Certificate of Occupancy Advice!

Does anyone have experience with an Alt 1 renovation, and with waiting for a new CofO? I am wondering about if it is possible to move into our home when “ready” and just wait for the new CO if it hasn’t arrived yet? I am getting conflicting feedback. I know the easy response is “no, you’re not supposed to live in a home that hasn’t been approved for CofO”. But we really are over our time limit in current living situations so I’m wondering if anyone has had experience with actually living in your newly finished home while waiting for the new CofO after an Alt1 renovation. Thanks so much if you can reply!
-Shirley

Guest User | 7 years and 4 months ago

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CarmenR | 7 years and 4 months ago

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We moved in nearly a year before we got our CoO and before we had any of our inspections, if I remember correctly. We didn’t have gas but we did have running water and electric. I don’t know technically how legal or illegal that is, but lots of people do it.

Guest User | 7 years and 4 months ago

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Thank you all. You’ve actually all confirmed a lot for me. I am trying to gauge the risk that we might be up against if the CofO doesn’t come through in time. We have just had a few first inspections approved. We are two families, both with little ones, paying rent and mortgage, and the project has taken much longer than it was supposed to. I do realize that home insurance is the gravest risk.
Thanks a lot.

helen40

in General Discussion 7 years and 4 months ago

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Your insurance company and bank may not be too happy about moving in without a TCO or CO.

randolph | 7 years and 4 months ago

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we had our electric and plumbing sign offs before we moved in, we were just waiting for the DOB to get its act together and process the C of O. there was no safety concern.

JPDA | 7 years and 4 months ago

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You will almost always get a TCO before the final CO, and it’s definitely not recommended to occupy the home prior to receiving DOB approval. While many older homes do not “have” a CO, this is a much different situation than filing for and obtaining a new CO through the Alt 1 permit process which is by definition changing the use or occupancy.

Guest User | 7 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks so much

randolph | 7 years and 4 months ago

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we moved into our place before the new c of o was issued. there is nothing wrong with living in a house without a c of o, many houses do not even have one.

Guest User | 7 years and 4 months ago

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Thank you

resident2 | 7 years and 4 months ago

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Ask about a temporary C of O. If all the sign offs have been done and you are just waiting for all the boxes to be filled in and computerized, your architect should be able to get TCO.