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Legal

Certificate of Occupancy

Definition

A document issued by a local building authority confirming a structure complies with code and is safe to occupy.

Example

The lender would not fund until the municipality issued the certificate of occupancy on the new construction.

Frequently asked questions

What does Certificate of Occupancy mean in real estate?

A document issued by a local building authority confirming a structure complies with code and is safe to occupy.

How is Certificate of Occupancy used in practice?

The lender would not fund until the municipality issued the certificate of occupancy on the new construction.

This definition is provided for educational purposes. Legal and tax terminology can carry jurisdiction-specific meaning — confirm with a licensed professional before relying on it in a transaction.