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.

For residential projects, please visit the Certificate of Occupancy (Residential Use Permit - RUP) 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
• Is Non-RUP a Use Permit or a Certificate of Occupancy? It’s both!
• Technical Bulletin 22-10 “Changes to the Nonresidential Use Permit”

 

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:

• Uploading Plans and Documents

 

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.

 

• Fees - The fee for a Certificate of Occupancy (NonRUP) is $70
• 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 NonRUP certificates prior to Oct. 31, 2022. Copies can be requested by email or calling 703-222-0801, 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.