Winnetka — Title 15 Ch. 15.36 Certificates of Occupancy § 15.36.070
Temporary certificate of occupancy
Operative Text
A. Authority of Director. Prior to final completion and full compliance of all permit work and the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued, in the Director's discretion, provided all of the conditions in this section have been met. B. Term of Temporary Occupancy Permit. The term of any temporary occupancy permit shall be set by the Director in the exercise of his or her discretion, after considering the nature of the work to be completed and whether the ability to complete the work is affected by weather conditions. The temporary occupancy permit shall be for the shortest period of time necessary to complete the permit work, as determined by the Director. C. Conditions for Temporary Occupancy Permit. 1. The request for temporary certificate of occupancy is made in writing and includes a detailed completion schedule; 2. All applicable Village departments and building officers agree that the temporary occupancy will not create a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the structure's occupants or the general public; 3. All standards for habitability, sanitation, life and fire safety have been satisfied; 4. A cash deposit has been posted with the Village in an amount that the Director has determined is sufficient to secure final completion of all outstanding work in compliance with this code and the terms of the temporary certificate of occupancy. The cash deposit shall be retained until final completion of the outstanding work. The cash deposit shall be forfeited if final completion of all outstanding work does not occur before the temporary occupancy permit expires. 5. The applicant is not then the holder of a temporary certificate of occupancy for any other site in the Village; 6. The temporary certificate of occupancy is not for the partial occupancy of a new single-family residence; and 7. The temporary certificate of occupancy contains a statement, acknowledged in writing by the owner, that the certificate is not transferable without the approval of the Director. The Director shall not approve the transfer of a temporary certificate of occupancy unless the transferee agrees, in writing, to complete the permit work in accordance with the approved construction documents, the provisions of this code, and the conditions of the temporary certificate of occupancy. 8. The cash deposit shall be retained during any such extension.
Section 15.36.070 of Winnetka's Title 15 establishes a process by which a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) can be issued before all permitted construction work is fully complete. The Director holds discretionary authority to grant a TCO only when a specific set of conditions are satisfied, including written requests, safety sign-offs from all relevant Village departments, and the posting of a cash deposit to guarantee completion of outstanding work. The TCO is non-transferable without Director approval, is limited to the shortest duration necessary to finish the work, and the cash deposit is forfeited if the work is not completed before the permit expires.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 15.36.070, property owners and managers seeking a temporary certificate of occupancy generally submit a written request that includes a detailed completion schedule and ensure that all habitability, sanitation, life-safety, and fire-safety standards are already met before applying. Compliant operators post a cash deposit in an amount the Director deems sufficient to secure completion of all outstanding work, and they do not hold another active TCO for a separate Village site at the time of application. Because the TCO is not transferable without Director approval and the cash deposit is forfeited upon expiration without full completion, operators typically track permit deadlines carefully and coordinate with the Village if an extension becomes necessary.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 15.36.070 provides that a temporary certificate of occupancy may only be issued when all standards for habitability, sanitation, life safety, and fire safety have already been satisfied, meaning occupants should not be placed in a structure that poses health or safety hazards simply because construction is ongoing. Tenants who believe a property they occupy was granted a TCO without meeting these conditions, or that outstanding work has not been completed within the permit's term, can raise these concerns with the relevant Village building or permit office. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what documentation — such as the written TCO, the completion schedule, or the cash deposit record — may be relevant when evaluating whether the conditions of § 15.36.070 were properly followed.
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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