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Written by
Sarah Li Cain
Sarah Li Cain is an experienced content marketing writer specializing in FinTech, credit, loans, personal finance and banking. Her work has appeared in Fortune 500 companies, publications and startups such as Transferwise, Discover, Bankrate, Quicken Loans and KeyBank.
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Michele Petry
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money .
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It’s natural to want to make sure a home is safe to live in before you buy it. Luckily, in many places, there are regulations and mandatory disclosures home sellers must comply with to make sure buyers are informed. In some municipalities, this means having a certificate of occupancy (often abbreviated to CO). Effectively, it’s a special permit legally declaring that a property is habitable and meets all code and usage requirements.
Let’s take a deeper look at certificates of occupancy, including when you need one, where to get one and how much they cost.
A certificate of occupancy is a legal document that proves a structure, such as a house or office building, is safe to inhabit. In addition to the property address and owner, a certificate of occupancy will include the following three things:
If you’re sprucing up your home to get it ready to sell, or if you’ve bought a fixer-upper that needs work, whether or not you need a new certificate of occupancy will depend on the scope of the projects. In general, minor home renovations will not require a new CO to be issued. However, there are a few home-improvement scenarios when one is likely to be required, depending on local rules and regulations. These include.
To get a certificate of occupancy, contact your local building or zoning inspection office and ask what documentation you’ll need to provide. In most cases, the information will be posted on your local government’s website. Some areas have much more stringent regulations than others.
Typically, your municipality will send an approved inspector to check out fire safety, electrical wiring and plumbing systems, plus any general additions, such as doors and exits. These will be assessed against building codes to determine if there are any violations. Whoever applies for the certificate must be present for all required property inspections.
Once an inspection has been completed, you’ll receive a report that outlines the details of your property and whether you pass. If so, you can claim your certificate and are free to sell the property. If not, you’ll receive a list of issues that need to be addressed before the sale can be completed. Your municipality will decide how much time you’ll be given to complete repairs. Then, you’ll need to complete another CO inspection in order to move forward.
Because different municipalities operate differently, the fee to get a certificate of occupancy varies significantly from place to place. For example, in Tamarac, Florida, it costs $260 for a safety permit, then $89 plus $3 for every 1,000 square feet of space in the building. Compare this to West Chicago, where it costs $100 plus an additional $0.12 per square foot of floor space. The cost, which is typically paid by the seller, also depends on the size and type of property.
Getting a certificate of occupancy can be a lengthy and expensive process, especially if you need multiple inspections. Rules around them vary significantly from market to market, and one may not even be needed in your local market. But in areas where they’re required, they’re non-negotiable. If you’re unsure whether you need one or not, ask your Relator or a local real estate attorney.
Sarah Li Cain is an experienced content marketing writer specializing in FinTech, credit, loans, personal finance and banking. Her work has appeared in Fortune 500 companies, publications and startups such as Transferwise, Discover, Bankrate, Quicken Loans and KeyBank.
