Match the job number in an NYC TCO exception to the job that signed off, then check the other alteration jobs separately. A Final CO is its own issued document, separate from any one job’s sign-off. Keep the certificate and the associated job evidence in view together.
DOB’s DOB NOW: Build FAQ describes the CO as a property record for one Building Identification Number (BIN). In its multiple-open Alt-1/Alt-CO scenario, a sign-off can be reflected in a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), with Temporary floor status and an exception naming the signed-off job. The last open alteration job must sign off before Final CO issuance; the certificate itself is issued afterward.
Read the TCO exception as a reference to one named job
Make a short transcription from the certificate you have: its identifier and date, the property reference, the relevant floor or use entry, and the complete exception. Preserve qualifiers and job numbers rather than replacing the wording with a conclusion such as everything finished.
Next, place the referenced job record beside that transcription. Check that you are comparing the intended building and the correct version of the certificate. A similarly numbered filing, a later amendment or an old copy may be relevant, but each needs its own explanation before it can resolve the discrepancy.
If a reference is illegible, preserve the uncertainty rather than guessing a digit and moving to a different record.
A fictional NYC building with two alteration jobs
Consider a fictional building with Job A and Job B. Both labels are invented. The certificate’s exception names A; its file contains dated sign-off evidence. B is still shown as open in the material supplied. A covering message describes the paperwork as finished.
| What the fictional packet contains | What still needs its own answer |
|---|---|
| Certificate referring to A | Does the retained copy identify the same building and the relevant floor or use? |
| Dated evidence for A | Does its number match the exception exactly? |
| Open entry for B | What later record, if any, changes that entry? |
| A claim that all paperwork is finished | Which issued document supports that claim, and which property does it identify? |
Read the reference actually present, even if B seems a more logical job for a note about unfinished work. Keep B in the comparison too, even though the certificate discusses A. The mismatch between the cover message and the individual records is the question to resolve.
Now imagine someone supplies a later sign-off for B. Add that item to the file with its date and identifier. The remaining gap is the actual certificate. Request the issued copy needed to support the claimed outcome instead of treating the new attachment as that copy.
If the requested certificate names a different property reference, retain it separately. Ask for the matching record or an existing explanation connecting the references. Keep results from a neighboring building or a separate project at the same street address out of this file.
Request a missing NYC job record or certificate
The FAQ documents public address searching. Its BIN discussion concerns a logged-in workflow. For broader system and copy-request routing, use the NYC DOB address-records guide.
Tailor the inquiry to the gap. If the exception’s job stays unmatched, identify the certificate and repeat the exact job reference it contains. If a job’s later outcome is missing, name that job and the period under review. If the claimed final certificate is absent, ask for that existing issued document rather than asking staff to endorse your interpretation of the packet.
Include only identifying details already supported by the material: the address, known property reference, document number and dates, with a concise description of the mismatch.
Record the response at the same level of precision. A page that failed to load establishes an access problem. An unmatched reference leaves an identity question. A missing-document reply concerns that requested copy only.
What this comparison says about current TCO status
A TCO’s current effect, expiration and renewal requirements come from DOB. An unresolved certificate or job doesn’t mean the property is unsafe or that work was illegal.
Use the separate occupancy-certificate and permit guide when deciding which kind of document answers the underlying question. A project record, inspection result and occupancy document each stay separate even when their dates are close.
NYC DOB NOW: Build FAQ checked October 6, 2026.