What we handle
New, amended and temporary.
- New Certificates of Occupancy for new buildings and major alterations
- Amended Certificates of Occupancy when use, egress or occupancy changes
- Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCO) and renewals while final items are completed
- Letters of Completion for work that doesn’t require a new or amended CO
- Certificates of Operation for places of public assembly
- Closeout items such as open applications and violations that block a CO
When you need one
Does your building need a CO?
- New buildings need a Certificate of Occupancy before anyone can legally occupy them.
- Existing buildings need a new or amended CO when there’s a change in use, egress or type of occupancy.
- Buildings from before 1938 generally don’t need one unless later work changed the use, egress or occupancy. A Letter of No Objection from DOB can confirm a legal use.
- A TCO allows occupancy while remaining issues are resolved. It typically lasts 90 days and can be renewed.
Staten Island deadlines
Inspection windows for Staten Island buildings.
Staten Island has 3 community districts. Gas piping inspections under Local Law 152 follow the district your building is in:
| Sub-cycle | Staten Island districts | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1, 3 | Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2024 | Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2028 |
| B | 2 | Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2025 | Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2029 |
Facade inspections (FISP) for buildings taller than six stories follow the last digit of the block number instead, not the district. In a borough-block-lot (BBL) number, Staten Island is borough code 5. Use our facade cycle lookup or gas inspection lookup.
Questions
Frequently asked.
Do you handle certificate of occupancy in Staten Island?
Yes. We work on properties in all five boroughs, including Staten Island. Send the address and we’ll review the records and follow up.
Does it matter which Staten Island community district I’m in?
For some inspections, yes. Gas piping inspection windows are set by community district, and Staten Island has 3 of them. The table above shows the window for each.
How do I find my building’s current Certificate of Occupancy?
COs are searchable by address in DOB’s systems: older ones in BIS and newer ones in DOB NOW. We can pull it and tell you whether it matches how the building is used today.
What’s the difference between a TCO and a final CO?
A TCO allows occupancy while some items are still open and typically expires after 90 days unless renewed. The final CO is issued once everything is resolved and doesn’t expire.
General information about New York City procedures, reviewed November 15, 2026. Rules and penalties change and every property is different, so this isn’t legal advice. Call us about your specific situation.