Building and zoning
What is a certificate of occupancy?
In short
A building department document certifying that a space is legally usable for a stated purpose. It is a prerequisite for most other permits, which is why it sits first in almost every opening sequence.
Pre-launch build. The permit records on this page are sample data used to build the site structure. None has yet been verified against a primary source, so nothing here should be relied on.
What else is this permit called?
The same document is issued under different names depending on the jurisdiction. A certificate of occupancy may appear locally as: certificate of use and occupancy, CO, CofO. If your city uses a name not listed here, it is worth checking the issuing agency rather than assuming it is a different requirement.
Who needs one?
A certificate of occupancy is triggered by what a business does rather than by its legal form. The conditions that trigger it are: occupies premises.
Local requirements
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.