What Is a Certificate of Occupancy in Florida?

A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is an official document issued by the local building department certifying that a new building or addition complies with the approved permit drawings and the Florida Building Code, and is safe for occupancy.

A CO is required before any new building in Florida can be legally occupied — for residential properties, this means before you move in; for commercial buildings, before you open for business.

The CO is the final step in the permit process. It is issued only after all required final inspections (structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical) have been passed and all permit conditions have been satisfied.

Without a CO, a building is legally unoccupied regardless of its physical completion.

In Lee County, the CO is issued through the ePlan system after all inspections are closed.

In Collier County, a final survey showing the finished floor elevation is typically required before CO issuance for projects in flood zones. Miami-Dade and Broward counties may require additional documentation for commercial projects.

If you have an existing building that was occupied without a CO — or if you need a CO for a change of occupancy — the process is different from a new construction CO.

For an existing building, you must: (1) Apply for a retroactive CO or change of occupancy permit; (2) Have a licensed Florida engineer or architect prepare as-built drawings documenting the existing construction; (3) Submit the drawings for plan review; (4) Pass all required inspections of accessible structural elements; (5) Resolve any code violations identified during the inspection process.

Pineland Engineering (AR102594 · PE 39202) handles retroactive CO applications and change of occupancy permits throughout Florida.

We prepare the as-built drawings, manage the plan review process, and coordinate with the building department to get your CO issued.

Before a CO can be issued in Florida, all of the following final inspections must be passed: building final (structural and architectural); electrical final; plumbing final; mechanical/HVAC final; and, for projects in flood zones, a flood elevation certificate confirming the finished floor elevation meets the required Base Flood Elevation plus freeboard.

For commercial projects, additional inspections may be required: fire alarm, fire suppression, accessibility (ADA), and elevator. Pineland Engineering provides construction administration services to help clients pass inspections on the first attempt.

Occupying a building without a Certificate of Occupancy in Florida is a violation of Florida Statute 553.79.

Consequences include: fines from the local building department (typically $250–$500 per day); forced evacuation of the building; difficulty obtaining homeowner's insurance; inability to refinance or sell the property; and potential liability if someone is injured in an unoccupied building. If you have a building that was occupied without a CO, you will need to obtain a retroactive CO by completing any outstanding inspections and resolving any code violations.