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SDLA Compliance Resource

Confirm Charter Facility Occupancy and Building-Code Compliance

An implementation guide for charter schools to document that each site complies with the California Building Standards Code (or a statutory exemption) and to provide certificates of occupancy as the authorizer requires.

  • Facilities & Operations
  • Charter Schools
  • Health & Safety
Date(s)Before occupying any new or changed site; annually or at the start of each school year when the authorizer requires (for example, with July 1 beginning-of-year documents)
Applies toCharter schools

In Plain Language: Charter schools are exempt from most laws governing districts, but their facilities must meet the California Building Standards Code as enforced by the local building department, unless the site meets a statutory exemption (such as compliance with the Field Act). Authorizers typically require a certificate of occupancy, or a temporary certificate, before students occupy a site and each year after.

Why this matters

Occupying a site without the required approvals endangers students, voids insurance, and is a serious charter violation that authorizers act on immediately.

Joint ownership

Charter: facilities lead and executive director obtain approvals; the board is informed. Local building authority: issues certificates. Authorizer: reviews documentation.

From a site plan to documented occupancy approval: the SDLA ITO workflow

This workflow documents that each site is approved before students arrive. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the inputs become the outputs in 9 steps.

SDLA ITO: 9 steps. Input: site information; building permits and inspections; authorizer requirements. Transformation: confirm code path; obtain the certificate; check capacity. Output: certificate on file; authorizer submission; capacity record.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers confirm code path; obtain the certificate; check capacity; Output delivers certificate on file; authorizer submission; capacity record. Before occupying a site and as the authorizer requires each year.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Implementation workflow

  1. Site selectionConfirm the code path.Determine building-code compliance or exemption.
  2. Before occupancyObtain the certificate.Complete inspections and obtain the certificate.
  3. July 1 or authorizer dateSubmit.Provide the certificate with beginning-of-year documents.
  4. OngoingMonitor capacity.Keep enrollment within approved occupancy.

Charter facility checklist

  • Code compliance or exemption documented for each site.
  • Certificate of occupancy on file before students arrive.
  • Enrollment within the approved occupancy.
  • Authorizer documentation submitted on schedule.

Official guidance and help

Source review completed October 25, 2026. Verify your authorizer's facility documentation requirements and the local building authority's process.