4.12 Path to Certificate of Occupancy

POLICY: Path to Certificate of Occupancy

PURPOSE: Establish a written process of required steps to attain Certificate of Occupancy for each building.

RESPONSIBILITY: Superintendent

PROCEDURE: This section was created to provide guidelines for attaining the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for the building or project you are working on. Superintendent (in conjunction with PM as necessary) should utilize the guidelines below to develop a site specific written plan of action to be reviewed and utilized by the team. The template below will serve as a guideline only, as all jurisdictions are different and requirements may vary. It is the Superintendent’s duty to understand requirements necessary to close out the project.

Pre-Construction
1. Lead Superintendent (in conjunction with General Superintendent, as necessary) will coordinate meetings with several departments prior to mobilization to understand requirements to begin work. Superintendent will use these meetings to initiate conversations related requirements for the CO process. Departments may include:
• Building Department
• Engineering
• Public Works
• Water authority
• Fire department
• Planning & Zoning

2. Superintendent to coordinate with PM to determine what permits are required to begin work. All permits will have to be closed out before any CO is issued. Permits that might be required:
• Fencing
• Fire Alarm
• Sprinkler
• Roofing
• Landscape
• Hardscape
• Low-volt
• BDA

Construction Milestones
No later than achievement of permanent power, Superintendent will coordinate meeting with local jurisdiction having authority (AHJ) to clearly understand any and all jurisdictional requirements necessary to attain building Certificate of Occupancy above and beyond the items listed above. Should any other inspections and/or actions be required by Carter and Carter or the Owner, the Superintendent shall notify the project team in writing.

Preparing for CO
Superintendent will use coordination meetings identified above to determine appropriate department for submission of documents required for Certificate of Occupancy identified below.
1. All landscape, parking and striping is complete.
2. As builts and utility lines have been videoed and submitted (specific requirements for water, sanitary and storm testing and videoing may vary per jurisdiction).
3. Threshold letters for framing and structural inspections received from 3rd Party testing agency.
4. Civil Engineer approval letter.
5. Final termite treatment letter. (per building)
6. Bacterial Testing has been completed.
7. Erosion Permit can be closed or is up to date.
8. Test and Balances in Common areas have been completed.
9. Buildings are clean and presentable for the inspectors.
10. Started passing MEP/ sprinkler finals.
11. Elevator and fire alarm final has passed. Cell dialers or phone lines live and being monitored. Monitoring typically provided by owner.
12. All signage is installed.
13. Starting building finals with the inspectors.