Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is an official document issued by the Building Official. It certifies that a newly constructed building, or a portion of an existing building that has undergone a change in use or renovations, complies with the adopted building codes and zoning regulations, making it safe for its designated use. A building may not be used or occupied until a CO has been issued, which occurs after a building passes final inspection.

A certificate of occupancy is required:

  1. Before the initial occupancy of a building or tenant space.
  2. Where there is a change in:
    1. Occupancy classification, as defined by the codes adopted in Section 6-26
    2. Tenancy or ownership of building or tenant space
    3. Name or ownership of a business
    4. Type of business
  3. Section 6-37(a)(2) does not apply to single family or two family dwelling units.

November 2025 - Ordinance No. 2025-814 amended "Certificate of Occupancy"

Occupancy Classification

Occupancy classification is the formal designation of the primary purpose of the building or part of the building, as defined by Chapter 3 of the International Building Code (IBC). This classification system helps determine design requirements and safety measures, including how many people can safely occupy a building.

An example of a change in occupancy classification would be converting factory space to retail space.

Tenancy/Ownership

A change in tenancy refers to any modification of the occupant of a rental property, such as when a tenant moves in or out, or a lease is transferred or sublet to a different tenant. An example of a change in tenancy is a business moving into a vacant finished out storefront.

A change in ownership occurs when the title for the property is transferred from one owner to a different owner.

Name/Ownership of Business

A change in business name occurs anytime the operating or legal name of a business changes. A change in ownership of a business occurs anytime the ownership of a business is transferred from one owner to another owner.

Type of Business

The type of business refers to the main use or purpose of the business, such as the permitted uses found in the City of Waco's Zoning Ordinance. A change in the type of business can occur even if the occupancy classification as defined by the IBC Chapter 3 remains the same.

Examples of a change in use or type of business include, but are not limited to, converting a retail space into a restaurant or hair salon, adding a coffee shop to a space, or converting a warehouse to residential space.

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