Code: TCO - Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (DOB temporary occupancy document)
Description: (Temporary Certificate of Occupancy) is a DOB document that allows a building or part of a building to be legally occupied while certain construction work or required inspections are still being completed. It has an expiration date — usually every 90 days — and must be renewed until all outstanding work is finished and a final Certificate of Occupancy (CO) can be issued.
Practical Meaning: If you see "TCO" on a document related to your building, it means the building was allowed to be used or lived in before all required work was fully completed. A TCO is not permanent — it expires and must be renewed. If the TCO expires and is not renewed, the building may be considered illegally occupied, which can result in violations, stop-work orders, or serious problems when selling or refinancing the property.
Where You May See It: You may see "TCO" on DOB inspection reports, in building records on DOB NOW or BIS, in violation notices, in real estate closing documents, or in correspondence from the Department of Buildings. It often appears when a building was constructed or renovated but final inspections have not yet been completed.
Why It Matters: As a homeowner or property owner, it is important to know whether your building has a valid TCO or a final CO. An expired or missing TCO can result in violations, stop-work orders, or blocked sales and refinancing. Do not confuse TCO with CO (Certificate of Occupancy), which is the permanent final document, or with LOC (Letter of Completion), which closes a permitted job when no new CO is needed.