Get Owner Certification Form

Temporary CO A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy – or TCO – indicates the property is safe for occupancy, but the TCO has an expiration date. TCOs typically expire 90 days after issuance.

The New York City Department of Buildings issues a certificate of occupancy. In order to receive one, the building must undergo a series of inspections. The DOB will also conduct a final inspection to make sure construction has ended, the building is safe and the finished product matches the approved plans.

A TCO is the easiest to obtain, and the whole process takes about 6 months, or more, to complete. All you need are temporary approvals from the NYC DOB on the following essential items: Temporary Construction Sign Off.

What is Local Law 160? Local Law 160 of 2017 states that the DOB will now revoke active permits for buildings whose owners owe $25,000 or more in covered arrears to the City. The DOB will also deny new permits for building owners who fit this criterion.

Certificate of Occupancy - $1 per $1,000 cost of construction ($50 minimum) Certificate of Compliance - $50.

Once the inspector has verified the construction is complete and the building is safe, the CO will be issued. It typically takes between 6 to 12 months to get a certificate of occupancy in NYC, although it can take much longer if there are delays.

Use the Building Information Search in the Buildings Information System (BIS) to search by property address. From the Property Profile Page select View Certificates of Occupancy. If a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued, it will be listed on this page and can be printed by selecting the hyperlinked pdf file.

Residential Uses DescriptionFee AmountResidential$50.00 per unit.Mixed Use$100.00 plus $50.00/unit over 1 dwelling units