Certificate of Occupancy (CO)
A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is very important for a homeowner in NYC because without this document people are not allowed to live or work in the building. Without a valid CO, you cannot legally live in, rent out, or sell your property. It also shows that all construction or changes were done according to approved plans and permits, and that all required city fees and violations have been taken care of.
A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is more than just another city form – it is the official permission for people to live in or use a building in New York City. Without this permission, you cannot legally live in, rent out, or sell your property, no matter how long the building has been standing. A valid CO (or a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, TCO, while final work is still in progress) confirms that the basic rules for safe use and legal occupancy have been met.
If you change how the building is used – for example, turning a store into an apartment, or splitting one large apartment into two smaller ones – the City expects an updated or amended CO that matches the new reality on the ground. The CO also acts as a snapshot showing that construction or alterations were done under approved plans and permits, and that required city fees and outstanding violations were properly resolved.
Simple example – One short example:
If your CO says “2‑family house.” – That means the City only allows 2 separate apartments (2 separate living spaces) in this building. If you create a 3rd apartment in the basement and rent it, that extra apartment is illegal because it is not listed on the CO.
Quick Facts:
- Who gives the CO? – NYC Department of Buildings (DOB*).
- What does it say? – If the building is a 1‑family house, 2‑family house, apartment building, store, office, etc., and sometimes how many people or families can be there
- When do you need it? – Before anyone can legally live in or use the building.
- Why is it important? – It shows the building passed inspections and follows safety and zoning rules.
Related terms
Some glossary entries use an asterisk * at the end of the term (for example, “violation*”). This mark is only a technical workaround to prevent the auto‑linking system from creating too many automatic links across the website. It does not change the meaning of the term.
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