Certificate of Occupancy

New buildings must have a CO, and existing buildings must have a current or amended CO when there is a change in use, egress or type of occupancy. No one may legally occupy a building until the Department has issued a CO or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO).

A CO confirms that the completed work complies with all applicable laws, all paperwork has been completed, all fees owed to the Department have been paid, all relevant violations have been resolved, and all necessary approvals have been received from other City Agencies. The Department issues a final CO when the completed work matches the submitted plans for new buildings or major alterations.

A Letter of Completion may be issued for minor alterations that do not require a new or amended CO. For buildings built or altered prior to 1938 and a CO was not required at that time, a Letter of No Objection may be issued to confirm the legal use of the building.

See the Certificate of Occupancy website for more information about the Certificate of Occupancy process and requirements.

For additional information on a specific property, visit the Buildings Information System at www.nyc.gov/bis or the DOB NOW public portal at www.nyc.gov/dobnow.