Oklahoma building code

Codes in force in Oklahoma

Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.

Adopted by: Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC)¹.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-6¹

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Applies to

Commercial construction (code family scope)²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-2²

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

Residential and commercial fire prevention and fire protection systems³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-4³

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁴

Applies to

Commercial construction (code family scope)⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-12⁴

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁵

Applies to

Commercial construction (code family scope)⁵

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-14⁵

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁶

Applies to

Commercial construction (code family scope)⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-16⁶

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁸

Applies to

Commercial construction (code family scope)⁷

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-10⁷

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-6-16¹

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further²

Applies to

Commercial construction²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes higher standards; local-condition amendments need OUBCC approval⁸

Amendments

OAC 748:20-2²

How Oklahoma adopts building codes

59 O.S. §§ 1000.20-1000.31 (Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission Act); 74 O.S. § 324.11; OAC Title 748, Chapter 20

• Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission. A. The Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission shall have the power and the duty to review and adopt all codes and standards for residential and commercial construction to be used by all entities within this state.⁸
• Statewide minimum; local governments may go further. Codes and standards adopted by the Commission shall be the minimum standards for residential and commercial construction in this state.⁸
• Municipalities and political subdivisions must meet the minimum codes and may enact higher standards. C. Municipalities and other political subdivisions shall abide by such minimum standards and requirements; provided, nothing in the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission Act shall prevent or take away from such municipalities and other political subdivisions the authority to enact and enforce requirements containing higher standards and requirements than such minimum standards and requirements.⁸
• …provided, that such code, ordinance, bylaw or rule shall contain higher standards and requirements than the codes adopted pursuant to the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission Act…⁸
• Local codes allowed if higher standards; local amendments for local conditions need Commission approval. …nor shall it prevent or take away from any state agencies or political subdivisions of the state the authority to amend such adopted codes to make changes necessary to accommodate local conditions; provided, such changes shall be approved by the Commission.⁸
• IRC 2024 statewide minimum for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, effective September 14, 2026. The IRC® 2024, as amended and revised by these rules, is hereby established and adopted as the statewide minimum code for residential building construction for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses in Oklahoma pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.23 and may only be amended or altered by other jurisdictions pursuant to Oklahoma law.¹
• Provisions not specifically amended are adopted without modification. …within these rules as being modified, deleted, moved or removed are hereby adopted without modification as the statewide minimum code for residential construction within the State of Oklahoma for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.23.¹
• Chapter 1 adopted only to the extent it does not conflict with state law or local enforcement authority. However, the provisions of Chapter 1 adopted herein are only intended to be in force and effect to the extent that the respective provisions do not conflict with State law or the lawful exercise of code administration and enforcement jurisdiction by entities empowered to do so pursuant to applicable law.¹
• City town or county. C. Application for such building permit shall be made to, and such building permit shall be issued by, any city, town or county in whose jurisdiction the construction or alteration is planned.⁹
• State Fire Marshal where no local permit is required (not for 1-2 family homes, barns, sheds or attached carports in unincorporated areas). In all geographical areas wherein no such permit is required by local authorities such permit must be obtained from the State Fire Marshal, who may require the submission of plans and specifications covering the proposed construction or alteration, and shall refuse to issue such permit unless the work so planned is in accordance with the applicable provisions of the International Building Code, International Existing Building Code, and International Fire Code, as last adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission…⁹
• No State Fire Marshal permit for a single-family or duplex dwelling, barn, shed or attached carport in an unincorporated area. Furthermore, nothing in this subsection shall be construed as requiring a person to obtain a permit from the State Fire Marshal for the construction or alteration of a single-family dwelling, duplex residential dwelling, barn, shed, or carport attached to a single-family dwelling, or duplex residential dwelling when such structure is located in an unincorporated area of a county.⁹

Applies to

All entities within the state⁸

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes⁸

What local governments may change

59 O.S. §§ 1000.23(C), 1000.29, 1000.30, 1000.31; 11 O.S. § 43-109.3

• Municipalities and political subdivisions must meet the minimum codes and may enact higher standards. C. Municipalities and other political subdivisions shall abide by such minimum standards and requirements; provided, nothing in the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission Act shall prevent or take away from such municipalities and other political subdivisions the authority to enact and enforce requirements containing higher standards and requirements than such minimum standards and requirements.⁸
• Local codes allowed if higher standards; local amendments for local conditions need Commission approval. …nor shall it prevent or take away from any state agencies or political subdivisions of the state the authority to amend such adopted codes to make changes necessary to accommodate local conditions; provided, such changes shall be approved by the Commission.⁸
• Municipalities may not adopt new single-family residential building design element rules, with listed exceptions. Beginning on and after the effective date of this act, a municipality, city or town shall not adopt or impose new single- family residential building design elements or implement new policies that have the effect of creating new single-family residential building design element regulations, unless…¹⁰
• OAC Chapter 15 (codes adopted by state agencies and political subdivisions) revoked effective September 14, 2021. CHAPTER 15 - CODE ADOPTED BY STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS [REVOKED]…¹¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes⁸

Residential code in Oklahoma cities

The edition each city enforces, from the city’s own adoption page or ordinance.

For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see Oklahoma building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.