There is no federal deadline for a certificate of occupancy
In the United States a certificate of occupancy is issued by the city or county building department that adopted the local building code, not by any federal agency. No federal statute sets a review period, and there is no single national timetable. Each jurisdiction publishes its own inspection scheduling window and issuance target, so this tool asks you to enter the numbers your building department actually publishes.
How the timeline is counted. The first counted day is the day after you request the final inspection, and every figure on this screen uses that same starting point. Choosing the business-day basis skips Saturdays and Sundays but not public holidays, so a real deadline that falls near a holiday will be later than the date shown. Days spent on hold for corrections are added between the inspection and the issuance window.
Where the rules come from. Most jurisdictions adopt a version of the International Building Code, whose administrative chapter covers certificates of occupancy, temporary certificates and the requirement that a structure not be occupied until the certificate issues. The adopting ordinance, not the model code, sets the local review period and any appeal route. Figures entered here should come from your department's published schedule; this page is current as of September 2026.
This tool produces a planning estimate from the periods you enter. It does not determine whether your project passes inspection or when a certificate will actually be issued; that decision rests with the building official. This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney, architect or your local building department about your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This tool starts counting the day after the request, and applies that same basis to the inspection target, the issuance target and the days remaining.
It removes Saturdays and Sundays only. Holiday calendars differ by jurisdiction, so add those days manually if your department excludes them.