Certificate of Occupancy Eligibility Calculator
Determines whether a building project meets the basic eligibility criteria for a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) based on inspection scores, outstanding violations, permit status, and compliance rates.
Formulas Used
1. Permit Closure Rate (PCR)
PCR = ((Total Permits − Open Permits) / Total Permits) × 100
2. Eligibility Score (ES) — weighted composite
ES = 0.35 × Inspection Score + 0.25 × Compliance Rate (%) + 0.20 × PCR (%) + 0.10 × Fire Clearance (100 if Yes, 0 if No) + 0.10 × Zoning Approval (100 if Yes, 0 if No)
3. Hard-Stop Disqualifiers (any one triggers INELIGIBLE)
D1: Critical Violations > 0 D2: Inspection Score < 70 D3: Compliance Rate < 80% D4: PCR < 100% (any open permit)
4. Eligibility Determination
If any Disqualifier triggered → INELIGIBLE Else if ES ≥ 75 → ELIGIBLE Else if 60 ≤ ES < 75 → CONDITIONALLY ELIGIBLE Else → INELIGIBLE
Assumptions & References
- Minimum passing inspection score of 70 is consistent with typical municipal building codes (e.g., IBC Section 110, local amendments).
- A correction compliance rate of 80% is used as the minimum threshold; many jurisdictions require 100% for critical items.
- All permits associated with the project (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire suppression) must be finalized before a CO is issued — standard requirement under IBC §111.1.
- Critical (life-safety) violations include fire egress, structural integrity, electrical hazards, and similar items per NFPA 101 and IBC Chapter 10.
- Eligibility Score weights are illustrative; actual jurisdictional scoring may differ. Always verify with the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
- Fire department clearance and zoning approval are treated as binary prerequisites per standard CO issuance workflows.
- References: International Building Code (IBC) §110–111; NFPA 101 Life Safety Code; local municipal CO ordinances.
- This calculator provides an estimate only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice.