Occupancy permits assure building owners that their structure will perform as it should and keep its occupants safe. Most renovations and all new construction require an occupancy permit.
Apply for occupancy permits through E-Permitting. Review the permit fee schedule.
Occupancy permits can be used in two circumstances.
- Prior to work commencing - an inspection to inform the applicant of the things that need to be completed to pass code. It gives the applicant an understanding upfront before work begins. When an Occupancy permit is purchased before work commences, the same permit can be used when work is completed to occupy the space.
- After completion of a project – a final inspection to conclude the project, all trades permits and the building permit are compliant, granting occupancy of the space.
Definitions of Occupancy’s granted:
Conditional occupancy occurs when a building, or portion thereof, may be considered safe but a portion of the project is incomplete with respect to the construction documents submitted for the building permit, or with respect to the permit conditions or substantial building code compliance. Building Code compliance and other decisions associated with Conditional Occupancy are at the discretion of the Building Safety Codes Officer. The incomplete portion of the project will have time constraints and the applicant will be responsible to ensure the timeframes are met.
Temporary occupancy means occupancy known to be for less than one year but does not include intermittent or seasonal use when the intermittent or seasonal use will occur in more than a one-year period. Temporary Occupancy is granted at the discretion of a Building Safety Codes Officer and will have time constraints in which the applicant will be responsible for.
Partial occupancy occurs when a discrete, or stand-alone, portion of a building is complete with respect to the scope of work shown (for that portion) on the construction documents submitted for the building permit, or with respect to the permit conditions or substantial building code compliance. Partial Occupancy is granted at the discretion of a Building Safety Codes Officer. The completion of the remainder of the project will have time constraints and the applicant will be responsible for ensuring the additional portion is complete within that timeframe.