A certificate of use is the local permission to operate a particular activity at a particular address, including renting out residential units. It is separate from the certificate of occupancy, which certifies the building itself, and separate again from the business tax receipt, which registers the business.
- Buyers inherit the compliance history, not just the building. Ask what is current and what lapsed, and get it in writing before closing.
- Renewals and inspections are recurring. It is an operating obligation, not a one-time permission.
- The unit count on the certificate is a fact worth checking. It should match the certificate of occupancy and the rent roll.
- Requirements differ between the City of Miami, other municipalities and unincorporated county. Confirm which set applies to the address.
Related terms
All termsCertificate of Occupancy (CO)
A certificate of occupancy is the building department's written statement that a completed building meets code and may be legally occupied.
ClosingOpen Permit
An open permit is work that was permitted but never finalled: the file is still open at the building department because a required inspection was never passed or never called.
OwnershipRent Roll
A rent roll is the schedule of every unit in a building and what it earns: the tenant, the rent, the lease start and end, the deposit held, and whether the unit is occupied.
Terms arrive with the writing.
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