Portland, ME Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Chapter 6, Article II, Division 1 of the Portland Code of Ordinances (Ord. 18-17/18, 8-21-2017) runs the city's building inspection process from permit to occupancy. § 2373. For electrical work specifically, § 6-101 gives the building authority the right, during reasonable hours, to enter any premises to inspect, reinspect, or test wiring, devices, appliances, and equipment; wiring may not be covered or concealed until it has been inspected and approved, and a "closing-in inspection" requires wall boxes and neutral/bonding wires to be made ready before the inspection is called.

The building authority can reject work that fails to meet the permit or applicable code, or that isn't done in a workmanlike, safe manner. The process culminates in § 6-93: no building, structure, or property may be used or occupied without a certificate of occupancy, no final certificate issues while any part of the property is out of compliance with the Code (unless a permit or plan specifically authorizes phased occupancy), and no final certificate of occupancy issues without the fire chief's or designee's sign-off.