Environmental Rules in Oklahoma (2026)
37 rules on the books across Oklahoma, 8 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Stormwater Management
Requirements for managing rainwater runoff on your property, including retention basins, permeable surfaces, and drainage plans.
Oklahoma: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsOklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issues statewide NPDES permits for stormwater discharges from…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Heavy RestrictionsOklahoma City regulates stormwater under Chapter 51 (Stormwater Quality Protection) and Chapter 16 (Drainage and Flood…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Heavy RestrictionsTulsa enforces comprehensive stormwater management under Title 11-A (Stormwater Management and Hazard Mitigation…
Read full rule →Broken Arrow
Some RestrictionsBroken Arrow requires a stormwater development permit before platting, site plan approval, or altering the public…
Read full rule →Edmond
Some RestrictionsEdmond funds its citywide stormwater drainage program with a monthly utility charge, $9.00 per Equivalent Service Unit…
Read full rule →Lawton
Some RestrictionsLawton City Code Section 19A-1-2-123 makes every developer or property owner responsible for controlling stormwater…
Read full rule →Midwest City
Some RestrictionsMidwest City bills every developed property a monthly stormwater charge, at least $2.42 per equivalent service unit, to…
Read full rule →Moore
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Moore, Oklahoma, an amendment to Section 302.2 of the adopted International Property Maintenance Code…
Read full rule →Norman
Some RestrictionsAny Norman facility or activity the Department of Environmental Quality regulates under the Oklahoma Pollutant…
Read full rule →Erosion Control
Rules to prevent soil erosion during construction and landscaping, including required sediment barriers and ground cover standards.
Oklahoma: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsAny construction activity in Oklahoma that disturbs one acre or more must obtain a DEQ stormwater discharge permit…
Read full rule →Lawton
Significant RestrictionsBefore grading, filling, or otherwise disturbing one acre or more of land in Lawton, a developer must obtain an Earth…
Read full rule →Broken Arrow
Some RestrictionsBroken Arrow requires an earth change permit from the city manager before any excavating, grading, regrading…
Read full rule →Edmond
Some RestrictionsDevelopers and owners building in Edmond must design, install, and maintain erosion and sediment control BMPs before…
Read full rule →Midwest City
Some RestrictionsMidwest City requires a land disturbing permit before grading, clearing or excavation on most sites, with an erosion…
Read full rule →Moore
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Moore, Oklahoma, Section 302.2.1 of the locally amended International Property Maintenance Code…
Read full rule →Norman
Some RestrictionsNorman requires vegetative cover and erosion or sedimentation control on every subdivision drainage improvement…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Some RestrictionsOklahoma City requires a site-specific permit for land disturbing activity and mandates erosion controls under City…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Some RestrictionsTulsa bars construction that leaves bare earth exposed to rain and requires sedimentation facilities to be installed…
Read full rule →Flood Zones
Building requirements for properties in FEMA flood zones, including elevation standards, flood insurance mandates, and construction limits.
Oklahoma: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsThe Oklahoma Floodplain Management Act requires every community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program…
Read full rule →Broken Arrow
Significant RestrictionsBroken Arrow requires a floodplain development permit before any construction begins in the city's mapped regulatory…
Read full rule →Edmond
Significant RestrictionsAny development inside an Edmond Area of Special Flood Hazard needs a Floodplain Development Permit from the Floodplain…
Read full rule →Lawton
Significant RestrictionsLawton requires a special flood hazard development permit and fee payment before any development occurs in a designated…
Read full rule →Norman
Significant RestrictionsNorman's FH, Flood Hazard District overlays every mapped special flood hazard area in the city. New construction…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Significant RestrictionsA floodplain activity permit is mandatory for any development inside a FEMA floodplain or within 200 feet of it, and…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Significant RestrictionsBuilding, grading, or filling in Tulsa's mapped floodway or regulatory flood plain requires a Watershed Development…
Read full rule →Midwest City
Some RestrictionsMidwest City requires a floodplain development permit before any construction or land alteration in areas of special…
Read full rule →Boat Dock Permits
Permits required to build or modify boat docks, lifts, and davits on waterfront properties, including size limits, setbacks, and environmental reviews.
Tulsa
Significant RestrictionsTulsa caps private boathouses on its Spavinaw Reservoir Area to those already permitted, charges annual rental, and can…
Read full rule →Lawton
Some RestrictionsAnyone who wants to own, lease, occupy, construct, enlarge, or remodel a boat dock, boathouse, or slip on Lake…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Some RestrictionsOKC requires a rental permit to dock a boat in a wet stall at any city-operated reservoir, issued only to the titled…
Read full rule →Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Limits on how long heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and passenger cars may idle, including bans near schools and residential areas.
Flood Elevation Requirements
FEMA NFIP minimum base flood elevation (BFE) construction standards for properties in mapped flood zones, including freeboard requirements above BFE.
Broken Arrow
Significant RestrictionsBroken Arrow requires new or substantially improved homes near the flood area to sit at least 28 inches above the…
Read full rule →Edmond
Significant RestrictionsEdmond requires two feet of freeboard: new construction and substantial improvements in a flood hazard area must have…
Read full rule →Norman
Significant RestrictionsNorman requires two feet of freeboard above base flood elevation. Every new residential and nonresidential structure in…
Read full rule →Lawton
Some RestrictionsNew construction and substantial improvements in Lawton's special flood hazard areas must elevate the lowest floor at…
Read full rule →Midwest City
Some RestrictionsMidwest City requires new and substantially improved residential structures in FEMA-mapped special flood hazard areas…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Some RestrictionsNew construction and substantial improvements in Oklahoma City's 100-year floodplain must have the lowest floor…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Some RestrictionsTulsa requires new and substantially improved buildings in flood hazard areas to sit at least one foot above the…
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