Commercial Certificate of Occupancy

Step 1.Application requirements

Your application should give us a thorough picture of how your business is using the space it is operating in.

Gather the information and documents necessary to complete the application.

Information to Apply for a Certificate of Occupancy(PDF, 684KB)

Step 2.How to apply

You can start the application now, save your progress and come back to finish it later, if necessary.

The review will not begin until the application is submitted in full and application fees are paid.

Apply online

Step 3.Fee payment

Once we have the completed application, City staff will reach out to collect an application fee of $100.

Step 4.Review process

Certificate of Occupancy applications are processed in 10–12 business days. They must by reviewed by several departments and divisions: Building, Planning, Fire, Engineering. During the review process, we may reach out if we have questions or if further documentation is required.

Step 5.Safety inspection

After we finish reviewing your Certificate of Occupancy application, we will reach out to schedule an on-site safety inspection. We recommend that you have the space ready as if you are ready to begin operating. This will help ensure that inspectors can see how employees and customers will occupy the area.  

We have provided some documents in the "Related Information" sidebar on this page that explain what inspectors will check during this inspection. 

Step 6.Issuing your certificate

Once occupancy is approved, we will email you the Certificate of Occupancy along with a business license. You will need to post the Certificate of Occupancy at a visible location on-site.

Certificates of Occupancy do not expire as long as you are in the specific space the certificate is issued for. Relocations, expansions or reductions would generate the need for a new Certificate of Occupancy.