Section 180.230  Certificate of Occupancy

A certificate of occupancy shall be obtained prior to any occupancy of a facility, including a vehicular facility.

a)         General Certificate of Occupancy

            When the work covered by a building permit is complete or a facility complies with the requirements of this Part, and upon presentation of accurate safety reference plans for the facility certified by an architect or engineer to be in compliance with this Part (see Section 180.120 of this Part), the regional superintendent shall issue a general certificate of occupancy.

b)         Certificate of Partial Occupancy

            When requested to do so, a regional superintendent shall issue a certificate of partial occupancy before completion of the entire work covered by a permit, provided that his or her inspection indicates that some area(s) can be occupied safely prior to full completion.

c)         Certificate of Occupancy for a Temporary Facility

            When requested to do so, a regional superintendent shall issue a one-year certificate of occupancy for a temporary facility, allowing use of a facility that does not comply with all the requirements of this Part, provided that all the following requirements are met.

1)         Use of the facility is necessary to meet a temporary need of the school district, as verified by the regional superintendent.

2)         The school board presents a plan either for replacement of the temporary facility with a facility meeting the requirements of this Part or for the elimination of the temporary need upon which the request is based.  The school board's plan includes positive action to accomplish this end within a specified period of time, during which the certificate may be annually renewed.

3)         The facility has been surveyed by a licensed design professional, whose report is attached identifying the respects in which the facility fails to comply with the requirements of this Part and certifying that such noncompliance does not jeopardize the general health and safety of the students and others who occupy the facility.

4)         If the facility is a premanufactured unit such as a mobile home, trailer unit, or other, similar structure, the application shall include evidence that all of the following conditions exist:

A)        The facility has received the seal of approval issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health pursuant to the Manufactured Housing and Mobile Home Safety Act [430 ILCS 115];

B)        The facility is anchored as specified in the Illinois Mobile Home Tiedown Act [210 ILCS 120];

C)        The facility is separated from other buildings by the distance required pursuant to the standards referenced in Section 180.60 of this Part; and

D)        The facility is connected to the fire alarm system and intercom or telephone system of a nearby school building, if such a system is present.

d)         Certificate of Occupancy for a Vehicular Facility

            When requested to do so, a regional superintendent shall issue a certificate of occupancy for a vehicular facility, provided that the facility meets the requirements of Section 180.80(a) and (b) of this Part.

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 15904, effective October 3, 2005)