Did you know that wayfinding signs are just as important as safety signs to your hotel guests? Beyond the guest experience, the right ADA compliant signs throughout your property protect your guests and employees, and they are central to the requirements in your certificate of occupancy.
Every hotel or lodging facility must obtain a certificate of occupancy from the state to operate legally. Guidelines differ by state, but the core premise is the same: prove your property meets code, passes inspection, and is safe for guests and staff. That includes a defined list of ADA compliant signs your hotel is required to display. Understanding the basics of a certificate of occupancy will set you up for a clean opening.
Here is what you need to know:
- What a Certificate of Occupancy Is
- When to Apply
- Hotel Specifications and Inspections
- Property Sign Requirements
- Finding Inspectors
1. What Is a Certificate of Occupancy?
A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is required for residential, commercial, or hybrid properties: any building where people live or work. A hotel must obtain a CO before its initial opening and again after any new construction or major renovation project.
The CO proves your hotel property can legally be used for lodging. It confirms your hotel or lodging facility meets all state-regulated building codes, has passed every required inspection, and is safe for guests and staff.
2. When to Apply
Certificates of occupancy are more complex than most other permits, but they are absolutely necessary to legally run your establishment. Before applying for and obtaining a certificate of occupancy, your facility must undergo a series of inspections. You will not be able to obtain a CO until the property is fully ready for functional operation. Stay ahead of the certification process by adhering to inspection schedules and project timelines.
You typically do not need a CO to move furniture into your hotel, but the gas and water lines connected to your facility must be inspected before any appliances can be hooked up.
Plan for the CO process from day one and stay in regular contact with your local government. The earlier you start, the sooner inspections happen, the more time you have to address findings, and the more likely your CO will land in time for a functional opening.
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3. Hotel Specifications and Inspections
When it comes to a hotel or lodging facility, specific inspections and requirements apply for a Certificate of Occupancy. Your property must pass:
- Electrical system inspection
- Plumbing system inspection
- Fire safety inspection
- HVAC system inspection
- Mechanical system inspection
- General building inspection
A failing inspection can be addressed by making the necessary changes, but it can delay your overall construction project, push back your hotel grand opening, and trigger a re-inspection fee.
4. Property Sign Requirements
Integrating the right sign solutions is critical for guest safety and for obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy. If your hotel does not incorporate all of the signs required by your state guidelines, you may not pass inspection.
Identity Group (IDG) provides a Wayfinding Package that includes pictures of signs, their locations, and proof of order. Every sign complies with the national Fire Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our team also maintains a database of codes encountered in local and state areas, which we build into the appropriate state or area package so your property is ready to open.
Standard Certificate of Occupancy sign requirements for hotels include:
- Room numbers
- Guestroom evacuation signs
- Restroom IDs
- Amenity IDs (meeting rooms, fitness center, pool, etc.)
- Stair IDs
- Rooms with fire risk: IT, electrical, mechanical, boiler room, elevator equipment
Sign requirements may vary by state. For more detail, review the ADA Checklist for Hotel or Lodging Facilities.
5. Finding Inspectors
Each city sets its own Certificate of Occupancy standards and procedures. To become a legal, fully functioning hotel, apply for a CO through your local government. They will hire and send inspectors for any area required by your state. The hotel owner is responsible for obtaining the CO before the establishment opens, and for paying any fines that follow delays.
Depending on your local government's processes, operating without a CO can result in fines, lawsuits, or both. Fines accrue for every day the property is open without a CO, so the longer you wait, the larger the bill.