Under what circumstances is a new Certificate of Occupancy required?

A new Certificate of Occupancy is required when there are changes in ownership or occupancy load because this document verifies that a building is compliant with local zoning laws, building codes, and regulations. When the ownership of a property changes, it may bring new responsibilities or requirements that need to be documented and verified through an updated Certificate of Occupancy. Additionally, changes in the occupancy load, which refer to the number of people that can safely occupy a space, can alter building code compliance related to egress, safety features, and overall functionality of the space, necessitating an updated certificate to ensure safety and compliance.

Other scenarios listed, such as an update to an insurance policy or a change in landscaping, typically do not trigger a requirement for a new Certificate of Occupancy. These changes may still require some form of notification or permit depending on local regulations, but they do not affect the legal occupancy of the building in the same way that changes in ownership or occupancy load would. Similarly, implementing a new marketing plan does not inherently change the property’s structure or its compliance status, so it would not require a new Certificate of Occupancy.