The City of Tucson deserves substantial credit for the way in which they now deal with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O). In the past, challenges obtaining a C of O were significant enough to devalue properties and bankrupt tenants. The current policy places the focus on the building, not on the tenant. Under the new policy, a business owner may now purchase a building and have a reasonable expectation of having that building retain its value into the future. Once approved, the building remains approved unless there is a significant change in use. For example, a sale of a building from one user to another would not require a new C of O unless the new owner made a significant change in use (i.e. a change from retail to restaurant).
