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.
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.
We publish 221 records of this type from 203 jurisdictions in 49 states. In 159 of them it applies to each business the record covers; in the other 44 it applies only in the circumstances the record sets out.
How much does a certificate of occupancy cost?
Across the 132 records that publish a dollar figure or band, fees run from $3 to $1,143. The middle half fall between $75 and $232, and the median is $125. A further 49 set the fee by a formula or schedule rather than a single figure. Agencies publish these on different bases — per year, one time, per sign or banded by size — so the spread shows how far published fees range, not one like-for-like price. Each jurisdiction's page states the basis for its own fee.
The lowest and highest published certificate of occupancy fees
Single dollar figures only, one per jurisdiction — its lowest where it publishes several. 98 jurisdictions publish one.
| Jurisdiction | Fee | Basis as published |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | $3 | flat, issued following an approved final inspection |
| Charlotte, NC | $10 | flat, per certificate |
| Madison, WI | $10 | for the first certificate; $150 for each additional certificate |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | $10 | per certificate of occupancy. Related charges in the same ordinance section: Temporary Certificate of Occupancy $90.00 per open trade permit for initial issuance and placard, $55.00 per open trade permit for renewal including re-inspection, and $45.00 per posting where an inspector must re-post a placard; Temporary Utilities $100.00 per open mechanical or electrical permit; Limited Conditional Utility $100.00 under 3,000 sq ft, $115.00 for 3,000-10,000 sq ft and $165.00 above 10,000 sq ft; utility reconnects $50.00 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $20 | per application — the $15 Certificate of Occupancy application/inspection fee plus the $5 technology/computer fee |
| Warren, MI | $500 | for a commercial or industrial certification |
| Kane County, IL | $600 | per Establishment of Use |
| Columbus, OH | $700 | for a commercial or multi-family building not tied to a building permit; $300 for a 1-3 family dwelling |
| Portland, OR | $701 | flat — Change of Occupancy or Use Review Fee, charged when a space's occupancy classification or use changes without a concurrent new building permit |
| Aurora, CO | $850 | flat; $500 is refunded if a standard Certificate of Occupancy issues before the temporary one expires |
How long does a certificate of occupancy last?
The term stated most often is “issued once per qualifying occupancy”, in 26 records. Terms differ by jurisdiction, and each record on a jurisdiction's page states its own.
Which businesses need it most often?
The number of jurisdictions whose certificate of occupancy record names each type of business.
Where we hold certificate of occupancy records
Jurisdictions with a published record of this type, by state.
- Texas40
- Florida10
- Illinois6
- North Carolina6
- Ohio6
- Delaware5
- Iowa5
- Oklahoma5
- Arizona4
- California4
- Georgia4
- Indiana4
- Nevada4
- Washington4
- Wisconsin4
- Alaska3
- Arkansas3
- Colorado3
- Connecticut3
- Hawaii3
- Kansas3
- Kentucky3
- Louisiana3
- Massachusetts3
- Maryland3
- Maine3
- Michigan3
- Missouri3
- Mississippi3
- Montana3
- New Hampshire3
- New Jersey3
- New York3
- Oregon3
- Pennsylvania3
- Rhode Island3
- South Dakota3
- Tennessee3
- Utah3
- Virginia3
- Vermont3
- Wyoming3
- Alabama2
- Minnesota2
- North Dakota2
- West Virginia2
- District of Columbia1
- New Mexico1
- South Carolina1
Where to find local certificate of occupancy requirements
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.