens, Code Officers perform pre-qualification housing inspections on all dwelling units receiving assistance through General Assistance rental vouchers. In addition to this regular work, hundreds of complaints are investigated and resolved each year.
| Type | No. of Inspections Performed |
| Building Permits | 3433 |
| Electrical | 1210 |
| Housing and GA | 571 |
| Food Service | 882 |
| General Complaints | 1319 |
| Total | 7414 |
