(1) Nuisances. Any violation of this chapter shall be deemed to be a nuisance.
(2) Code Enforcement Officer.
(a) It shall be the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer to enforce the provisions of this chapter. If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that any provisions of this chapter is being violated, he or she shall notify, in writing, the person responsible for such violation, indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it, including discontinuance of illegal use of land, buildings or structures, or work being done; removal of illegal buildings or structures; and abatement of nuisance conditions. A copy of such notices shall be maintained as a permanent record.
(b) The Code Enforcement Officer shall conduct on-site inspections to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and conditions attached to permit approvals. The Code Enforcement Officer shall also investigate all complaints of alleged violations of this chapter.
(c) The Code Enforcement Officer shall keep a complete record of all essential transactions of the office, including applications submitted, permits granted or denied, variances granted or denied, revocation actions, revocation of permits, appeals, court actions, violations investigated, violations found, and fees collected.
(3) Legal actions. When the above action does not result in the correction or abatement of the violation or nuisance condition, the municipal officers, upon notice from the Code Enforcement Officer, are hereby directed to institute any and all actions and proceedings, either legal or equitable, including seeking injunctions of violations and the imposition of fines, that may be appropriate or necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter in the name of the municipality. The municipal officers, or their authorized agent, are hereby authorized to enter into administrative consent agreements for the purpose of eliminating violations of this chapter and recovering fines without court action. Such agreements shall not allow an illegal structure or use to continue unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the illegal structure or use was constructed or conducted as a direct result of erroneous advice given by an authorized municipal official and there is no evidence that the owner acted in bad faith, or unless the removal of the structure or use will result in a threat or hazard to public health and safety or will result in substantial environmental damage.
(4) Fines. Any person, including but not limited to a landowner, a landowner's agent or a contractor, who violates any provision or requirement of this chapter shall be penalized in accordance with 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452.
