A property owner, agent or representative of the owner may not construct, alter or change the use of any structure to become a public building without first obtaining from the Commissioner of Public Safety or from a municipality designated pursuant to section 2448?A a permit for that purpose. A request for a permit must be accompanied by a true copy of the plans and specifications for that construction, reconstruction or change of use. The commissioner shall issue a permit only if the plans comply with statutes and lawful rules adopted to reduce fire hazards. [PL 2009, c. 364, §1 (AMD).]

The term “public building” includes any building or structure constructed, operated or maintained for use by the general public, which includes, but is not limited to, all buildings or portions of buildings used for a schoolhouse, hospital, convalescent, nursing or boarding home to be licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services; theater or other place of public assembly, mercantile occupancy over 3,000 square feet, hotel, motel or business occupancy of 2 or more stories; or any building to be state-owned or state-operated. [PL 2009, c. 364, §1 (AMD).]

The term “true copy” means an accurate representation by dimensioned plans and specifications of the final construction documents. [PL 1983, c. 232, §1 (RPR).]