Permit Process - Occupancy

Certificate of Occupancy may be pickup up after
all inspections passed.

Certificates of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy is required for all uses, including nonconforming uses as required by the UDC, with the exception of single family dwellings, registered family homes and group day-care homes. The Director of Development Services maintains a record of all Certificates of Occupancy.

Steps to Certificate of Occupancy Issuance

1. With your application for Certificate of Occupancy, include the correct address and suite number or building number, name of the business owner and name of the business and post the address in a conspicuous location.
2. Make the proposed place of business available for inspections between the hours of 7:45 am and 4:30 pm.
3. Correct all disapprovals prior to calling for reinsertion.
4. Post approval status envelop in conspicuous place for inspection slips.
5. Pay reinspection fees upon completion and approval of all inspections and a valid certificate of occupancy will be issued.

Certificate Of Occupancy

An application for a certificate of occupancy may be made at the One-Stop Counter on the 1st floor, Development and Business Services Center, 1901 South Alamo. Information required is the correct address and suite # or building number if applicable, the owner of the business and the name of the business (Doing Business As or DBA).

Chapter 1, 110.1 of the 2003 IBC prohibits any commercial structure or building from being used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.

1. Upon application for a certificate of occupancy, ensure that the address is posted in a conspicuous manner so that the number may be easily seen from the opposite side of the street.

1. Please note: depending on your type of business, up to eight inspectors may inspect your premises. Inspections to be performed will be building, electrical, sign, mechanical, plumbing, fire and Texas Accessibility Standards. Only when applicable: Health and Edwards Recharge (SAWS) may also inspect. Change of use may be treated as new construction and require all inspections to include traffic, tree, and landscape. If inspections are not made on the appointed day, applicant will be contacted by telephone by the applicable inspector(s) to reschedule.

2. Please ensure that the proposed place of business is open for inspections between the hours of 7:45 am – 4:30 pm. A reinspection fee of $51.50 shall be charged if inspectors are not able to make scheduled inspections due to the building being locked.

3. All disapprovals must be corrected. As each type of correction is made, call for re-inspections at 207-1111. For Fire inspections, call 207-8410. However, you must ensure that the correction has been completed prior to calling for a reinspection. If the required correction has not been completed, a $50.00 re-inspection fee may be charged.

Licensed and bonded contractors with applicable permits must perform all electrical, mechanical and plumbing work, and erection of signs or changes to an existing sign face.

5. An envelope will be provided to you and it is to be posted in a “conspicuous place” so that inspectors can indicate approval/disapproval status. Each inspector will leave a copy of his/her inspection slip in the envelope.

Upon completion and approval of all inspections and payment of reinspection fees, if any, a valid certificate of occupancy shall be issued. City Public Service will be notified to release the applicable utilities.

Be advised that if the gas meter has been disconnected for a period of 90 days or more, City Public Service shall require that a gas test be performed by a licensed and bonded plumber. A permit and an approved inspection are required prior to the release of the gas meter.

Note: applications for certificates of occupancy shall be cancelled six months from the date of issuance if corrections on disapprovals have not been completed and approved.

For information on certificates of occupancy contact the call center at 207-1111. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:45am – 4:30 pm.

Automatic Certificate of Occupancy

On new construction, automatic certificates of occupancy are issued when:

(1) All applicable permits are secured i.e. building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and sign

(2) The use of the building is identified in the plans and permits

(3) All inspections have been performed and approved

Businesses that will serve alcoholic beverages will be issued an automatic certificate of occupancy only if such was stated when the original plans was submitted.

Businesses that may be considered as sexually oriented businesses, but are not or will not be sexually oriented businesses will require a notarized affidavit to the fact. Examples of such businesses include: video stores, bookstores, art galleries, massage parlors and bars/lounges.

Warehouses shall be issued an automatic certificate of occupancy only when the category of warehouse is identified on the building permit, as some uses may have specific fire rating requirements. If what is being stored in the warehouse is not identified, then a certificate of occupancy must be applied for.

Remodeling and completions on interior lease space shall be issued automatic certificates of occupancy only when:

(1) Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are secured in conjunction with the building permit

(2) The use of the building is identified

(3) All inspections have been performed and approved (the shell building must have all pertinent approved inspections)

On shell buildings a letter of certification shall be issued, upon request, when all permits have been issued and all applicable inspections have been approved.

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