As a service to the community, these articles are written to inform the public about important and timely issues in Bonham. I hope this information is helpful to you and that you will pass it along to someone else that can use it.

A Certificate of Occupancy, or a CO as it is normally referred to, is a Certificate issued by the City to someone before they can occupy a building to conduct business, or to a builder or contractor after the completion of a new home or building prior to occupancy. The CO certifies that the structure was built in compliance with all required building codes adopted by the City, or in some cases State or Federal requirements, as well.

Basically, there are two types of Certificates issued by the City of Bonham: One is for new construction (home or building); the other is for existing commercial buildings prior to being occupied to conduct business. Without a CO you cannot legally occupy a building to conduct business, or occupy a new home or building. In most cases, the water, sewer, electric and gas companies will not connect services until an approved CO is issued by the City.

If you decide to start a business in Bonham (or most cities), you must request a CO from City Hall after you have rented or purchased a property and before you conduct business at the new location. If you plan to build a new house or building, you must get a building permit from the City prior to construction and obtain a CO from the City Building Official after construction is completed and before anyone occupies the property.

Prior to issuing an approved CO, the City Building Official/Inspector and the City Fire Marshall will inspect the property to determine whether or not it meets all building codes, fire codes, and other applicable codes. If any items are identified as not meeting code, they must be corrected before the CO is approved.

To apply for a CO to occupy a building, you can either make your request in person or by phone. You can apply in person at Bonham City Hall, 301 E. 5th, Bonham, Texas, or call the Building Inspector or the Fire Marshall at 903-583-7555.

There is no charge for a Certificate of Occupancy for an existing commercial building to conduct a business; however, if you do not obtain a CO before occupying the premises, in most cases you will not be able to connect water, sewer, electric, and gas services. If you are able to obtain services and you occupy the building without a CO, you are in violation of City Ordinances and International Building Codes, and you are subject to business closure and/or fines until you obtain an approved CO.

To obtain a CO for new construction, you must request a building permit prior to construction. Currently, the permit for new construction is $100, plus 5 to 10 cents per square foot depending on the size of the house or building. The Building Inspector and/or Fire Marshall will conduct periodic inspections throughout the building process, based on your building schedule. When construction is complete and all building codes have been satisfied, an approved CO will be issued. The utilities can then be turned on and the premises can be occupied.