What is a certificate of occupancy?
A certificate of occupancy (CO) is a document a building department issues confirming that a newly built or substantially altered structure complies with code and is safe and legal to occupy for its intended use. It’s typically the final step after construction passes all required inspections. New buildings, changes of use, and major commercial tenant improvements generally require a CO before anyone can move in.
A CO ties together the whole permit lifecycle: the project was permitted, built, inspected, and finaled. For commercial space especially, a tenant usually can’t legally open until the CO (or a temporary CO) is issued.
A change of use — say converting a retail space to a restaurant — can trigger a new CO even without major construction, because the occupancy classification and code requirements change.
PlumbIntel classifies permits through their full lifecycle, so a finaled permit and the move toward occupancy is visible in the data — a signal that a project is wrapping up and the next phase (fixtures, equipment, services) is in play.
Related questions
- When is a certificate of occupancy required?
- For new construction, a change in a building’s use or occupancy type, and often major commercial tenant improvements — before the space can be legally occupied.
- What’s the difference between a CO and a building permit?
- A building permit authorizes the work to begin; a certificate of occupancy certifies the finished building is safe and legal to occupy once the work passes inspection.
- What is a temporary certificate of occupancy?
- A TCO lets a building be occupied before every item is complete, usually with conditions and an expiration, pending the final CO.
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