Certificate of occupancy
A document from the city or county saying the building is legal to occupy. Required for new construction and often for major renovations. No CO, no move-in.
Your Room opens on this part of the sale, with the offer and everything before it already ticked.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.
See how it worksWhere this comes up: under contract
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
In some cities a home cannot change hands without a certificate of occupancy, sometimes a fresh one from an inspection before closing. Where that applies, it is the seller's step, and it can take weeks.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your city requires a resale certificate of occupancy. An inspector visits, flags a missing smoke detector and a handrail, and issues the certificate after they are fixed.
| Where you are | What the CO means for the sale |
|---|---|
| A city with resale inspections | A municipal inspection and certificate before closing, arranged by the seller |
| A finished addition with no CO | A permit-closing process, or a disclosure and a nervous buyer |
| Most places | The original CO is in the file and nothing more is asked |
Where a CO is part of a sale, it is a deadline with an inspector attached.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That a CO is only for new construction. Some towns want a fresh one on every resale, and the seller finds out at contract.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines certificate of occupancy in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
Organize my saleFree to set up. Pay once when you list: $89 or $189. 7-day refund.