Cumberland County, Maine Building Permit Guide

Cumberland County is made up of 3 cities (Portland, South Portland and Westbrook) and 25 towns, and building permits are issued by each municipality, not the county. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the largest are Portland (69911), South Portland (27007), Scarborough (24547) and Brunswick (23055).

This guide covers the code offices of the four largest municipalities and the state office that permits public buildings.

What requires a building permit in Cumberland County?

Cumberland County has no county building rules. Maine’s building code is adopted statewide, but whether a permit is needed, what it costs and how it is filed are set by each town, as the examples below show.

Maine’s adopted code applies statewide, but permits are required where the town’s ordinance says so; shoreland zoning applies statewide near water, fees and appeals are local, and code enforcement officers must be certified by the state. Maine rules

Who handles permitting in Cumberland County?

The county’s towns are Baldwin, Bridgton, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Frye Island, Gorham, Gray, Harpswell, Harrison, Long Island, Naples, New Gloucester, North Yarmouth, Pownal, Raymond, Scarborough, Sebago, Standish, Windham and Yarmouth. Each city and town issues its own permits.

For public buildings, the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office Plans Review division (45 Commerce Drive, Suite 1, Augusta; (207) 626-3880) issues the state construction permit, plus accessibility (barrier-free) permits and fire sprinkler permits, on top of the town permit.

Local rules in the largest Cumberland County towns

Portland

Building, fire, electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits must be submitted online through the city’s Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal. Attachments are compiled into two PDF files, one named “Drawings” and one named “Documents”, and the invoice must be paid in CSS before the permit is issued. Portland also does a delegated review of State Fire Marshal Office construction permits, at $0.04/sq ft.

South Portland

File through the city’s online portal (first-time users register), or email a PDF or drop it off. Properties designated historic, or with structures built in 1940 or earlier, may face a delay of up to 90 days on a demolition permit or a building permit for exterior work.

Scarborough

Applications are emailed, dropped off at the Planning Department or mailed to PO Box 360.

Brunswick

Apply through the town’s Permit Portal. Building permits are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days, and new dwelling units, primary or accessory, are charged recreation impact fees. Site work at Brunswick Landing (formerly the Brunswick Naval Air Station) that disturbs soil or may contact groundwater needs a Navy-approved Construction Permission Request before town permits are issued.

Cumberland County permit costs and fees

Each municipality sets its own fees:

• Portland (revised 7/2026): $25.00 for up to $1,000 worth of work plus $15.00 for each additional $1,000; starting without a permit may be subject to double the fee.
• Scarborough: $0.25 per square foot of unfinished area and $0.50 per square foot of finished area, minimum $50.00 and no maximum; renovations and minor additions may be calculated at $12.50 per $1000 of estimated cost.
• Brunswick: recreation impact fees on new dwelling units.

How to get a building permit in Cumberland County

Inspections in Cumberland County

Inspections are done by the municipal code office. In Scarborough, an on-site subsurface wastewater disposal system needs a minimum of 2 inspections, and the footing inspection is done after forms are in and before footings are poured, with setbacks to property lines verifiable.

Official Cumberland County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• About Cumberland County
• South Portland applications
• Scarborough Code Enforcement
• Brunswick permits and applications
• Maine State Fire Marshal Plans Review

Frequently asked questions

Does Cumberland County issue building permits?

No. Each of its 3 cities and 25 towns issues its own building permits.

Can I file a paper permit in Portland?

No. Building, fire, electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits must be submitted online through the Citizen Self Service portal.

How long does a Brunswick building permit take?

Building permits are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days.

Simplify Cumberland County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which town code office or state office has the parcel and the project type
• Prepare the town application, state plumbing forms and any State Fire Marshal permit
• Schedule the town’s required inspections and close out the permit

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Maine. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Cumberland County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.