Certificate of Occupancy
The City of Dana Point does not require a City Business License. However, a Certificate of Occupancy may be required depending on the nature of the business and the use of the tenant space. A Certificate of Occupancy is required when there is a change in use or occupancy type (converting an office into a retail space), or when a business is performing tenant improvements that require a Building Permit.
A Certificate of Occupancy is not required if the business is:
- Moving into a space without any improvements requiring a permit and/or
- Maintaining the same type of use as the previous tenant (office to office or retail to retail)
Please contact the City to verify that your business use is permitted in the space you are looking at before signing a lease. It is strongly recommended that you consult with the Planning Division, as they may have requirements separate from Building and Safety.
For more information regarding business in the City of Dana Point, please contact Jaimie To at jto@danapoint.org.
No Tenant Improvements
When there are no improvements requiring a permit, and the business use remains the same, the Certificate of Occupancy is generally not required. However, it is still recommended that you check with the City to confirm.
With Tenant Improvements
When improvements are part of the project, a building permit application and construction specific plans are required to be submitted for review. Upon obtaining the approvals and paying the required fees, the permit is obtained by a licensed contractor performing the work. Commercial projects of any type do not qualify as an Owner/Builder permit. After passing the required inspections, the Certificate of Occupancy will be available for pick up three (3) business days after the permit has been finalized.
Notes
Food related businesses are subject to specific Water Quality Grease Management Requirements & Orange County Health Department approval. Prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, compliance with the grease management requirements shall be certified on the WQ Grease Management & Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Ban Certification Form. Some of these requirements may require a separate Building Permit.
Signs or Banners require a separate permit process and must have a valid Certificate of Occupancy in place prior to Sign/Banner permit issuance. Please visit the Planning Counter for all permitting processes and information.
Applications & Handouts