Certificate of Occupancy & Zoning — New York City
A NYC Department of Buildings Certificate of Occupancy is required before a space may be legally used as a restaurant; new restaurant use often needs a new or amended CO.
Overview
No premises may be occupied without a DOB Certificate of Occupancy. Converting a non-restaurant space or doing major renovation typically requires a new or amended CO, which means filing plans with DOB, completing construction, and passing DOB (building, plumbing, electrical) and FDNY inspections.
Verify the location is zoned for food service and check for landmark or special districts, which add approvals.
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.
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.