Certificate of Occupancy — City of Chicago
Chicago requires a Certificate of Occupancy for larger non-residential work or a change of occupancy (not every small build-out).
What it is. The Certificate of Occupancy certifying the building conforms to the Chicago Building Code.
Who issues it. City of Chicago — Department of Buildings (City layer).
When you need it. Required for permitted work meeting certain criteria — e.g., construction/substantial alteration of more than 10,000 sq ft of non-residential occupancy, or a change of occupancy. Smaller tenant build-outs may not require a separate CofO.
How to apply. After the building permit and passed inspections, submit a Certificate of Occupancy application near completion; the Department schedules CofO inspections.
Fees. Per the Department of Buildings — see source (⟢ VERIFY).
What SpoonSeal tracks. The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
References
- City of Chicago, Certificates of Occupancy — https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bldgs/supp_info/certificate-of-occupancy.html — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.