Legal Definitions - certificate of occupancy

A certificate of occupancy is a legal document that confirms a building meets all the necessary zoning and building regulations required by the local government.

This certificate is usually required before a building can be occupied or sold. It is a way for the government to ensure that the building is safe for people to live or work in.

For example, if someone wants to buy a new house, they will need to make sure that the house has a certificate of occupancy before they can move in. This ensures that the house has been built to the proper standards and is safe to live in.

Another example is a business owner who wants to open a new store. They will need to obtain a certificate of occupancy before they can open their doors to customers. This ensures that the building is safe for customers and employees to be in.