Winnetka — Title 15 Ch. 15.36 Certificates of Occupancy § 15.36.050
Criteria for change of use or occupancy
Operative Text
No change shall be made in the use or occupancy of any land, structure or portion of such land or structure used wholly or partially for nonresidential purposes, unless the Director has first issued a certificate of occupancy for such change. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued regarding a change in use or occupancy of such land, structure or portion of such land or structure for which a building permit is not required unless (1) the proposed use and occupancy conform to all applicable provisions of this code; and (2) the structural, electrical, mechanical, health and sanitation, plumbing, HVAC and fire safety elements in the subject unit and in all common interior and exterior areas are inspected and all health and life-safety requirements are approved, as required by this code.
Under Winnetka Title 15, Chapter 15.36, § 15.36.050, any change in the use or occupancy of land or a structure that is wholly or partially nonresidential requires a certificate of occupancy issued by the Director before the change takes effect. Even when no building permit is required for the change, a certificate of occupancy cannot be issued unless the proposed use complies with all applicable code provisions and a physical inspection of structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, fire safety, and health and sanitation elements has been completed and approved. This rule ensures that nonresidential spaces meet health and life-safety standards before a new use or occupancy begins.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under § 15.36.050 generally obtain a certificate of occupancy from the Director before implementing any change in use or occupancy of a nonresidential or mixed-use property. Compliant operators typically confirm whether a building permit is required and, if not, still arrange for the required inspections covering structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, fire safety, and sanitation systems in both the subject unit and all common areas. Keeping documentation of passed inspections and issued certificates on file supports ongoing compliance with Winnetka's Title 15, Chapter 15.36 requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants occupying or considering occupying a space that has recently undergone a change in use or occupancy may have an interest in whether a certificate of occupancy was properly issued under § 15.36.050. This provision requires that health and life-safety systems — including plumbing, HVAC, fire safety, and sanitation — be inspected and approved before such a certificate is granted, which is intended to protect occupants. Tenants who have concerns about whether these requirements were met can contact the Winnetka building or planning department directly or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with local code enforcement.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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