Tulsa, OK Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2018 ICC Plumbing Code
- Permit required
- before any plumbing work
- Emergency repairs
- apply next business day
- Max penalty
- $1,200 fine / 6 months
- Continuing violation
- each day a separate offense
Summary
Tulsa requires a permit before any plumbing installation, alteration or repair under its adopted 2018 ICC International Plumbing Code, with violations charged as a misdemeanor.
Any contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the code official and obtain the required permit for the work.
Exception: Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next working business day.
106.1.1 Annual Permit - Amendatory. An annual permit is a yearly permit which represents a group of individual permits for each alteration to an already existing electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing installation. The building official is authorized to issue an annual permit upon application therefor to any person, firm or corporation regularly employing one or more qualified tradespersons in the building, structure or on the premises owned or operated by the applicant for the permit.
Full Breakdown
Title 56 of the Tulsa Revised Ordinances adopts the 2018 ICC International Plumbing Code and amends its permit trigger: any contractor who wants to install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace a regulated plumbing system must first apply to the code official and get a permit before starting work. Equipment replacements or repairs needed in an emergency get a one-business-day grace period to file the application. The rule covers most buildings and structures; detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories follow Title 51, Chapter 2 instead.
Violations & Fines
Working without the required permit, or violating the code's construction-document or code-official directives, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,200 fine, up to 6 months imprisonment, or both. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to fix a leaking pipe in Tulsa?
Does the plumbing permit rule apply to my house?
What happens if I do plumbing work without a permit in Tulsa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tulsa
Compare Tulsa to another location·View the Oklahoma building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Plumbing Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle plumbing permits.