Renovating a commercial building can become overwhelming. Perhaps you have already launched a business of your dreams and you are now looking to expand. Renovating will increase the traffic to your business, improve employee energy, and create a safer work environment. Majority of US states base their building codes on guidelines from the International Code Council. There are a few steps to get started on your renovation research.
For instance, you can look at your potential building’s Certificate of Occupancy or browse online through online building records. Once you are ready to renovate, you can now call an engineer or an architect to avoid future surprises. Here are 5 things to know about the Commercial Building Renovation Process.
1. Review Certificate of Occupancy
Checking the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) should be the first thing on your checklist. The document indicates what you can legally use a property for an office, private space, or maybe a restaurant. Most cities will have an online database where you can download a copy of a property’s CO. Changing a CO is costly and in some cases impossible.
Expediters are an addition to your building team to speed up the slow grind permits, especially for commercial renovations. CO will also dictate small issues such as using the property’s backyard for additional business space.
