Lines 1 to 4: certificate and property
The certificate number, which starts with T-, then the official building property name, street address, and city, state and zip code.
GSA3686A
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
- Agency
- GSA
- Revision
- Rev. 9/2006
- Fillable fields
- 27
- Pages
- 2
- Official source
- GSA form page
- Checked
- October 20, 2026
GSA Form 3686A: Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
GSA Form 3686A, Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, is a U.S. General Services Administration form. Its footer reads GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, GSA 3686A 9/2006, and GSA hosts it in its forms library. It is an internal GSA building record, not a form the public files.
The form says the temporary certificate ensures that all fire protection and life safety systems have been completed, inspected, successfully tested and approved for the specific area of the building it names, to provide a reasonable degree of safety to the occupants from fire and similar emergencies. It also says the certificate is valid only for the premises of the project address.
The form has 22 numbered lines, and the back page gives instructions for each one. Line 11 sets a 30 Day, 60 Day or 90 Day certificate, and line 20 names the GSA Approving Official, which the instructions identify as the GSA Regional Fire Protection Engineer. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.
What's on GSA Form 3686A
Lines 5 and 6: project manager and area
The GSA Project Manager for the project and the specific area of the building the temporary certificate covers.
Lines 7 to 10: uses and occupancies
Approved and previous uses of the building, and approved and previous occupancies. The instructions give Business as an example of an occupancy.
Lines 11 to 13: term, expiration and occupant load
The type of temporary certificate (30 Day, 60 Day or 90 Day), its expiration date, and the design occupant load, the maximum number of occupants permitted by Code for that area.
Lines 14 to 17: sprinklers, code and construction
Whether sprinklers are required and installed, the building code name and edition at the time of contract award, and the type of construction.
Lines 18 to 22: use, stipulations and approval
A description of how all portions of the building will be used, any special stipulations or code modifications, and the approving official's name, signature and date.
The 22 lines fall into these groups.
How to complete GSA Form 3686A
- 1
Build the certificate number
The instructions say to begin with the letter T (for Temporary), followed by the 8 digit GSA Building Number designation and the temporary certificate date, for example T-DC0031ZZ-01232006.
- 2
Enter the property and project
List the official property name, street address, city, state and zip code, the GSA Project Manager and the specific area of the building the temporary certificate applies to.
- 3
Record uses and occupancies
List the approved and previous uses, and the approved and previous occupancies, for example Business.
- 4
Set the term and occupant load
Check 30 Day, 60 Day or 90 Day, list the expiration date, and enter the design occupant load. For several areas or floors, the instructions say to give the maximum for each one.
- 5
Give sprinkler, code and construction details
Check Yes or No for sprinklers required and installed, list the building code and edition in effect at the time of contract award, for example 2006 ICC, and the type of construction, for example Type IA.
- 6
Describe use, then approve
Describe how all portions of the building will be used and list any special stipulations or code modifications. The GSA Approving Official is named, signs and dates lines 20 to 22.
These steps follow the line by line instructions printed on the back of the form.
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What the certificate says
What it certifies
The form says all fire protection and life safety systems have been completed, inspected, successfully tested and approved for the specific area of the building named on it.
How long it runs
Line 11 offers a 30 Day, 60 Day or 90 Day temporary certificate, and line 12 lists the date the temporary certificate of occupancy will expire.
Where it is valid
The form prints: THIS CERTIFICATE IS VALID ONLY FOR THE PREMISES OF THE PROJECT ADDRESS.
Where it goes
The PDF gives no filing address or routing. GSA's page lists no authority or regulation for the form, and the PDF prints no OMB number or Privacy Act notice.
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Who uses GSA Form 3686A?
The instructions on the back of the form name the GSA roles on the certificate. The form prints no other filer.
Official sources and the blank
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Questions about Form GSA3686A
Who issues GSA Form 3686A?
The form's footer reads GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, GSA 3686A 9/2006. GSA hosts it in its forms library.
Who signs the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy?
The GSA Approving Official, who the instructions identify as the GSA Regional Fire Protection Engineer, gives a name on line 20, signs on line 21 and dates it on line 22.
How is the certificate number written?
The instructions say to begin with the letter T (for Temporary), followed by the 8 digit GSA Building Number designation and the temporary certificate date, for example T-DC0031ZZ-01232006.
How long does the temporary certificate last?
Line 11 has boxes for 30 Day, 60 Day and 90 Day, and the instructions say to check the appropriate one. Line 12 lists the date the temporary certificate will expire.
What does the certificate cover?
Line 6 names the specific area of the building the temporary certificate applies to. The form says it is valid only for the premises of the project address.
What is the design occupant load on line 13?
The instructions say it is the maximum number of occupants permitted by Code for the specific area of the building. For a building with multiple areas or floors, the maximum is given for each one.