Do you need a permit for a fence in Oklahoma City?
Yes. Oklahoma City requires a permit for a fence1.
On this page
Yes
Oklahoma City's rule“Review of all construction plans (building, pool, fence and other permits) for compliance with relevant codes and ordinances.”1
City of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development Center, division services
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Fence permit | Fence permit, each | Permit, each (fence and retaining walls over 12" tall) | $22.00 | $25.00 | 60-19-6…2 |
Limits and conditions in Oklahoma City's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Retaining walls exempt up to (the wording covers retaining walls) | 18 inches | 3. Retaining walls that are 18" or less in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.3 |
What to submit
- Property address and legal description4
- Estimated cost and linear feet4
- Overall height and type of construction4
- Scaled site plan with property lines, easements, right-of-way, north arrow4
- Fence location with sections labeled for length4
- Self-closing, self-latching gates where fence encloses a pool4
- Engineer-stamped design for retaining walls over 36 in4
Who can apply
- Licensed fence contractor, or the homeowner if homeowner-built4
Fence permit fees in Oklahoma City
Fee lines as Oklahoma City's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Fence permit, each (fence and retaining walls over 12" tall) | Flat fee | Permit, each (fence and retaining walls over 12" tall) · $22.00 · $25.00 · 60-19-62 |
Oklahoma City’s fee table lists a prior rate and then the rates effective July 1, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Where a line shows two amounts, the second (effective July 1, 2024) is the current one; where it shows four, the last (effective July 1, 2026) is current.
All of Oklahoma City's fee lines are on the Oklahoma City permit page.
Inspections
Review time
Varies between days and weeks depending on workload7. This is the department's published figure, not a guarantee.
Special areas and extra reviews
- Design district: exterior elevation details required4
Who to ask
Development Services Department, Development Center9
Building permits
- Phone
- (405) 297-25251
- [email protected]1
- Address
- 420 W Main St, 1st Floor, Oklahoma City, OK 731021
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.8
- Inspections
- Online (Access portal), IVR (405) 316-5656, or SelecTXT text message1
Fence permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Oklahoma City with 18 other cities on the national fence permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- Development CenterCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
- Development Services Fee Changes (Fees Changing July 1, 2025)City of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterEffective July 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Amendments, 2018 International Residential Code (City of Oklahoma City and State of Oklahoma)City of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
- Fence Permit Submittal RequirementsCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
- Voice Permits / IVR inspection codes brochureCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
- InspectionsCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
- Online Building Permit Submittal StandardsCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
- About Us (Development Center)City of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 6, 2026
- Property Owner Insurance Exemption CertificateCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026