Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO)

Move-in day does not have to wait for every last inspection to close out. When the parts of a home you want to use are safe and meet code, even though minor items remain, the building department can issue a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO), a conditional sign-off that lets a home be legally occupied early. A TCO almost always carries an expiration date. It also comes with a written list of what must be finished before a full certificate is granted.

The point is to let life move forward without cutting safety. The city grants a TCO only if the basics are in place. Those basics are working exits, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, electrical and plumbing for the lived-in area, and safe access. Open items that do not affect safety can wait. Examples are final landscaping, a list of cosmetic fixes, or a detached structure still being built. The city sets a deadline to finish them, often 30 to 90 days.

For example, a family buying a new Queen Creek custom home in July might take a TCO so they can move in while the pool fence and some hardscape are finished. The city inspector confirms the house is safe, issues the TCO with a list and a date, and the builder wraps up the rest to earn the full certificate.

A TCO is not the same as a full certificate of occupancy (CO). A CO is the permanent sign-off issued after all final inspections pass. A TCO is provisional and expires. Lenders and title companies sometimes accept a TCO to close, but many require the full CO. Confirm with your lender before you count on a TCO at closing.