Certificate of occupancy

A certificate of occupancy, often called a CO, is the last paper in a new build. You cannot legally move in without it. It follows passing final inspections on every building permit.

The City of Tampa says a CO comes from Inspection Services at the Construction Services Center. It also lists the sign-offs needed first: building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas, fire, transportation, landscaping and stormwater inspections. A punch list is often cleared before this point. For the full sequence, see the design-build process.