Yes you require a permit for new installations and additions.

Manufacturers recommend annual maintenance. This helps to avoid any possible safety hazards and ensures your fireplace runs at maximum efficiency.

Basic exterior and cosmetic cleaning is ok, but most manufacturers recommend an annual maintenance check by a certified professional.

Yes, you can run it off the same line. However you should obtain a quote on this as there are restrictions for how much you can add to one line.

Almost all fans run off a temperature sensor. This means your fan will not come on until the fireplace heats for 15 20 minutes. It will continue running until the fireplace cools up to 30 minutes or more.

This is a natural by-product of minerals from natural gas. Cleaning should be done once a year by a qualified technician.

This means that the fuel-to-air ratio needs to be adjusted. There is likely incorrect log placement. If the logs have been moved, it might cause this problem.

Yes. Your fireplace has a standing pilot that is run off its own millivolt generator therefore during power outages, your fireplace will still run. Fireplace fans will not operate because they run on 110 volts but your flames will.