Code: COC – Certificate Of Compliance (official violation code)
Description: Certificate Of Compliance (COC) is a DOB document that shows certain service equipment was inspected, tested, and approved before it is used. It is issued after a Special Inspection Agency and licensed professionals file the required forms and DOB accepts the results.
Practical Meaning: For a NYC building owner, this COC meaning appears when you install or operate special equipment like HVAC systems, fuel‑burning equipment, cooling towers, or other mechanical systems that need a separate approval to run. This is not a violation document: it is part of the process to legalize and operate equipment, after filings, inspections, and tests show that the installation matches the approved plans and code rules.
Where You May See It: You may see this COC on equipment labels or cards posted near boilers, AC units, or other service equipment, in DOB NOW records for mechanical or equipment filings, and in engineering reports prepared by your design professional or Special Inspection Agency. It also appears in guides about replacing old equipment use permits with Certificates Of Compliance and in FDNY or DOB instructions that require you to obtain such a certificate to close related safety issues
Why It Matters: If you mix up this COC with a Certificate Of Correction, you might wrongly assume that having equipment approved also removes all related violations, which is not always true. Treating these as separate tasks—one to correct and clear violations, the other to approve and legalize equipment—helps you avoid enforcement, shutdowns, and conflicts with insurers or inspectors.