Article 01: General Provisions

38-1.  Purpose.

The purpose of these regulations is to provide for the public safety, health and welfare through the establishment and enforcement of standards of construction for structural strength, adequate means of egress, sanitary equipment, light and ventilation, energy efficiency and fire safety and in general to secure safety to life and property from all hazards incidental to the design, erection, repair, removal, demolition or use and occupancy of buildings, structures or premises. (Section 38-1 amended by Ord. #2011-01 dated 1/24/11).

38-2.  Title.

These regulations shall be known and may be cited as the "Building Code and Regulations of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire."

38-3. Authority, enforcement and administration.

A.  Pursuant to RSA 674:51, the Town of Durham, New Hampshire, hereby adopts the following regulations for the control of all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location and occupancy of all buildings and structures, and they shall apply to existing and/or proposed buildings and structures.

B.  The Town Administrator is hereby given the authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

C.  Administrative responsibility. The authority to administer this chapter is hereby vested in the Town Administrator, who is also empowered to appoint a Code Enforcement Officer and to fix the salary or compensation of the same.

38-4. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER -- The town employee who assists the Zoning Administrator in the administration and enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance. The Code Enforcement Officer also administers and enforces the building codes.

OWNER -- The person or persons listed as the owner(s) of record of a property.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR -- The town employee who is duly appointed by the Town Council to manage the town affairs.

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR -- The town employee appointed by the Town Administrator to administer, to interpret and to enforce the Zoning Ordinance.

38-5.  Conformity to building codes required.

All construction in the Town of Durham shall conform to the current Life Safety Codes, National Electrical Codes and applicable state laws and NFPA & ICC adopted codes and to current applicable town ordinances and construction requirements. The current printed edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) shall be used for all energy code construction in the Town of Durham based on all Climate Zone 6 design criteria.

(Section 38-5 was amended by Ord. #2011-01 dated 1/24/11)