Look up an NYC certificate of occupancy
Check how the building may legally be used before you rent. Compare its occupancy documents with the apartment being offered and the construction and complaint history.
What a certificate of occupancy means
A Certificate of Occupancy, or CO, states a building's legal use or permitted occupancy. A temporary certificate allows occupancy while some items still need approval. Later work that changes the use, exits or occupancy can require an amended certificate.
Some buildings built before 1938 may legally have no Certificate of Occupancy, unless later work changed their use, exits or occupancy. A missing certificate alone does not mean the building is illegal.
What Apartment Fax checks
- 01
Available DOB occupancy certificates matched to the building
- 02
Issue date, occupancy type and temporary or final status, when filed
- 03
Related permits, job applications, complaints and violations
- 04
Building age, recorded use, residential unit count and ownership
Final, temporary and amended certificates
A final certificate confirms approval for the listed use. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, or TCO, means DOB found the property safe to occupy for a limited period while some items await final approval. Work that changes use, exits or occupancy can require an amended certificate.
Check the issue date and listed use against the permits and job filings. Compare what the document allows with the apartment or space you are being offered.
What to check if there is no certificate
DOB says some buildings built before 1938 do not need a CO. A Letter of No Objection may establish legal use for an exempt building. Check the building's age and later alterations before drawing a conclusion from a missing result.
Apartment Fax shows available occupancy records with construction, violation and property records. Confirm legal-use questions in DOB NOW or BIS, and ask to see the document before relying on the listing.
Check the official records
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a Certificate of Occupancy in NYC?
Search the address in DOB NOW for newer records and BIS for older ones. Open the property profile and look for its Certificate of Occupancy documents.
What is a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy?
A TCO means DOB found the property safe to occupy temporarily while some items still need approval. It expires, so check that it is current.
Is every NYC building required to have a Certificate of Occupancy?
No. Some buildings built before 1938 are exempt unless later work changed their use, exits or occupancy.