Certificate of Occupancy (CO) and Local health ordinances

Once the building is complete and has passed all final inspections, the government issues a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). This document certifies that the building is safe, complies with all codes, and is legally ready to be inhabited. A lender usually will not release the final mortgage funds until the CO is issued.Local health ordinances operate alongside building codes to control sanitation and maintenance. These laws are primarily concerned with the management of drinking water and waste. They regulate the installation and maintenance of septic tanks in rural areas and the connection to sewer lines in cities. Their goal is to prevent disease by ensuring that sewage does not contaminate the water supply.