Location certificate
A location certificate documents where a structure sits relative to property boundaries and setbacks. Required by certifiers before occupation certificate in most states.
Ask Chalkline about this →A location certificate is a survey document prepared by a registered surveyor confirming where a completed structure sits in relation to the property boundaries, easements, and required setbacks. It is a compliance verification: the registered surveyor measures the as-built structure, compares it against the approved plans and council setback requirements, and certifies that the building is within the approved envelope.
Most state building certifiers or private certifiers require a location certificate as a condition of issuing an occupation certificate (OC). If a structure encroaches outside the approved setbacks, the certifier will not issue the OC until the issue is resolved. A location certificate is distinct from a height certificate (which certifies reduced levels and building height) but both are typically required pre-OC.
The location certificate is produced from a field survey at or near practical completion, not from the design drawings. Builders should engage the surveyor to book the survey as part of the pre-OC checklist, not at the last minute.
Also known as: final identification survey report (in some states), occupation certificate survey.
Category: Surveying and approvals.
Related
See also
Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.