Metal Building Permits & Engineering

Who issues the permit?

• Inside a city, the city does. Oklahoma County only has jurisdiction outside city limits [1].
• Oklahoma City: permits are required to build any primary or accessory structure. OKC Development Center Plan Review: 405-297-2525 [3].
• Edmond: a detached garage, barn or storage building over 200 sq ft needs a permit, and detached structures need a foundation designed by a design professional such as an Oklahoma licensed engineer [4], [5].
• Unincorporated Oklahoma County: the county issues permits for structures 200 sq ft or larger [1]. Zoning questions: 405-713-1361 [1].
• Other counties and towns: call the city or county planning office for your address.

What a county application can ask for

Oklahoma County's residential checklist includes the deed, a site plan with setbacks and property lines, any access easements, and a percolation or soil test from ODEQ, plus a stormwater plan when an acre or more is disturbed [2].

Engineering and loads

Metal buildings are designed for site wind and snow loads under the building code your city has adopted; Edmond, for example, uses the 2018 IBC and IRC [5]. Ask for engineered drawings for your exact address and building, since permit offices commonly ask for them.

Slab and foundation basics

• The slab carries the building and anchors it against wind uplift.
• Thickness and reinforcement depend on the building, the loads and what you park inside.
• Plan drainage and utility runs before the pour.

We quote the slab with the building so the two are planned together.

Metal shops · Metal garages · Barndominium sizes

Sources

1. Oklahoma County Planning Commission, permits and applications
2. Oklahoma County, residential building permit requirements (PDF)
3. City of Oklahoma City, Development Center
4. City of Edmond, When is a building permit required?
5. City of Edmond, Building & Safety FAQ