---
title: "Certificate of Occupancy: Definition & Why It Matters for Contractors — PermitVector"
source: https://permitvector.com/glossary/certificate-of-occupancy
description: "A document issued by the AHJ certifying that a completed building meets code and is safe and legal to occupy."
---

# Certificate of Occupancy: Definition & Why It Matters for Contractors

> A document issued by the AHJ certifying that a completed building meets code and is safe and legal to occupy.

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2.  [Permit Glossary](/glossary) /
3.  Certificate of Occupancy

Permit Glossary

# Certificate of Occupancy

Also known as: CO, C of O, occupancy permit

A document issued by the AHJ certifying that a completed building meets code and is safe and legal to occupy.

A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is the final approval issued by the Authority Having Jurisdiction after all required inspections on a new or substantially renovated building have passed. It certifies that the structure complies with applicable codes and is legally fit for its intended use. In Texas, most lenders and title companies require a CO before a commercial building can be leased or sold. A CO closes out a permit record and marks the end of the active construction window.

## Why it matters for contractors

Tracking when a CO is issued tells contractors when a project has wrapped and shifts attention to the owner's next move — a second phase, adjacent property, or portfolio-wide maintenance cycle.

## Related terms

[Building Permit](/glossary/building-permit) [Inspection](/glossary/inspection) [Certificate of Occupancy vs. Permit](/glossary/certificate-of-occupancy-vs-permit) [Contractor of Record](/glossary/contractor-of-record)

[← All permit & construction terms](/glossary)

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_Source: https://permitvector.com/glossary/certificate-of-occupancy · PermitVector — daily Texas building-permit intelligence._