After final inspection approval, the building inspection department can proceed with issuing the Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.). The building may not be occupied or used before that certificate is issued. Before you can get a C.O., you will need to obtain approvals and sign-offs from each of the same agencies that gave an approval to issue the building permit.

As your project nears completion, you will need to pick-up, at our office; the same sign off card that you took around to get your building permit approvals. The card must again be taken to each required agency to obtain an authorized signature indicating approval for a C.O. Separate inspections and/or additional fees may be required by each agency. It is your responsibility to contact the appropriate agency and arrange for the required inspections and approvals prior to requesting your Certificate of Occupancy. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY – (TCO)

A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued before completion of the entire work covered by the permit, if the following standards have been satisfied:
a. The structure may be occupied safely and present no threat of fire or to the life, health, or welfare of the occupants of the public;
b. Construction of the structure is substantially complete and only minor items of the project remain for full completion.
c. The general contractor and/or owner requesting a temporary certificate of occupancy have provided sufficient assurances to the building official that the project will reach final completion in a timely manner; and
d. For any multi-family or multiple unit project, including townhouse and condominium projects, duplex developments or other projects consisting of five or more units, temporary certificates of occupancy may be issued for no more than 40% of those units under construction at any time.