Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 18.08 Certificate of Occupancy

In order to safeguard life and limb, health, property and public welfare, no building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing use or occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the Building Official has issued a Certificate of Occupancy therefore as provided in this chapter.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Unless it is specifically required by the Building Official or other provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State, no existing building or structure, or portion thereof, shall require a Certificate of Occupancy, provided:

a. The occupancy and use housed therein is the same for which the original building permit was issued and a final inspection approved,

b. Alteration or repair are minor in nature and does not affect fire life-safety or structural stability of a building or structure, or portion thereof, as determined by the Building Official, and

c. The occupancy or use of a building or structure, or portion thereof, housing a Group A or E occupancy and has not been discontinued for a period of more than six (6) months.

2. No structure, the architecture of which inhibits occupancy, shall require a Certificate of Occupancy.

3. Certificate of Occupancy are not required for work not in scope of this title under Section 18.01.040 or work exempt from permits under Section 18.04.020.

Issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State. Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State shall not be valid.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

When required by Section 18.08.010, after the Building Official inspects the building or structure and finds no violations of the provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State that are enforced by the Building Official or other departments or agencies within the City, and after other applicable City departments or agencies as determined by the Building Official have reported that all required public improvements have been completed, the Building Official shall issue a Certificate of Occupancy that contains the information specified in Section 18.08.030.

When a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, it shall supersede every certificate previously issued for that portion of the building or structure, or portion thereof, described thereon.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Each certificate shall contain the following:

1. The building permit number.

2. The address of the building or structure.

3. The name and address of the owner.

4. A description of that portion of the building or structure for which the certificate is issued.

5. A statement that the described portion of the building or structure has been inspected for compliance with the requirements of this title for group and division of occupancy and the use for which the proposed occupancy is classified.

6. The name of the Building Official.

7. The edition of the code under which the building permit was issued.

8. The use and occupancy, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3 of the California Building Code adopted in Chapter 18.40.

9. The type of construction as defined in Chapter 6 of the California Building Code adopted in Chapter 18.40.

10. The design occupant load.

11. If an automatic sprinkler system is provided, the type of automatic sprinkler system and whether the sprinkler system is required.

12. Any special stipulations and conditions of the building permit.

13. The signature of the Building Official.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 18.08.020, if the Building Official finds that no substantial hazard will result from the occupancy of any building or structure, or portion thereof, before the same is completed, and satisfactory evidence is submitted that the work could not have been completed prior to the time such occupancy is desired because of its magnitude or because of unusual construction difficulties, and where other applicable City departments or agencies as determined by the Building Official have reported that all required public improvements have been completed, the Building Official may issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for any building or structure, or portion thereof.

The Building Official may issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy notwithstanding the fact that all required public improvements have not been completed, if the Building Official finds that the failure to complete the public improvements was due to circumstances over which the person applying for the Certificate of Occupancy had no control.

In addition, the Building Official may issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for an existing building or structure, or portion thereof, provided no substantial hazard will result and satisfactory evidence is submitted justifying the need for such temporary occupancy.

Permit applicants for a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall pay an investigation fee as set forth in Section 18.06.180 for which approval of temporary occupancy is sought, including extending a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy beyond thirty (30) day or for each additional thirty (30) day period or fraction thereof.

The Temporary Certificate of Occupancy of any building or structure shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days. Requests for additional temporary occupancy may be granted at the discretion of the Building Official, however, additional requirements dependent on the circumstances may apply. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall not be used to delay the payment of outstanding fees, including but not limited to development impact fees, sewer capacity fees, and school developer fees.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

The Certificate of Occupancy shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises and shall not be removed except by the Building Official.

EXCEPTION: One- or two-family dwelling and related accessory building and structure.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a Certificate of Occupancy or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy issued under the provisions of this title whenever the certificate is issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or when it is determined that the occupancy or the maintenance of any building or structure, or portion thereof, continues contrary to or in violation of any provisions of this title, municipal code or other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State, and such continued occupancy or maintenance will result in the exposure of occupants and/or people in the vicinity to hazardous, dangerous or unsafe conditions. Such suspension or revocation shall be immediate but shall be subject to appeal in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.10.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)