Certificate of Occupancy — Los Angeles
LADBS issues a Certificate of Occupancy certifying the space is approved for restaurant use after all inspections pass.
What it is. The Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) certifying the space is legally approved for its use (e.g., restaurant) and meets code.
Who issues it. Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) (City layer).
When you need it. Before occupying a new space or after a change of use; issued once building work passes final inspection.
How to apply. Completed through the LADBS permitting/inspection process at project close-out.
Fees. Included in / per LADBS permitting — 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
- LADBS, Plan Review & Permitting — https://dbs.lacity.gov/services/plan-review-permitting — 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.