SEC. 91.109. CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

91.109.1. Certificate Required. In order to safeguard life and limb, health, property and public welfare, every building or structure and every trailer park shall conform to the construction requirements for the subgroup occupancy to be housed therein, or for the use to which the building or structure or trailer park is to be put, as set forth in this article.

No building or structure or portion thereof and no trailer park or portion thereof shall be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued thereof.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Unless it is specifically required by other provisions of this article, no existing building or portion thereof shall require a Certificate of Occupancy, provided:

A. The occupancy housed therein is the same for which the original building permit was issued; and

B. The use of a building or portion thereof housing a Group A or E Occupancy and constructed prior to 1934 has not been discontinued for a period of more than six months.

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

91.109.2. Change of Occupancy. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) See Division 82, Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC.

91.109.3. Issuance of Certificates. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/ 18.) When required by LAMC Subsection 91.109.1, after the receipt and approval of the final inspection report from each of the divisions of the Department, and after the City Engineer has reported that all required public improvements have been completed, the Superintendent of Building shall issue a Certificate of Occupancy, without charge, to the owner of the building. Duplicates of the certificate may be secured upon the payment of the duplication fee required by ordinance.

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

91.109.4. Contents of Certificate. Each certificate shall contain the following:

1. The building permit numbers.

2. The address of the building.

3. The name and address of the owner.

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

5. For Groups A and E Occupancies, the maximum occupant load allowed.

6. A statement that the described portion of the building complies with the construction requirements of the Los Angeles Municipal Code for the group of occupancies in which the proposed occupancy is classified.

7. A statement that establishes relevant requirements of Chapter I of the LAMC. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

8. The signature of the Superintendent of Building or an authorize representative of the Superintendent.

91.109.5. Temporary Certificates. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Notwithstanding the provisions of LAMC Subsection 91.109.4, if the Superintendent of Building finds that no substantial hazard will result from the occupancy of any building, 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 the City Engineer has reported that all required public improvements have been completed, the Superintendent of Building may issue a temporary Certificate of Occupancy for any building or portion thereof. The Superintendent of Building may issue a temporary Certificate of Occupancy notwithstanding the fact that all required public improvements have not been completed, if the Superintendent of Building 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 Superintendent of Building may issue a temporary Certificate of Occupancy for an existing building, or portion thereof, provided no substantial hazard will result and satisfactory evidence is submitted justifying the need for such temporary occupancy. The Department shall collect an issuance fee for each temporary Certificate of Occupancy. The amount of the fee shall be $453.00 plus an additional fee as shown in Table 1-B of this division.

A temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall be valid for a period not to exceed six months. The Department may issue additional temporary Certificates of Occupancy. After the expiration of a temporary Certificate of Occupancy, the Department shall require a Certificate of Occupancy in accordance with other provisions of this section. Duplicates of the certificate or temporary certificate may be secured upon the payment of the duplication fee required by ordinance.

91.109.6. Revocation. The Superintendent of Building shall have the authority, in writing, to suspend or revoke a Certificate of Occupancy or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy issued under the provisions of this Code whenever the certificate is issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or when it is determined that the building or structure or portion of the building or structure is in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,324, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)

tificate of Occupancy issued under the provisions of this Code whenever the certificate is issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or when it is determined that the building or structure or portion of the building or structure is in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,324, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)

91.109.7. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.) Notwithstanding the provisions of LAMC Subsection 91.109.5, whenever public improvements are required in connection with the replacement or restoration of a building destroyed or damaged during the local emergency declared by the Mayor in April 1972, the completion of those public improvements may be deferred until June 1, 1995, and a temporary Certificate of Occupancy may issue for the new or restored building, or a portion thereof, prior to the completion of the public improvements. The temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall issue only if the Superintendent of Building finds that no substantial hazard will result from the occupancy of the building or portion thereof prior to the completion of the public improvements. LAMC Subsection 91.109.7 does not affect any requirement of a bond or other security to warrant the proper completion of the required public improvements.

91.109.8. Fire Department Notification. For each Group A and E Occupancy, a copy of the certificate shall be forwarded to the Los Angeles Fire Department.