How to get a record of legal occupancy

The Certificate of Occupancy shows that your construction plans are up to code. You'll need to get a certificate before you can apply for other permits. You'll need a certificate for work like:

• major renovations and additions
• changes to exits or your capacity
• changes to the type of occupancy for a building, or
• changes to fire prevention systems.

If there's already a record of legal occupancy for the building and you haven't done any work yet, you need to file a short-form permit.

Before you visit our office, make sure to:

• print and complete the record of legal occupancy application
• get a copy of the original record of occupancy to give us with your application, and
• file a short-form application through our online permitting system (learn more about how to get a long-form permit). We also have a checklist for the short-form permit.

To finish your application you need to visit our office. Bring all of your information to:

Building Division, Counter 3

1010 Massachusetts Ave, 5th Floor

Boston, MA 02118

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

One of our inspectors and a Fire Prevention employee need to sign off on your request.

We'll review your estimate for the cost of work and charge you a fee.  If the final cost of your project is more than your estimate, make sure to update your application and pay any extra fees. If you don't, we may double your fee before giving you your certificate.

When you visit our office, we'll give you a building card and schedule an inspection for your building. You need to get the card signed during your inspection.

If your project involved a sprinkler or alarm system, we'll ask you to give us a copy of your test reports. You also need approval from Fire Prevention. Learn how to schedule a walk-through with them.

If you the building is a place where people gather — like a hotel or school — you need to apply for a place of assembly permit.

If your project costs more than $1 million, you’ll need to get affidavits from architects, engineers, and builders.

You can drop off your signed documents and permits to our office on the 5th Floor of 1010 Massachusetts Ave. We’ll process your application and send you the record of legal occupancy for your building.

The Certificate of Occupancy shows that your construction plans are up to code. You'll need to get a certificate before you can apply for other permits. You'll need a certificate for work like:

• major renovations and additions
• changes to exits or your capacity
• changes to the type of occupancy for a building, or
• changes to fire prevention systems.

If there’s no record of legal occupancy on file with us, you need to also file a long-form permit.

Before you visit our office, make sure to:

• print and complete the record of legal occupancy application, and
• file a long-form application through our online permitting system (learn more about how to get a long-form permit). We also have a checklist for the long-form permit.

To finish your application you need to visit our office. Bring all of your information to:

Building Division, Counter 3
1010 Massachusetts Ave, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02118
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. We're open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

One of our inspectors and a Fire Prevention employee need to sign off on your request.

We'll review your estimate for the cost of work and charge you a fee.  If the final cost of your project is more than your estimate, make sure to update your application and pay any extra fees. If you don't, we may double your fee before giving you your certificate.

When you visit our office, we'll give you a building card and schedule an inspection for your building. You need to get the card signed during your inspection.

If your project involved a sprinkler or alarm system, we'll ask you to give us a copy of your test reports. You also need approval from Fire Prevention. Learn how to schedule a walk-through with them.

If you the building is a place where people gather — like a hotel or school — you need to apply for a place of assembly permit.

If your project costs more than $1 million, you’ll need to get affidavits from architects, engineers, and builders.

You can drop off your signed documents and permits to our office on the 5th Floor of 1010 Massachusetts Ave. We’ll process your application and send you the record of legal occupancy for your building.