A Certificate of Occupancy or Non-Residential Use Permit (NonRUP) can be applied for and issued when a building or premises is ready to be occupied and meets code requirements, pertinent laws, and ordinances. The NonRUP is the last inspection issued by Fairfax County for commercial projects. Please note, Fairfax County does not issue NonRUPs for businesses located in the Town of Vienna. Please refer to the town’s website for more direction on the application process.
For residential projects, please visit the Certificate of Occupancy (Residential Use Permit - RUP) page.
ON THIS PAGE
This information is the most common for how to obtain the necessary approval for your project and is not representative of all the conditions you may encounter.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
A Certificate of Occupancy is required to approve both the initial and continued occupancy and use of the structure or land to which it applies. A Certificate of Occupancy is required for occupancy or use of a new structure or premises, or a change in use of an existing structure or premises. Anyone who is in need of a Certificate of Occupancy for a new build or existing structure may apply.
PLAN AHEAD
Before submitting, ensure you are aware of all applicable regulations and conditions that could affect your project to avoid surprises during the review process. Some of those factors include:
- Where can I find information on my building or the record of the previous Certificate of Occupancy?
- Zoning Information
- Design Codes and Standards
- Technical Bulletin 22-10 “Changes to the Nonresidential Use Permit”
- For businesses located in the Town of Vienna, visit the Town of Vienna website for additional information and coordination with issuing your NonRUP.
To get a detailed description about each regulation and condition, visit our Plan Ahead page.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY RECORD?
PLUS Application
Apply for your Certificate of Occupancy (NonRUP) online in PLUS under the Building tab, in the Administrative section. If you are a first-time user, you must first register for an account.
Instructional Videos for PLUS
Helpful Instruction Guide:
Requirements
Depending on whether you are applying for a Certificate of Occupancy for a new building or premises or changing the use of an existing building or premises, one or more of the following may be required:
- Building information or previous Certificate of Occupancy/NonRUP
- Architectural/Structural Drawings meeting plan minimum submission requirements
- An issued commercial building permit
- Completed final building inspection
- Completed final site inspection
- Zoning review
- Proffer compliance
- Occupancy Inspection from The Office of the Fire Marshal for Assembly Uses
- Health Department Inspection
What's Next?
Review Process
Staff from the Building Plan Review, Proffer compliance Team, Fire Marshal’s Office and Zoning may review your package for completeness and compliance with the building code and county ordinances. You will be notified of any deficiencies. Plan corrections, resubmission fees and additional supporting documents may be required.
Note: Applications must be submitted at least five business days in advance to allow proper review and coordination. For current review times, see the commercial permit metrics.
- Fees - The fee for a Certificate of Occupancy (NonRUP) is $95
- Workflow Routing Slip to track review and plan assignment
For a detailed summary of application progress, to include the name(s) of assigned review staff, click on “Reports” in the top-right corner of the PLUS screen, when you are in a specific record, and select “Workflow Routing Slip Report.”
Issuance
Once all reviews are approved and fees have been paid, your Certificate of Occupancy will be available to download from PLUS.
Note: For Non-RUPs issued before Oct. 31, 2022, the certificate will not be available for download via PLUS. The Zoning Permits Department maintains issued Non-RUP certificates prior to Oct. 31, 2022. Copies can be requested by email or calling 703-222-1082, TTY 711.
Helpful Video:
Access Approved Plans in PLUS - YouTube Video
Inspections
Within five days of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy (NonRUP) and the occupancy is in use, a post-occupancy inspection by a Fire Marshal inspector is always required. To schedule a post-occupancy inspection, contact the Fire Inspections Branch at 703-246-4849, TTY 711.
