A Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) is a document issued by Building & Safety which certifies that a commercial space or newly constructed residential building has been inspected for compliance with the California Building Standards Code and local ordinances which govern construction and occupancy.

The City of Fullerton issues the Certificate of Occupancy to the space or building, and not to the specific business. Should a business vacate a space, and another business of the same use/occupancy takes possession of the space without making any modifications requiring a building permit, the existing CofO remains in effect.

When a commercial space is modified and a building permit is required, the city will conduct a record search to determine if a new Certificate of Occupancy must be issued. A new CofO is triggered when the use or area of the space is changed. If so, the new CofO will be issued when all of the work has passed a final building inspection. If no new CofO is required, the existing CofO on file will remain in effect.

Once a permit is issued, city Building Inspectors will perform the necessary inspections to confirm the space complies with the building codes for the proposed use and that no hazardous or substandard conditions exist.

Temporary Certificates of Occupancy

Building & Safety may issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) on a case-by-case basis. TCOs must be coordinated with the Building Inspector and approved by the Building Official. An additional fee is required for a TCO and is valid for a period of 30 calendar days. Approvals from other City Departments and Divsions may also be required prior to the issuance of a TCO including Public Works Department, Fire Department and the Planning Division. The following items will be considered before a TCO is issued:

• The scope of the remaining work and its impact on the use of the space
• How the space will be maintained safe and accessible while the remaining work is completed
• The timeframe needed to complete the remaining work

Application for Temporary Certificate of Occupancy

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