Certificate of Occupancy

HPWCODE1106
Plan Review
Not Required
Inspection
Required
Renewal
Not Required
Fee
$90.06 to $514.64 (See Conditions & Exceptions)
Admin fee
$32.16
Valid Period
No Expiration (See Conditions & Exceptions)
Processing Time
15 Minutes
APPLY & INSPECTIONS QUESTIONS
Houston Public Works

Physical Address:

1002 Washington Ave., 1st Floor
Houston, TX 77002

Mailing Address:

PO Box 2688
Houston, TX 77252-2688

8 am to 4:30 pm

About

A Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained before a commercial building or an individual lease space within a commercial building may be occupied, or if changes to an existing occupancy classification are made. The certificate must be valid for the use of the building, space or portion thereof. The certificate is normally issued at the time of construction or when a remodel or change of use occurs.

A Certificate of Occupancy is not required for single-family residences, duplexes, and townhouses less than four stories, except for live-work units.

After Approval

The original Certificate of Occupancy must be posted in a clear, visible place on the premises.

A certificate will only be issued to the original applicant or the applicant's designated agent. The letter must include the project number, the address, the name of the designated agents, and the name and signature of the applicant.

Once you receive your final approval for your project, email: [email protected] to request the printing certificate. 

Process Change

Effective immediately, customers will no longer need to pick up certificates of occupancy (COs), in-person. They will now be emailed and have a QR code scanned and confirmed by an inspector to validate the certificate.

Conditions & Exceptions

Valid period

A Certificate of Occupancy remains valid unless there is an increase/decrease of square footage, occupant load, and/or change of occupancy use. A new certificate is required after these types of changes.

 

Fees

Fees vary based on square footage, number of floors, occupancy classification, and type of building.

  • Certificate of Compliance: $501.29
    • additional floors: $125.32 per floor
  • Residential multi-family building per contiguous project (up to 30 units): $501.29
    • Additional dwelling units: $12.53 each
  • Duplicate certificate: $87.72
  • Certificate name change only: $87.72
  • Individual retail or office space (less than 3,000 square feet) in multi-tenant building: $250.65
  • Certificate in connection with building core inspection: $87.72
  • Investigation fee (if warranted): $311.18

 

Additional Resources
Statutory Authority
What You Need
  • Application for Occupancy Compliance Inspection (Form CE-1045A or CE-1045B)
  • Lease agreement, if applicable
  • For apartments, condominiums and townhouses:
  • Current site map of all the buildings
  • Smoke alarm letter

Apply Online
  1. Submit a completed Application for Occupancy Compliance Inspection (Form CE-1045A or CE-1045B) via email to [email protected]

          a). Form 1045A - Complete this form when applying for a Certificate of Occupancy for existing buildings or lease spaces except for Live Work units and Residential Facilities.

 

          b). Form 1045B - Complete this application and declaration when applying for a Certificate of Occupancy for Live Work units and Residential Facilities only.

 

          For more information refer to the How-To Guide (via Email)

  1. Once the application is received and processed, an email with a link and instructions on how to pay online via iPermits system is sent to the applicant.
     
  2. Once payment is confirmed, an email with an inspection date, QR code, and guidelines is sent to the applicant.

Process Change

Effective immediately, customers will no longer need to pick up certificates of occupancy (COs), temporary certificates of occupancy (TCOs), and certificates of compliance (CCs) in-person. They will now be emailed and have a QR code scanned and confirmed by inspector to validate certificate.

 

Conditions & Exceptions

Business must be set up with power for proposed use for an existing building. No active or inactive permits from another sections.

What You Need
  1. Business must be set up with power for proposed use for an existing building on the               pre-scheduled inspection date.
  2. The job card/receipt on the premises.
  3. An approved ladder of adequate height.
  4. Access to all areas of the space, the attic space, above the ceiling, and roof with equipment.
Schedule Online
  1. Enter the appropriate project number into the field and click the Submit button.
  2. Select the type of inspection and click the Submit button.

Please have your project number and scheduling PIN readily available.

 

Schedule by Phone

A re-inspection or final inspection may be scheduled by emailing the permit technician assigned at the time a sales order is received and paid.  

Conditions & Exceptions

The inspection date will be given to the customer prior to leaving the Occupancy section. If an inspection is scheduled and no one is there to accompany the inspector(s), a re-inspection fee of $112.64 will be required.

Payment must be made the day the application is processed. If payment is not made, the inspection will be canceled.