Certificate of Occupancy in City of Raleigh, North Carolina

In City of Raleigh, a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is issued when a building has passed all inspections and is ready for use.  A new building cannot be legally occupied until a CO has been issued.

A temporary CO may also be issued when a building is safe to occupy temporarily while remaining issues are resolved and approved. A temporary Certificate of Occupancy expires 30 days after issuance.

How to Apply For Certificate of Occupancy

Complete the Certificate of Occupancy application and submit in-person or via email:

Development Services Customer Service Center
One Exchange Plaza, 4th floor, Downtown Raleigh
M-F 8:15 AM – 4 PM

Litchford Road Residential Office
8320 Litchford Road, Suite 130, Raleigh
M-F 8 AM – 2 PM

Email: field.services@raleighnc.gov

To schedule inspections and manage your development activity visit the Permit and Development Portal.