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Contracts & Legalaka: COaka: C of Oaka: occupancy permit

Certificate of Occupancy

In Plain English

The official permit from the local government certifying that a building is safe and legal to occupy.

Definition

A certificate of occupancy (CO) is a document issued by the local building authority confirming that a completed building complies with applicable codes and is safe for occupancy. It is typically required before a building can be legally used or occupied. The CO is one of the final milestones in a construction project and is often tied to final payment.

Example

The tenant could not move in until the building inspector issued the certificate of occupancy following the final inspection.

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