Understanding Occupation Certificates — What Homeowners Need to Know

An Occupation Certificate (OC) is often misunderstood, yet it’s one of the most important documents linked to a property. In simple terms, an OC confirms that a new building or addition was built according to approved plans and passed all municipal inspections. Here’s the part most homeowners don’t realise: Most older homes don’t have an OC — and that’s completely normal.Municipalities only started enforcing OCs properly in the 1980's. If your home is older, or if previous owners built without formal inspections, an OC may never have been issued.

So when is an OC required?Legally, before occupying a new building or extension. It’s not required for transfer, but banks or attorneys may request it as part of their own compliance checks.If your property has unapproved additions or missing inspections, you cannot apply for an OC until everything is legalised and aligned with council records. That’s where a professional architect becomes essential. At We Do House Plans, we help homeowners:

• Confirm what was approved vs what was built

• Legalise unapproved structures

• Prepare the property for final inspection

• Apply for an Occupation Certificate through council

  
  

A compliant property gives you peace of mind — and an OC is often the last step in getting there.