What is the difference between sale approval, a Certificate of Approval, and a Certificate of Occupancy?
| Term | What it addresses | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Sale / purchaser approval | The association’s approval of a proposed purchase or transfer, where its governing documents require it. This is a decision or process; its documentation may include a certificate. | It does not transfer title or certify the building’s code compliance. |
| Certificate of Approval (COA) | Century Village’s paperwork documenting an approved purchaser, renter, or other occupant category through the applicable association/UCO process. | It is not a government building approval. The category and named people matter. |
| Government Certificate of Occupancy (CO) | A building-official document addressing authorized occupancy or use of a building or space under applicable building-code procedures. | It does not approve a particular buyer, tenant, or Century Village ID applicant. |
When someone asks for a certificate, clarify the transaction, the people involved, the intended occupancy, and the issuing office. Use the full document name rather than relying on an abbreviation.
Purchase approval and permission to reside are not always the same
UCO’s March 2024 published COA definitions distinguish purchases with occupancy from purchases without occupancy. They also distinguish deed transfers, rental arrangements, and occupants who are neither deeded owners nor renters.
The historical definitions state that a non-resident owner category does not receive a WPRF ID. They also identify rental and occupancy extensions as separate categories. Confirm current categories, eligibility, and renewal procedures with UCO and WPRF before relying on an older description.
Likewise, a name added to a deed, a new household member, or a renewed lease can raise different questions. Ask which current application applies rather than reusing an old approval for a different purpose.
Clear status. Clear records. Fewer surprises.
How the Century Village process generally works
UCO’s current forms page provides applications for purchasers and deed-related changes, rental applicants and occupants, and requests for occupancy. It directs completed applications through the condominium association for board signatures before UCO acceptance.
- Start with the association. Confirm the governing-document requirements, correct category, current application, fees, supporting documents, and expected processing arrangements.
- Submit the application through the required route. Follow the association and UCO instructions rather than sending incomplete paperwork directly to an unrelated office.
- Complete the screening and review. UCO’s October 2025 explanation describes screening reports being obtained and sent to the board with a COA. The association makes the applicable approval decision.
- Document the decision and certificate. That explanation describes approved COAs being signed by two directors and bearing the association seal. Verify the current form and execution requirements before signing.
- Complete closing or resident-registration steps. Coordinate with the closing agent for a sale and with WPRF for resident ID requirements. UCO’s explanation describes approved residents bringing the COA to the Clubhouse ID Office.
Sources: current UCO forms and UCO October 2025 process explanation. Confirm current instructions; historical descriptions are not a substitute for today’s forms.
What the board should verify
Board Synergy recommended practice Separate the association’s document-based authority from UCO’s administrative instructions and the transaction’s closing requirements.
- The association has authority for the approval required by its governing documents.
- The names, unit, transaction, and occupancy category are correct.
- The applicable screening and review have been completed.
- The decision follows the required board process and lawful, consistent criteria.
- The certificate is signed only after the relevant authorization.
- The association keeps appropriate approval records and protects sensitive screening information.
UCO’s administrative assistance does not replace the board’s responsibility to understand its authority or make a lawful decision. Get legal advice before a denial, unusual condition, disputed transfer, or uncertain occupancy arrangement. Use the Buyer Screening guide and Fair Housing Act overview; where relevant, review the 55+ occupancy rule separately from purchase approval.
Do not use informal promises, unsigned certificates, or a director’s personal assurance as a substitute for the required process.
Common questions
Does a COA mean the sale has closed?
No. Approval paperwork and the transfer of ownership are different steps. The Unit Sale guide explains the separate records, estoppel, closing, and ownership handoff. Verify closing and recorded ownership through the appropriate transaction records.
Is a COA an estoppel certificate?
No. An estoppel certificate supplies assessment and other account-related information for a transaction. It does not serve the same purpose as purchaser or occupancy approval.
Is it a waiver of right of first refusal?
Not automatically. A waiver and an approval can be related transaction documents, but their effect depends on the governing documents and actual wording. Ask the closing agent and association attorney what the transaction requires. Read the Right of First Refusal guide.
Do I need a new government Certificate of Occupancy every time a unit is sold?
A routine resale approval does not itself create a new building CO requirement. Construction, a change of use, or an unresolved permit can raise separate building-department issues. Verify the specific property and work with the appropriate building authority. See Certificate of Occupancy: which document do you need?
Can an approved owner move in anyone they choose?
Do not assume so. Check the governing documents, occupancy rules, and applicable registration process for the proposed person and arrangement.
Who can clarify a confusing certificate request?
Start with the association or manager for approval requirements, UCO for its forms and processing, WPRF for IDs and amenities, and the Building Division for a government CO.
Keep the documents distinct
A reliable file should make clear who was approved, in what capacity, for which unit, and when. Separately identify closing documents, account information, and building permits or occupancy certificates.
Good boards make important paperwork understandable.
Current UCO applicationsContact UCOPBC Building DivisionBack to Board LeadershipBefore signing, releasing, or relying on a COA
Board Synergy recommended practice
A completed investigation, an authorized association decision, and a completed certificate are separate milestones. Confirm the current form and actual signature, seal, delivery, and recipient requirements rather than relying on a historical example.
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| People and purpose | Names, unit, transaction, and occupancy category match the application and authorized decision. Identify whether ownership and actual residents differ. |
| Authority and decision | The applicable document provision and approval process have been checked, the decision is recorded appropriately, and authorized signers are identified. |
| Execution and delivery | The current required signatures and seal are complete; the correct version goes to the proper recipient. Record the delivery date and keep an appropriate copy. |
| Remaining work | List any closing document, first-refusal matter, resident registration, ID, or access step still outstanding. Do not mark the entire process complete merely because a certificate is ready. |
If something changes
If names, ownership, occupants, category, or transaction terms change, ask the association, UCO, and relevant closing professional which documents or approvals need review. Do not alter a previously executed certificate informally or assume it covers a different arrangement.
Use the decision/action log to assign unresolved work. Record seal custody and authorized use through the Corporate Seal guide. Maintain owner, resident, emergency, and age-verification records as separate record categories.
Sources & guidance
- UCO Forms & Resources
- March 2024 UCO Reporter—COA definitions, page 6 (historical PDF)
- October 2025 UCO screening and COA explanation (historical PDF)
- Palm Beach County building-code administration provisions
Resource and styling update October 16, 2026; original page October 10, 2026, for Century Village West Palm Beach. The current UCO forms page was consulted for application routing. Historical COA categories and process descriptions remain dated references, not confirmation that every detail is unchanged. General education. Current forms, governing documents, applicable law, and transaction-specific requirements control.