[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":174},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-nyc-tco-vs-co-new-building-en-US":3},{"guide":4,"related":155},{"title":5,"seoTitle":6,"description":7,"summary":8,"sections":9,"faq":115,"cta":131,"date":133,"updated":133,"service":134,"order":135,"sources":136,"slug":153,"locale":154},"TCO vs CO for a New NYC Apartment Building","TCO vs CO for New NYC Buildings","What a temporary and a final certificate of occupancy each require for a new NYC building, what usually holds up closeout, and how TCO renewals work.","No one may legally occupy a new building in New York City until DOB issues a certificate of occupancy (CO) or a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO). A TCO is issued when DOB finds the building safe to occupy but issues remain open; it requires temporary or final construction, plumbing and electrical sign-offs, an elevator sign-off where applicable, an approved Schedule of Occupancy and a $130 fee, and it typically expires 90 days after issuance, with renewals until the final CO. The final CO adds final sign-offs, a final survey, the Builders Pavement Plan, the PW3 cost affidavit and no open applications or violations, and it has no expiration date.",[10,55,68,80,94,99,111],{"heading":11,"paragraphs":12,"table":15,"after":53},"Two documents with different purposes",[13,14],"A [certificate of occupancy](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fproperty-or-business-owner\u002Fcertificate-of-occupancy.page) states the legal use and type of occupancy of a building. Every new building must have one. DOB issues the final CO when the completed work matches the approved plans, the paperwork is complete, fees are paid, violations are resolved and the approvals required from other City agencies have been received.","A [temporary certificate of occupancy](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fproperty-or-business-owner\u002Ftemporary-certificate-of-occupancy.page) is issued when DOB determines that the building is safe to occupy but outstanding issues must still be resolved before the final CO. For a developer, the TCO is usually the document that allows tenants or buyers to move in, and the final CO is the document that closes the job.",{"caption":16,"head":17,"rows":21},"TCO and final CO for a new building, based on DOB guidance as of October 2026",[18,19,20],"Requirement","TCO","Final CO",[22,26,28,30,33,36,40,42,45,49],[23,24,25],"Construction inspection","Temporary or final sign-off","Final sign-off",[27,24,25],"Plumbing inspection",[29,24,25],"Electrical inspection",[31,32,25],"Elevator","Temporary sign-off, if applicable",[34,35,35],"Schedule of Occupancy","Approved in DOB NOW: Build",[37,38,39],"Final survey and Builders Pavement Plan","Not listed","Required",[41,38,39],"Owner's Cost Affidavit (PW3)",[43,38,44],"Open applications and violations","None allowed on the property",[46,47,48],"Fee","$130, unless fee-exempt","Not listed on DOB's page",[50,51,52],"Term","Typically expires 90 days after issuance; renewable","No expiration date",[54],"Both are requested through a Certificate of Occupancy Request in DOB NOW: Build, which DOB's technical and operations staff review. If a space under a TCO is left unoccupied for more than 30 days, DOB requires a new TCO before it is re-occupied.",{"heading":56,"paragraphs":57,"list":59,"after":66},"What it takes to reach the first TCO",[58],"The first TCO is the milestone most construction schedules and loan documents are built around, so the items it needs should be tracked from the start of construction, not assembled in the last month.",[60,61,62,63,64,65],"A construction inspection sign-off for the areas to be occupied.","Plumbing and electrical inspection sign-offs on the permits held by the licensed master plumber and master electrician.","An elevator sign-off, where the building has an elevator, which depends on the elevator contractor's schedule and inspection.","An approved Schedule of Occupancy in DOB NOW: Build that matches the floors, units and uses actually built.","The energy code requirements that apply to the job, including the air-leakage test where it is required; see our guide to [air-leakage testing for new buildings](\u002Fguides\u002Fnyc-new-building-air-leakage-test-certificate-of-occupancy).","Payment of the TCO fee.",[67],"Whether a TCO can cover some floors while others are still in progress, and which areas can be included on a given job, is a question for the architect or engineer of record.",{"heading":69,"paragraphs":70,"list":72},"What the final CO adds",[71],"The final CO requires everything the TCO required, with final rather than temporary sign-offs, plus documents and conditions that are often left open during lease-up.",[73,74,75,76,77,78,79],"Final construction, plumbing, electrical and elevator sign-offs.","A final building survey.","The final Builders Pavement Plan (BPP).","The Owner's Cost Affidavit (PW3), which reports the cost of the work.","No open applications on the property, for example permits for sidewalk sheds, fences or other temporary equipment.","No open violations on the property.","An approved Schedule of Occupancy in DOB NOW: Build.",{"heading":81,"paragraphs":82,"list":84,"after":92},"Common reasons closeout stalls",[83],"Most delays between the last trade leaving and the final CO come from a short list of items. Each can be anticipated.",[85,86,87,88,89,90,91],"An open application on the property, such as a sidewalk shed, a construction fence or a subsidiary permit that was never signed off or withdrawn. A [sidewalk shed removal request](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fsafety\u002Fsidewalk-sheds.page) is filed in DOB NOW: Build and is approved only after a DOB inspection.","An open violation, including violations issued during construction for site safety or worker training, which must be resolved before the CO.","A permit or insurance record that lapsed. [DOB permits](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Findustry\u002Fproject-requirements-registrant-residential-n-site-req.page) have a maximum duration of two years and can expire with the permit holder's general liability insurance, so permits must be renewed and kept in effect while work continues.","An as-built condition that differs from the approved plans or the Schedule of Occupancy, which usually requires an amendment to the approved plans before sign-off.","A failed or unscheduled air-leakage test, which [DOB states](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fcodes\u002Fnycecc-frequently-asked-questions.page) must pass before the building is signed off for a CO.","Punch items found at inspection in the finish scopes, such as doors and hardware in fire-rated openings, fire-stopping at penetrations, and unfinished common areas.","Missing cost data for the PW3 or missing reports from special and progress inspection agencies.",[93],"Permit requirements for alterations to existing buildings follow a different path, covered in our guide to [NYC renovation permits](\u002Fguides\u002Fnyc-renovation-permits).",{"heading":95,"paragraphs":96},"TCO renewals",[97,98],"DOB states that TCOs typically expire 90 days after issuance and may be renewed if the outstanding issues for the final CO have not been resolved by the expiration date. DOB advises owners whose property has a TCO to consult a professional engineer or registered architect to determine what is needed for the final CO.","Renewals are routine but not automatic. Each renewal is a deadline, and a building that is occupied on an expired TCO is occupied without a valid certificate. A closeout log that lists every remaining item, its owner and its target date makes each 90-day cycle a progress check toward the final CO rather than a repeat of the same request.",{"heading":100,"list":101,"after":109},"Planning closeout from the start of construction",[102,103,104,105,106,107,108],"Open a closeout log at permit issuance that lists every application on the property, every required inspection and every document the CO will need.","Assign each item to a named party: architect, engineer, expediter, general contractor, licensed trade or inspection agency.","Keep cost records in a form that supports the PW3 at the end of the job.","Compare the Schedule of Occupancy with the as-built floors and units before requesting the TCO, and file any amendment early.","Schedule elevator, air-leakage and other third-party inspections with time for one correction and re-inspection.","Withdraw or sign off sidewalk shed, fence and equipment permits as soon as they are no longer needed.","Run punch for each floor and unit before the inspection walkthrough, not after it.",[110],"The height of the building also affects closeout, because site safety requirements on major buildings continue until the building is enclosed and the sidewalk shed is removed. Our guide to [six versus seven stories](\u002Fguides\u002Fnyc-six-vs-seven-storeys-site-safety-rules) explains that threshold.",{"heading":112,"paragraphs":113},"How we help with closeout",[114],"We close punch lists floor by floor and unit by unit in the finish scopes, prepare units for turnover, and, as an owner's representative, maintain the closeout log and track sign-offs, inspection reports and documents for the TCO and the final CO. Electrical and plumbing sign-off items are coordinated through licensed partner contractors. Our [construction services](\u002Fservices\u002Fconstruction) work with your architect, expediter and general contractor so the items that remain after the last trade leaves are known, assigned and dated.",[116,119,122,125,128],{"q":117,"a":118},"Can tenants move in under a TCO?","Yes. DOB allows legal occupancy under a valid TCO or a final CO. Without one of them, no one may legally occupy the building. Lenders, insurers and leasing agreements may set their own conditions, so check those documents as well.",{"q":120,"a":121},"How long does a TCO last?","DOB states that a TCO typically expires 90 days after issuance and may be renewed if the issues for the final CO are still open. If a space under a TCO is unoccupied for more than 30 days, a new TCO is needed to re-occupy it.",{"q":123,"a":124},"Does a final certificate of occupancy expire?","No. DOB states that a CO has no expiration date. A later change in use, egress or type of occupancy requires an amended CO.",{"q":126,"a":127},"What is the PW3?","The PW3 is the Owner's Cost Affidavit, which reports the cost of the work. DOB lists it among the requirements for the final CO, so cost records should be kept in a usable form throughout construction.",{"q":129,"a":130},"Can open violations from construction block the CO?","Yes. DOB requires that there be no open applications and no open violations on the property before it issues a CO. Violations issued during construction should be resolved as they arise rather than at the end.",{"text":132},"For punch and turnover, closeout support, interior finish packages and owner's-representative services on new apartment buildings, see [our services for developers](\u002Fdevelopers). Send the job number and the list of open items for a written estimate, which is provided at no charge.","2026-10-25","construction",138,[137,141,144,147,150],{"title":138,"url":139,"publisher":140},"Certificate of Occupancy","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fproperty-or-business-owner\u002Fcertificate-of-occupancy.page","NYC Department of Buildings",{"title":142,"url":143,"publisher":140},"Temporary Certificate of Occupancy","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fproperty-or-business-owner\u002Ftemporary-certificate-of-occupancy.page",{"title":145,"url":146,"publisher":140},"NYCECC Frequently Asked Questions","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fcodes\u002Fnycecc-frequently-asked-questions.page",{"title":148,"url":149,"publisher":140},"Sidewalk Sheds","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Fsafety\u002Fsidewalk-sheds.page",{"title":151,"url":152,"publisher":140},"Project Requirements - Registrant - Residential & Community Facilities","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nyc.gov\u002Fsite\u002Fbuildings\u002Findustry\u002Fproject-requirements-registrant-residential-n-site-req.page","nyc-tco-vs-co-new-building","en-US",[156,160,164,168],{"slug":157,"title":158,"description":159,"service":134,"date":133,"updated":133},"nyc-ny-gas-ban-new-buildings","NYC and New York State Gas Bans for New Buildings","How NYC Local Law 154 and the state All-Electric Buildings Act apply to new buildings and gut renovations, and the enforcement status on October 25, 2026.",{"slug":161,"title":162,"description":163,"service":134,"date":133,"updated":133},"nyc-new-building-air-leakage-test-certificate-of-occupancy","NYC Air-Leakage Testing for New Buildings Under the 2025 Energy Code","The 2025 NYC Energy Code requires a third-party air-leakage test on every new building, and DOB will not issue the CO until it passes. How to plan for it.",{"slug":165,"title":166,"description":167,"service":134,"date":133,"updated":133},"nyc-six-vs-seven-storeys-site-safety-rules","Site Safety Rules for Six- and Seven-Story Buildings in NYC","A NYC building of 7 stories or 75 feet is now a major building that needs a site safety manager. What changes, plus the 2026 superintendent and SST rules.",{"slug":169,"title":170,"description":171,"service":172,"date":173,"updated":133},"rental-turnover-cost-tips","Reducing turnover and maintenance costs on rental units","Practical ways for NYC and Long Island landlords to shorten vacancy and spend less on each turnover: standard finishes, durable materials and planned maintenance.","rental","2026-10-24",1792980727504]