The subject of “CO” comes up often with our clients when we are building or renovating their home. A “CO” in our lingo refers to either a Certificate of Occupancy (for new homes) or Certificate of Compliance (for home renovations). Most people are not really attuned to why they need to be concerned about a CO.
The authority over home construction is the county building department. It is the department that issues building permits and performs construction inspections throughout the build. In Iredell County the inspectors are Code Enforcement Officers – we explain to our customers that they are, in effect, the CEO’s of the building department and what they say goes. Each inspector is well qualified to understand the related building codes as well as be able to visually inspect a home during construction and determine if it does/does not meet the code.
Once every inspection is approved, including the final building inspection (where the inspector can take a look back over every single detail of that project construction from beginning to end), the county will issue a CO. Owners are prohibited by law from occupying or living in a home until the CO is issued. Should there be a construction loan for the build, a CO is required for final funding to be released.
It is important for our customers to understand the value of the CO. It assures them that the home construction/renovation has been inspected and meets all of the related building code requirements before the CO is issued. It is not only important that home construction is properly permitted, inspected and issued a CO so the owners have been given governmental authority to occupy (move in) to the home, but it is also important for potential resale. Realtors have shared with me horror stories when homeowners have had work done on their property that doesn’t meet these standards. One seller had to remove a very expensive outdoor entertainment area when selling because it was done without benefit of a building permit and CO.
We at EFC Builders were very fortunate to complete two very different client projects in early March this year. We received a CO for a home renovation project in Statesville where we had completed the build-out of their previously unfinished basement – they lived in the home during the renovation but were happy to receive a Certificate of Compliance. Another project for a new custom home in Mooresville was completed and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued in early March, thus allowing the family to move in before the Governor of NC issued a stay at home order due to the COVID-19 virus.