Commercial Certificate of Occupancy

In addition to the City of Sequim business license endorsement purchased through the Department of Revenue, the City of Sequim requires a Certificate of Occupancy for every business operating within City limits. Whether you are brand new to the area or have operated here for years, it is important to ensure you have a current Certificate of Occupancy for several reasons:

Legal requirements:
 Ensures a building meets building and zoning code requirements prior to occupancy.
Safety assurance:
 Ensures all plumbing, fire safety, and structural features meet all the relevant safety standards prior to occupancy.
Zoning compliance:
 Ensures the business is allowed in the zone the building resides in and that it meets all other zoning stipulations set forth by the Sequim Municipal Code.
Insurance requirements:
 Some insurance companies may require proof of occupancy from a local jurisdiction, as this would ensure compliance with local requirements.
Possible occupancy restrictions:
This defines the occupancy limit in correlation with the business type, as outlined in Chapter 3 of the International Building Code (IBC). The maximum occupancy designation is entered on the official copy of the certificate.

How to apply for a Certificate of Occupancy permit:

If you are only applying for the Certificate of Occupancy due to a change in occupancy classification or a change in use and are not doing any work that would otherwise require a building permit, the process is straightforward. Go to our online permit portal and apply. Once the application is reviewed, we can typically issue the Certificate of Occupancy after an inspection from our Building Official.

If you need a replacement Certificate of Occupancy due to it being lost, a change of ownership, a change of tenant, a business name change, or any other information that needs to be updated, we ask that you apply online, and there is no fee associated with this. The revised Certificate of Occupancy can typically be issued within two business days of application.