Do you need a permit for a shed in Oklahoma City?
It depends on the project. Oklahoma City exempts some sheds from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 200 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Oklahoma City's rule“1. One-story detached accessory structures, used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (I 8.58 m2), the overall building height is 10 feet or less, and the building is not located on a permanent foundation.”1
City of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development Center, Section R105.2 as amended by OKC, exception 1
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | If a permit is required it must be issued before the structure is built or moved on site | If a permit is required it must be issued prior to any structure being built or moved on site.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 |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this area | 200 square feet | …provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (I 8.58 m2)…1 |
| Exempt up to this height | 10 feet | …the overall building height is 10 feet or less, and the building is not located on a permanent foundation.1 |
| Permanent foundation: permit required? | Yes | …the overall building height is 10 feet or less, and the building is not located on a permanent foundation.1 |
Who can apply
- Licensed contractor or the homeowner3
Shed 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum permit fee (new construction) | Minimum fee | Minimum permit fee · $55.00 · $75.00 · 60-12-9 (a)4 |
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.
Review time
Varies between days and weeks depending on workload5. This is the department's published figure, not a guarantee.
Who to ask
Development Services Department, Development Center8
Building permits
- Phone
- (405) 297-25252
- [email protected]2
- Address
- 420 W Main St, 1st Floor, Oklahoma City, OK 731022
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.7
- Inspections
- Online (Access portal), IVR (405) 316-5656, or SelecTXT text message2
Shed permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Oklahoma City with 18 other cities on the national shed permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- 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
- Development CenterCity of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterChecked November 7, 2026
- Residential Construction Submittal RequirementsCity 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
- Online Building Permit Submittal StandardsCity 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
- 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