Occupancy Permits

Overview
A Certificate of Occupancy is a document issued by the City of Manassas certifying a building compliance with applicable building codes and other laws, and indicating it to be in a condition suitable for occupancy. Visit the Applications, Forms and Fees page. To preview the occupancy process we have created 10 Things to Know About The Occupancy Permit Process.

Procedure
The procedure and requirements for the certificate is provided in the Design and Construction Standards Manual, the Zoning Ordinance and on the type of structure per the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. City Staff has created a procedure guide to assist you through the process. Obtaining a certificate is generally required whenever:

• A new building is constructed
• A building built for one use is to be used for another (e.g. an industrial building is converted to residential use)
• Occupancy of a commercial or industrial building changes, or ownership of a commercial, industrial, or multi-family building changes

Purpose
The purpose of obtaining a certificate of occupancy is to prove that, according to the law, the house or building is in livable condition. Generally, such a certificate is necessary to be able to occupy the structure for everyday use, as well as to be able to sign a contract to sell the space and close on a mortgage for the space. A certificate of occupancy is evidence that the building complies substantially with the plans and specification that have been submitted to the City of Manassas. It complements a building permit and/or an approved site plan or subdivision plan.

Certificate of Use & Occupancy
No change in "use" of property or any structure shall be permitted until a certificate of occupancy is issued. Such certificate of use and occupancy shall state that the use or structure complies with all relevant provisions of the Design and Construction Standards Manual, and the Zoning Ordinance, and that it has been inspected by appropriate public officials and meets all requirements of applicable building codes, fire codes, and other laws, ordinances, and rules and regulations government the construction and use of structures on property.

Certificate Issuance
No certificate of use and occupancy shall be issued for residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial uses until required site improvements are installed in accordance with the approved plans and inspected and approved by the building official and the Community Development Department.

Inspection Information
Upon a request for the the issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy, an inspection will be made within three working days of a request. If all required site improvements have been completed and upon the review and acceptance of the project, a certificate of use and occupancy will be issued by the Building Official. A permit can be requested via email.

Temporary Certificate of Use & Occupancy
The building official has the authority to issue a temporary certificate of use and occupancy where factors beyond the applicant's control have kept them from completing the required site improvements.

Requirements
Prior to the issuance of a temporary certificate of use and occupancy, all site improvements required by the Design and Construction Standards Manual must be identified for completion in a timely fashion. The applicant must provide an acceptable completion date for said improvements. All safety related items (e.g. frontage improvements, ingress, egress, stormwater management facilities, street lights, public utilities, handicap parking signs, etc.) must be completed prior to the issuance of a temporary certificate of use and occupancy.

Applicable Regulations

• Zoning Ordinance
• Design and Construction Standards Manual
• Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code