MenuCertificate of Occupancy
If all inspections have been approved and there are no holds on the group, then the project is ready for a Certificate of Occupancy (aka CO). The project CO is available at 9:00 a.m. the next business day after all inspections have been approved in the system. A new building cannot be legally occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.
A Certificate of Occupancy is the final document issued in the building process. This document is used to certify the legal use of a building for the purpose of which it was intended and accordingly permitted for. The CO document is issued by the City of Raleigh Inspections Department Construction Division. The CO verifies how a building may be used (i.e. residential, commercial, business, multi-dwelling, etc.). Being a legal document, the CO is often required when selling property or refinancing mortgages.
The Certificate of Occupancy will be issued when all required inspections are approved confirming the project meets all applicable building codes, state and city laws and ordinances, and all associated fees are paid in full.
How to View and Obtain a Copy
Effective January 2, 2013, the City of Raleigh Development Services Customer Service Center no longer mails copies of CO's to contractors and owners.
Clients may view and/or make a copy online with the Online Development Center (ODC) at http://onlinedevcenter.raleighnc.gov/devservices. To access the ODC from the City of Raleigh homepage, go to: www.raleighnc.gov and search Online Development Center.
To View:
- Click on the "Home" tab at the top of the page
- Click on "View CO" in the Permits section on the left
- Search by either "Building Permit Number" or "Street Address"
- Click "Submit"
- Click on the appropriate "Group Number" for the project
To Print:
- Click on the Printer icon in the top left of the page above the CO copy
Same Day Processing of CO
Same day processing of a CO may be done for a fee of $10.00 for each CO generated. To request a same day CO copy, please contact the Development Services Customer Service Center at 919-996-2500.
Common Problems Printing CO
Problems generating a CO:
- There is a system hold on the project
- Not all permits have had a final inspection and been recorded in the system
- The project does not require or generate a CO
Problems printing a CO:
Please contact the Development Services Customer Service Center at 919-996-2500 if any problems are encountered while attempting to print a CO. Staff will assist with trouble shooting the issue.
What is a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO)?
This means that the City of Raleigh Inspections Department Construction Division has deemed the building safe enough to temporarily occupy until any remaining issues are resolved and approved. The TCO approval is only temporary and is subject to expiration. A TCO expires 30 days after issuance date.
(Note: The Fire Department may need to inspect property on an annual basis.)
