Certificate of Occupancy Procedures
Outlines how to complete the application and the process of how Garland Power & Light determines utility deposits.

Certificate of Occupancy Application 
Includes the Certificate Application, Emergency Contact Sheet for the Fire Department, Sexually Oriented Business Acknowledgement, Utility Release and Sign Regulations (ALL forms must be completed).

CO Automotive Definitions / Regulations
This form is to be completed when your business is an Auto related use (i.e. Car Sales, Major or Minor Automotive Repair Shops).

CO Submittal Requirements (All Businesses EXCEPT Automotive Uses)
The documents in the form must be presented with the Certificate of Occupancy package to be considered for review.  The documentation is different for Automotive businesses, please see the link below.
 
Automotive CO Submittal Requirements
The documents in the form must be presented with the Certificate of Occupancy package to be considered for review.  The documentation is different for businesses other than Automotive, please see the link above.

Certificates of Occupancy are $188 
  

All five (5) pages of the above documentation must be COMPLETELY filled out prior to submitting to the Building Inspection Department for review.
 
Certificates of Occupancy are required for any business within the City limits.  New Certificates of Occupancy are required when a change of ownership occurs, a change in business use, or if the business is expanded into additional / adjourning spaces.
 
Businesses MUST register the business name with the Dallas County Clerks Office (http://www.dallascounty.org/department/countyclerk/cclerk_index.html).  Additionally, your business MUST register with the State Comptrollers Office and obtain your Sales Tax Permit (http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxpermit/).
 
Dependent upon the type of business you will be operating depends upon the number of City departments that will visit your site for inspection.
 
Building Inspections will ALWAYS send an inspector (as early as the next business day) to look over your property.  Our inspectors are looking to ensure that there are no obvious plumbing, electrical or mechanical (HVAC) problems; that you have the proper type of hardware on doors used for exits, that no obvious construction has taken place without a permit, and a general aesthetic review of the property.  If violations are found, the inspector will leave a detailed list of items to repair.
 
Other City department have specific items that they inspect for and will leave detailed lists of items that must be repaired.
 
Building Inspections is the only department that makes an appointment to inspect; the other departments are notified by Building Inspections and they send their inspectors out when it is most convenient for them (when they will be in the area conducting other inspections, etc.).  If you are not available the day that the inspectors from other departments arrive to inspect, they will leave information for you to contact them for a follow up inspection.
 
Once Building Inspection has received confirmation from all other departments that your building has met the City requirements, Building Inspection personnel will complete your Certificate of Occupancy and mail it to you at the address you provide on your application.  This process takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
 
Automotive Uses
Business that are geared towards automotive uses (i.e. selling of new and used motor vehicles; automotive repair shops; and / or tire shops) must follow the requirements in the Automotive CO Review Process prior to submitting the application for Certificate of Occupancy.  Major Automotive Repair businesses must (once your Certificate of Occupancy application has been submitted and given a CO number) pay the appropriate fee to the Fire Marshall's Office (FMO).  The FMO is located at 1500 State Highway 66, between Country Club Road and Centerville Road.
 
*New construction projects (not remodels) do not pay a Certificate of Occupancy fee; but the paperwork must be filled out and returned to the Building Inspection Department for review and approval.

Clean & Shows
 
In order to clean your property after a tenant has moved out and show it to prospective tenants, you must obtain a Clean and Show from the Building Inspection Department.
 
Please fill out the Certificate of Occupancy application and the Utility Release.
 
Return both to the Building Inspection Department.  Fee for Clean and Shows are $75.