B9 - 2 Family No C of O

Quick Question, If a building is classified as a B9 – 2 Family Dwelling and does not have a certificate of occupancy if we are able to use the house in any configurations we would like – or how do we find out if we are able? Currently the garden and parlor are duplexed and the top floor is the rental. We want to make the garden the rental and make the top two floors our owner’s duplex. All we need to do (in our minds) is put up walls to separate the units and take down the old drywall that currently separates the top floors. Anyone know if this is a larger issue than I am thinking it will be? Does no C of O work in our favor at this point? Thanks everyone! Blue

blue1892

in About Brooklyn 11 years ago

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resident2 | 11 years ago

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The B9 notation is a department of finance class. It is being taxed as a two family that is not necessarily the legal use as far as the buildings department is concerned. Technically you are supposed to get permits for all alterations; but especially when you are changing walls, replacing/moving plumbing, electrical outlets etc. If you do have a legal pre C of O house back in the day…before todays 311 spies, it was customary that if you used a licensed plumber & electrician etc…people would just go ahead and do it. But in todays crazy world of City revenue collectors and 311 neighborhood spies, you had better file an alteration plan and get permits.

dorkofwindsor | 11 years ago

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yours is not a c of o issue but a dob issue. most 2 families in this area with a top floor rental were because the basement did not qualify as a habitable space (just under 50% below the curb). It is doable, but there are very specific dob rules. Whenever you talk about putting walls up, your dob antenna should go up. So to summarize, the C of O is a non issue in your quest – but there is change to egress and quite possibly changing a non-habitale basement into an apartment. So engineer / architect, permits and the whole ball of wax.