Lawton, OK Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 6-1-1-107(A) requires any owner or authorized agent to apply to the building official and obtain a permit before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing or changing the occupancy of a building, or before installing, altering or replacing electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems regulated by the code. The only blanket exemption is for accessory buildings not on a permanent foundation with a gross floor area under 200 square feet. Subsection A(1) lists specific improvements that also trigger the permit requirement, including new or modified fences and walls, retaining walls, concrete or asphalt flatwork like driveways and patios, and swimming pools 24 inches deep or greater.

Applications must include duplicate scaled plans showing the lot's dimensions, existing structures, and the proposed work, per subsection B, and the building official marks one copy approved or disapproved and returns it to the applicant under subsection C. Under Section 6-1-1-108, a permit for new construction or an addition expires one year after issuance, while a permit for remodeling or other work expires in 180 days; permits for repairing storm or fire damage expire in 90 days. Continuing work after a permit expires without a new application or extension is punishable as a citation under Section 1-1-119.

Owners whose structures the City Council is considering declaring dilapidated cannot obtain a new building permit until the Council rules, per Section 6-1-1-107(D). The city has adopted the 2018 International Building Code and International Residential Code by reference, and the more restrictive of the code's requirements and state statutes governs under Sections 6-1-1-100 and 6-1-1-106.