As far as I am aware, the same principle applies to inland applications under the Family Class. That is why many PR applicants choose to "flagpole" at the nearest border crossing, taking their COPR with them.
I concede that it is possible that a few immigration classes, such as "refugee" might obtain the COPR at a local CIC office at the time of "landing", I believe that these are exceptions to the general rule of COPR issuance.
I am happy for someone who has completed normal inland Family Class sponsorship to provide more information to confirm or refute this.