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November 2, 2009
C of O Change
I am thinking of buying the house next door and combining it. I imagine i will need a new C of O in order to do the conversion. Is this possible and if it is how hard is it to get?
Comments
Yes, you will need a new Certificate of Occupancy and getting one is a fairly lenghy process with many variables. You will be able to do what you want but it will take some time and negotiation. Ed Kopel Architects
Posted by: edkopel at November 3, 2009 10:40 AM
Another architect here. Ed's right, it's certainly possible, but it will take time to do.
To elaborate, though, I'd like to clear up one misconception I hear all the time. The C of O change is the last thing you would do as part of any job. It is a process that is begun essentially when all construction work is done and signed off by the architect and DOB. You can do the work and live in the house while in the process of obtaining the C of O. So while it may be a lengthy and tedious process, it has very little effect on your life while it's happening.
It also depends upon the intended use of the building. If it's multi-family and you intend to rent out a part of the building, then you'll need a C of O, or at the very least a temporary C of O until the real one's complete, to rent out units. This is also true if you intend to rent out a portion for a commerecial purpose, say a ground floor store or something like that.
So, in short, the C of O process is a pain, but don't let it stand in the way of doing what you want to with the building.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture
Posted by: JimHill at November 3, 2009 11:26 AM
HotelMotel, are you planning to change use group; i.e.to a hotel/motel? If so, you would need the c of o complete before you could begin to operate.
Posted by: HDL at November 3, 2009 12:33 PM
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