What is a certificate of occupancy?
A Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) is a formal document that certifies the building was inspected for safety and is suitable for tenancy, complying with the applicable building codes and other development regulations when it was issued.
When is a certificate of occupancy required?
A certificate of occupancy may be issued for the following types of projects after all of the work specified on the City approved construction documents has been completed:
- New commercial and residential buildings
- Tenant improvement of a newly occupied space
- Tenant improvements resulting in a change of square footage
- Tenant improvement or renovations involving a change in the occupancy type, occupancy classification, or requires a greater degree of safety
- Other projects as determined by the Building Official
When is a certificate of occupancy not required?
A certificate of occupancy is not required and will not be issued for the following types of projects:
- Minor improvements such as flooring or paint which do not include a change in layout or square footage, a change in the occupancy type or classification, and do not impact accessibility or egress.
- A certificate of occupancy is granted to a space, not a business. If you are occupying a space that has the same intended use as specified on the existing Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) from the previous tenant, and you are not making any changes to the space, then you do not need to obtain a new certificate. The previous CofO is still valid and should be used for the new tenant. PDSD does not use tenant names on the certificate, only the type of business.
How do I find an existing certificate of occupancy?
Certificates of occupancy for an existing building may be on public record, and available by:
- Checking Property Research Online, https://pro.tucsonaz.gov/, using the property's address. CofOs are issued upon completion of a building permit and, as such, will be attached to a specific permit record. Some buildings may have more than one certificate issued at the same address.
- The most current CofO typically invalidates any previous certificates issued for the building. If a CofO is not available using Property Research Online, you can submit a record request from the portal using the link at the top of the page or from your Tucson Development Center Online account at the following link: https://tdc-online.tucsonaz.gov/
Can I apply for a new certificate of occupancy?
If a CofO does not exist for a building, or is unavailable on public record, you may request a new one through TDC Online by applying for a Commercial Addition/Alteration Permit. The following documents must be submitted at the time of application. They must be prepared and stamped by a registered Arizona architect or engineer:
- Complete Code analysis for the proposed use of the building
- Complete site plan
- Complete floor plan
- Complete egress plan
Please note, additional information may be required as determined by the Building Official.
A temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) may be issued for an active permit if occupancy is needed before the completion of a project. The extent of occupancy granted is based on individual site conditions. To obtain a TCO, the following are required:
- All life safety elements are complete, including a fully functional fire protection system (when applicable)
- Any remaining construction activities on the site are separated from other activities
- All inspection groups must approve a TCO inspection scheduled by the applicant (which may include building, site, fire, and transportation)
- The TCO must be requested through TDC-Online (CofO, TCO, LofC Request Process) and all required documents must be provided, such as: special inspection reports, water supply sterilization reports, and air balance reports (when applicable)
- Upon approval of the application, a non-refundable TCO fee per the adopted fee schedule must be paid
A TCO expires after 30 days and must be renewed until a permanent CofO is obtained. Each TCO extension will incur a fee in accordance with the adopted fee schedule. Only those persons covered by the general contractor of record are permitted to work on-site before occupancy (including furniture movers and network specialists).
4 Levels Of A Temporary Certificate Of Occupancy
Planning and Development Services offers four levels for a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. These levels should be discussed with your inspectors (building, site, and fire), so that they can identify the appropriate one for your project at the time of request.
- Level 1 TCO – Allows for installing furniture and equipment and stocking merchandise. This level does not allow public occupancy or business operations. Specific condition requirements must be discussed with the inspectors (building, site, and fire).
- Level 2 TCO – Allows for staff training. This level does not allow public occupancy or business operations. Specific condition requirements must be discussed with the inspectors (building, site, and fire).
- Level 3 TCO – Allows for limited business operations. This level allows for limited public occupancy in designated and completed areas of a project. Examples include the leasing office of a new apartment building or the drive-through of a new restaurant but not the interior dining area. Specific condition requirements must be discussed with the inspectors (building, site, and fire).
- Level 4 TCO - Allows for full business operations. This level allows for public occupancy in all public areas without restriction. A level 4 TCO is typically issued when minor work is yet to be completed, or an associated Development Package remains open.
A letter of completion (LofC) is a document indicating that the permitted work has been inspected and completed. A letter of completion is issued only in circumstances where a certificate of occupancy is not required upon completion of the permitted work. For example, replacing mechanical equipment requires a permit but will not impact the existing CofO. If a document is necessary to certify the mechanical work has been completed, an LofC may be requested.
All requests for a CofO /TCO/LofC are to be made through TDC Online by using the active permit number. A step-by-step guide to submitting a request may be found using this link: Certificates of Occupancy or Letter of Completion. Before submitting a request, please be sure to check the following:
- Review your Permit Card to verify that all Conditions have been satisfied. Please submit any Special Inspection Certificates (SIC), with appropriate documentation, through your TDC Online account. These documents must be reviewed and approved before issuance of a CofO.
- Ensure all Inspections are completed or passed. PDSD will NOT issue a CofO or LofC if the inspection is partially passed. You must schedule a re-inspection if the inspection is in a "partial pass" status.
- Ensure any related permits are in “completed” status. To verify the status of a development package, please contact CDRC@tucsonaz.gov.