3 Family+1store to 2family+1store Do I need CO change ?

Hello,I am purchasing a mixed use 3stories property in NYC with 3 families +1store in zola. The first floor was One store at front +1 studio on rear but the seller combined 1 family into the restaurant in the 90s (currently the whole first floor is used for a restaurant) . I requested job details from DOB and found out they did Alt 2 jobs but no change on C/O.
Question is I would like to update DOF property tax from 2A to class 1 which can save me a few thousand dollars per year.
Do I need to change C/O in this situation? (Doesn’t want DOB involve but DOF)
DOF probably will send someone to do an inspection but I am afraid of DOB being involved and say hey you have to change C/O in order to change tax class. (Change C/O needs a whole building to install a sprinkler system which will cost a lot of money which I try to avoid)
Please if you have any advice please let me know.
Best regards

lantian

in Dept. of Buildings (DOB) 3 weeks ago

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trtr | 2 weeks ago

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Definitely worth asking a lic architect BUT a few years ago when planning a conversion we were told (by our architect) that we could always ‘go down’ and use a 2 family as a 1 family with no needed change in CofO but couldn’t ‘go up’ from a 1 fam to 2 fam. We kept the 2 fam CofO but live here as 1 fam and removed the 2nd kitchen (but kept all the pipes in the walls JIC !).

cate | 3 weeks ago

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My understanding is any change of C of O will trigger a tax reassessment a year later that will tax the property at the full freight of its value, thus causing a dramatic increase in actual taxes that will be far in excess of any theoretical savings that might exist on, say, a two-family vs. a three-family. There will be no savings. (Not to mention that because the property is mixed-use, it’s in a different tax class with a higher tax rate than a two-family anyway.) Plus, as you correctly surmise, a C of O change will also mean the onerous sprinkler requirement. You can continue to use the property as is without needing to change any paperwork, since you are under rather than over the official use. AFAIK changing the tax classification at the DOF without also changing the occupancy and use at the DOB is not an option. But maybe you could consult an expediter who is expert on these matters (such as DOB trumps DOF when they disagree?) or potentially an architect or lawyer.