What Is a Certificate of Occupancy? Explained by Architect Jorge Fontan

A Certificate of Occupancy is a document, issued by the Department of Buildings, that outlines the allowed legal use for a building or house. A Certificate of Occupancy can list the: General Building Information, Building Use, Zoning Use Group, Building Code Classifications, Number of Occupants per space, list of floor and different uses per floor etc...
A Certificate of Occupancy determines the use and occupancy of a building, house, or space within.
In this video I review what is a certificate of occupancy, how to read a certificate of occupancy and why all this information matter. I will use a typical Certificate of Occupancy from NYC as an example and explain its meaning.
To learn more about a Certificate of Occupancy you can see a blog post by Architect Jorge Fontan:
fontanarchitecture.com/certif...
To learn more about Jorge Fontan and Fontan Architecture you can see our website and blog at:
fontanarchitecture.com/
Follow Fontan Architecture on Instagram - / fontanarchitecture
#certificateofoccupancy #cofo

[@DRzNYer]

I was hoping you’d be so kind as to explain one to me. It has contradicting information and I want to speak to someone who understands this more. Thank You 🙏

[@bryanmcnulty9625]

Thank you, great explanation.

[@daniel5675]

Thanks for all the important information! Off topic, I love old architecture. Is there a program here or in Europe, you can recommend to study the different forms of architecture? I'm a retired teacher but have always thought architecture was my true calling. Thanks for all your help!

[@greenflagracing7067]

thank you sir, very informative.

[@satybar]

Thank you. It is helpful. Is TR4 necessary to obtain CO? Can it be avoided? I have a building already constructed, but no CO issued yet. I am missing TR4 report. Can a TR4 be submitted after construction?

[@eatmeatnmove]

I was looking at the certificate of occupancy for my grandparents house which I took over in 2013. I am trying to sell it now… It’s registered as a two family, but the PDF document attached to my home has a different house address attached to it….like an error…is this common?

[@stayunknown997]

In Georgia is it required to get occupancy certificate before i can sell the house ??. Please reply

[@ambatiprashanth1318]

Thank you. I have a question how to find the BIN number for a given address. for example how to check these before buying a home

[@JorgeFontan]

The BIN number is a New York City convention, it can be found on the NYC DOB website building information system.

[@adesa1]

Great videos. But was disappointed with their pricing. They were THE MOST expensive company I reached out to for the job I needed. For example 3 companies that I spoke to told me it would cost about $15,000, 2 companies told me $6000 and 1 company told me $10,000. This company told me $25,000. I share this for informational purposes if you are like most homeowners who don't know how to navigate all this type of stuff. Some people use ignorance to price gouge. This city is horrible by not making this process easier for homeowners.

[@JorgeFontan]

Confirming that this sounds accurate. We are an expensive high end architecture firm.

[@AK-jt7kh]

This is really helpful! Can you get a CO for a building on a parcel that isn’t subdivided? We have a property in the family that is quite old it has three separate houses on it. We want to rent one, but I don’t think the other two houses will qualify for a co.

[@mdmatiurkhan8613]

Hello sir, im going to buy house in bronx which is 2 family house. Before the closing we found that it is 1 family house on record in DOB. But the house have 2 separate units and separate gas, electric metar, full bathroom / Ketchin. The saller told me that, he is applied no objection latter. My question is, can i buy house with no objection it good for me in future.please help me out sir.

[@victorminchala3191]

Hi I am on the same situation. How did your case go ?