If you occupy a building without an approved certificate of occupancy, what type of violation do you incur?

Occupying a building without an approved certificate of occupancy typically incurs a "less grave" violation. This classification reflects the legal perspective that while occupying a property without this certificate is indeed a violation of building codes, it is not considered as severe as a "grave" violation, which would usually involve imminent danger to health and safety, or structural integrity.

A less grave violation usually results in administrative penalties rather than criminal charges, indicating that occupancy has led to regulatory breaches but not necessarily to circumstances that could pose immediate risks to public safety. The focus in such cases is often on ensuring compliance with codes rather than punitive actions.

The other types of violations described, such as "grave" or "minor," reflect more serious breaches and administrative responses, which indicates a different level of risk or compliance failure as compared to a situation where a building may still be relatively safe but lacks the necessary documentation for occupancy. A civil violation underscores the nature of the consequences, typically involving fines or corrective actions instead of court cases or more serious penalties.