Skip to main content
PermitBase

Change of Use / Change of Occupancy (Certificate of Occupancy) in Syracuse, Utah

Syracuse does not publish a standalone 'Change of Use' or 'Change of Occupancy' application or fee — a change of occupancy is regulated through the standard building permit process and the Certificate of Occupancy requirement in Municipal Code § 9.05.040. Per Syracuse Municipal Code Chapter 10.10 (Definitions), a 'Certificate of occupancy' is 'authority granted by the Building Official to occupy or use a building upon satisfying City ordinances and all site plan and building code requirements'; § 9.05.040 states no person will occupy any structure until a certificate of occupancy has been issued, and occupying without one is a cited violation. Statewide-adopted code (2024 IBC/2021 IRC, Utah Code § 15A-2-103) requires a permit for any owner who intends to 'construct, enlarge, repair, alter, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure,' so a change of use that changes occupancy classification is processed as part of the Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit (see those entries in this file) rather than through a separate change-of-use product.

Reviewed 2026-07-22 · Source

When you need this permit

  • No standalone change-of-use or change-of-occupancy application exists in Syracuse — the applicable process depends on whether construction/occupancy-classification change accompanies the use change
  • A Certificate of Occupancy (Municipal Code § 9.05.040) must be issued by the Building Official before a structure or portion of a structure may be occupied; occupying without one is a cited violation
  • If the change of use involves construction or a change in occupancy classification: processed through the Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit, per the statewide-mandatory 2024 IBC (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a)) requirement that a permit be obtained to 'change the occupancy of a building or structure'
  • If the change of use involves no construction: a new occupant/business obtains a standard Commercial Business License for the space, per the Consolidated Fee Schedule's 'Commercial Business' fee tiers
  • A legally nonconforming use changing to a different nonconforming use additionally requires Planning Commission approval, per Syracuse Municipal Code § 10.25.070(C)

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Fee schedule

Commercial Business License, by building size (applies when a new business/use occupies a space with no construction)Syracuse City Consolidated Fee Schedule, Community Development section, 'Commercial Business' table, confirmed via direct PDF page-image review 2026-07-22 (page 4 of 13, approved 06-09-2026, effective July 1, 2026). No distinct 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' fee line exists anywhere in the fee schedule.
<5,000 sf: $100.00 per application; 5,001-10,000 sf: $150.00 per application; >10,001 sf: $350.00 per application
Commercial Building Inspection (issued alongside occupancy, if construction accompanies the change of use)Syracuse City Consolidated Fee Schedule, Community Development section — same fee already documented in this file's Commercial Building Permit entry; applies when the change of use also involves construction requiring a building permit.
$100.00 per inspection
Building Permit / Plan Check (if construction or occupancy-classification review accompanies the change of use)No separate change-of-occupancy fee is published; where the change of use triggers construction or a formal occupancy-classification review, it is billed exactly as the Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit entries in this file.
Same General Building Valuation table and 65% Commercial Plan Check Fee used for the Commercial Building Permit / Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Change of Occupancy (Certificate of Occupancy) permit actually take in Syracuse?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final / Certificate of Occupancy Inspection

    Final inspection confirming the structure satisfies City ordinances, site plan, and building code requirements before the Building Official issues the Certificate of Occupancy required by Municipal Code § 9.05.040.

See the full Syracuse inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • There is no dedicated 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' permit or fee in Syracuse — confirmed by review of the Consolidated Fee Schedule (approved 06-09-2026) and Municipal Code Chapter 9.05 (Building Department) and Chapter 10.10 (Definitions).
  • Occupying a structure before the Building Official issues a Certificate of Occupancy is a cited violation in Syracuse — the Consolidated Fee Schedule's Fines section lists 'Operating a Business Without a Certificate of Occupancy' at $1,000.00 per day and 'Occupying a Residential Unit Without a Certificate of Occupancy' at $250.00 per day (Public Safety & Public Works / Building Fines, page 11 of 13, confirmed 2026-07-22), underscoring that the CO requirement itself is actively enforced even though no separate CO application fee is published.
  • If the new use requires no construction, a new business/use occupying a space applies for a standard Commercial Business License, tiered by building square footage ($100/$150/$350 per application) — the same fee any new commercial business pays, regardless of the space's prior use.
  • If the new use also involves structural, MEP, or life-safety work (common when changing between occupancy groups, e.g. retail to restaurant), a full Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit is required, and that permit's plan review determines the Occupancy Group under the statewide-mandatory adopted codes.
  • A change between two different legally nonconforming uses additionally requires Planning Commission approval under Municipal Code § 10.25.070(C), separate from the building-permit/business-license path described above.

Frequently asked questions

Syracuse requires a change of use / change of occupancy (certificate of occupancy) permit for: No standalone change-of-use or change-of-occupancy application exists in Syracuse — the applicable process depends on whether construction/occupancy-classification change accompanies the use change; A Certificate of Occupancy (Municipal Code § 9.05.040) must be issued by the Building Official before a structure or portion of a structure may be occupied; occupying without one is a cited violation; If the change of use involves construction or a change in occupancy classification: processed through the Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit, per the statewide-mandatory 2024 IBC (Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a)) requirement that a permit be obtained to 'change the occupancy of a building or structure'; If the change of use involves no construction: a new occupant/business obtains a standard Commercial Business License for the space, per the Consolidated Fee Schedule's 'Commercial Business' fee tiers; A legally nonconforming use changing to a different nonconforming use additionally requires Planning Commission approval, per Syracuse Municipal Code § 10.25.070(C). If your project isn't listed, confirm with Syracuse City Building Department (Community & Economic Development Department) at 801-825-1477, option 4 (Building Inspections Scheduling); Building Department direct line 801-614-9670 before starting work.

In Syracuse, the published Commercial Business License, by building size (applies when a new business/use occupies a space with no construction) is: <5,000 sf: $100.00 per application; 5,001-10,000 sf: $150.00 per application; >10,001 sf: $350.00 per application. Additional published fees: Commercial Building Inspection (issued alongside occupancy, if construction accompanies the change of use) — $100.00 per inspection; Building Permit / Plan Check (if construction or occupancy-classification review accompanies the change of use) — Same General Building Valuation table and 65% Commercial Plan Check Fee used for the Commercial Building Permit / Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Syracuse does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Syracuse City Building Department (Community & Economic Development Department) at 801-825-1477, option 4 (Building Inspections Scheduling); Building Department direct line 801-614-9670 for current turnaround.

Depending on your project, Syracuse may also ask for: Building Permit Application — Commercial Building or Tenant Improvement (if construction or occupancy-classification change accompanies the change of use); Commercial Business License Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Syracuse requires 1 inspection(s) for a change of use / change of occupancy (certificate of occupancy) permit, in order: Final / Certificate of Occupancy Inspection. Schedule each through Syracuse City Building Department (Community & Economic Development Department) (801-825-1477, option 4 (Building Inspections Scheduling); Building Department direct line 801-614-9670).

Apply through Syracuse City Building Department (Community & Economic Development Department) at 1979 W 1900 S, Syracuse, UT 84075. Phone: 801-825-1477, option 4 (Building Inspections Scheduling); Building Department direct line 801-614-9670. Office hours: Not published on the official Building Department page as of 2026-07-07; permit applications are submitted digitally via the CivicReview online portal rather than in person.. Official information: https://www.syracuseut.gov/160/Building.

No standalone application exists. A Certificate of Occupancy (Municipal Code § 9.05.040) is required before occupying any structure, but there is no distinct fee for it — if the change of use involves no construction, a new occupant applies for a standard Commercial Business License; if it involves construction or a change in occupancy classification, it goes through the existing Commercial Building Permit or Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit process.

Per the Consolidated Fee Schedule's Fines section, operating a business without a Certificate of Occupancy is fined $1,000.00 per day, and occupying a residential unit without one is fined $250.00 per day. Municipal Code § 9.05.040 requires the Building Official to issue a Certificate of Occupancy before a structure may be occupied.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Syracuse building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Other permits in Syracuse

Residential Building Permit (New Home / Addition / Remodel)Swimming Pool / Hot Tub / Spa PermitSolar Panel (PV) PermitAccessory Structure Permit (Sheds, Detached Garages)Masonry/Concrete Fence PermitRetaining Wall PermitAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitSign PermitCommercial Building PermitCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish PermitEV Charger / EVSE PermitFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit

Change of Use / Change of Occupancy (Certificate of Occupancy) in other cities

Alpine, UtahAmerican Fork, UtahBountiful, UtahBrigham City, UtahCedar City, UtahCedar Hills, UtahCenterville, UtahClearfield, Utah

Compare change of use / change of occupancy (certificate of occupancy) fees across Utah →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Syracuse project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Syracuse — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →