City of Lawton Home >> Community Services >> License & Permits

 

 

 

 

 

License & Permits Center
212 SW 9th Street
Lawton, OK 73501-3944
580-581-3360

 

 


Welcome to the License & Permits Division. We strive to provide you with the absolute best in quality customer service, and want your contact with us to be worry-free and professional in every way. The following information has been compiled to aid you in obtaining a building permit, trade license, inspection, or information of the many other services we provide. We have also included a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section at the bottom of this page.

 

As an overview, the License & Permits Division along with the Inspection Services Division, reviews building plans, issues building permits, and conducts inspections required by the building permits. We also license or permit several types of businesses, including building contractors and trade contractors.

 

 

Current Adopted International Codes

IBC (International Building Code) - 2006 edition


IRC (International Residential Code) - 2009 edition

IPC (International Plumbing Code) - 2009 edition


IMC (International Mechanical Code) - 2009 edition


IFGC (International Fuel Gas Code) - 2009 edition


NEC (National Electrical Code) - 2008 edition


IMPC (International Property Maintenance Code) - 2006 edition

IEBC (International Existing Building Code) - 2006 edition


IFC (International Fire Code) - 2006 edition


ANSI Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
(American National Standards Institute pamphlet A117.1) As referenced in the 2006 IBC 2003 ANSI A117.1

 

(Hard copy of code books listed here can also be found at the Lawton Public Library in the reference section)

 

Related City Code Chapters

City Codes available online here

 

 

Chapter 4 Alcoholic Beverages

Chapter 6 Building Codes

Chapter 7 Business Licenses

Chapter 11 Fire Department Services

Chapter 12 Food & Food Establishments

Chapter 14 Mobile Homes

Chapter 18 Planning and Zoning

Chapter 19A-1 Stormwater Management

Chapter 19A-2 Floodplain Management

Chapter 22 Utilities

 

 

Available Applications and Handouts

(click on the name for a pdf, use the back arrow to return to this page)

 

Building Permit Application

Sign Permit Application

Contractor’s License Application

Contractor’s Workman’s Comp Affidavit

Home Builder’s Certificate

Building Permit Submittal Checklist

Fences, Sheds & Detached Garages Handout & Example

Mortgage Inspection Certificate Example

Lawton Waffle Slab City Standard

Handicap Parking Example

Handicap Restroom Example

Handicap Ramp Handout & Example

Accessory Buildings & Fences on Utility Easements Standard

 

 

Inspection Line

(580) 581-3362

 

The inspection line is an answering machine where you can leave your inspection request 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Requests called in prior to 9 am are normally same day inspections. Most requests called in after 9 am will be put on the next business day’s log. However, there are some inspection requests that are always same day inspections: inspections for the restoration of existing residential electric and/or gas service; inspections related to the pouring of concrete; inspections related to an open trench (water line, sewer line, gas line, etc.); and re-inspections.

 

Inspections are conducted on a first come first serve basis. To schedule a specific inspection time, please contact our office, (580) 581-3360, and ask to speak with an inspector in your trade. Once you and the inspector have agreed upon an inspection time, you will need to call the inspection line and formally request your inspection. Inspections that are not called in on the inspection line will not be conducted. For commercial building final inspection requests, you need to call the inspection line first and request your inspection, making sure you leave a good call back phone number. Most commercial building final inspections must be scheduled with the Fire Marshall’s Office. Once the inspector has scheduled your building final inspection with the Fire Marshall’s, he will contact you with the scheduled date and time. Commercial building final inspections can usually be scheduled within 3 business days of the request.

 

Remember: Only licensed contractors with the City of Lawton are eligible to request inspections. The only exception is if you are the property owner currently living at the residence where you are requesting an inspection AND you are the one that did the work that needs to be inspected. All property owner inspection requests must be paid for prior to the inspection being conducted. Also, the inspection line is an answering machine, so please remember to speak slowly and clearly!

 

 

Business Licenses

 

Below is a list of some of the types of businesses that we license/permit through this office. Our business license/permit does not take the place of any state or county required license/permit.

 

Alcohol/Beer Establishments

Body Piercing Parlors/Artists

Child Care Facilities

Contractor’s Licenses (Bldg, Elec, Plumb, Mech, Sign)

Firework Stands/Displays

Food Establishments

Itinerant Vendors/Solicitors/Peddlers

Pawnbrokers

Precious Metal Dealers

Secondhand Dealers

Taxicab Companies/Drivers

Tattoo Parlors/Artists

Wrecker and Towing Services

 

To obtain an application for a business license/permit, please come to our office located at 212 SW 9th Street, Lawton Oklahoma. For a complete list of the types of businesses that the City of Lawton licenses/permits or to see the regulations pertaining to the different types, see Lawton City Code Chapters 4, 7, & 12.

 

http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientID=14726&stateID=36&statename=Oklahoma

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions


Below is a list of frequently asked questions pertaining to the City of Lawton License & Permit Division. Browse through the "FAQ's" and click on the question following the "+" sign to see the answer. You can hide the answer by clicking on the question again.


+ What requires a building permit?

- Any brand new construction (If it was there at one time and is not there now or it is going to be removed to make way for the new, then a building permit is still required, this includes sheds and fences.)

Additions

Fences (new location or when new post holes are dug)

Retaining walls

Sheds (on a permanent foundation, regardless of size, or 200 sq ft or greater in size)

Driveways

Swimming Pools

Signs (permanent or temporary)

Remodels (Always call and ask first before any work begins. This is not an easy yes or no question.)

Carports

Demolitions

Change of use/occupancy of an existing building

 

For any question as to if a building permit is required or not, please call our office and ask to speak with a Plans Examiner. Questions will not cost you anything to ask, but if work is done that has to be undone, it will cost you double.

 

Please see the BUILDING PERMIT SUBMITTAL CHECKLIST HANDOUT for an abbreviated list of what requires a permit.

 

The following list of work does not require a permit, but in some cases does require an inspection:

Sheds not on a permanent foundation and under 200 sq ft in size

Fences (when new post holes are not being dug)

Water tanks supported on grade

Finish or cosmetic work

Electrical maintenance and repairs

Replacement of minor parts on gas equipment that does not alter the approval

Portable gas appliances

Steam, hot or chilled water piping

Self contained refrigeration systems with ten pound or less of refrigerant

Stopping plumbing leaks without the replacement of piping or fittings

As a general rule, if service is extended, an inspection is required.

 

+ How long does it take to get a building permit?


- The review time is based on the scope of the project. Most small residential projects can be reviewed within 1-2 business days; Larger residential projects may take up to 1 week; Most small commercial projects normally less than 1 week; Larger commercial projects normally have more than one review, first review with revision comments sent back to contractor may take up to 2 weeks. All review time is dependent on the Plans Examiner’s work load and the completion of the submittal. Projects are reviewed in the order they are submitted. Per code, we have up to 30 days to review a submittal.

+ What does a building permit cost?


- A plan review fee is due when the building permit application is dropped off with the plans for review and the building permit fee is due when the permit is picked up. For a list of the plan review fees and building permit fees see Lawton City Code Appendix A-Fees and Charges Chapter 6

http://library.municode.com/HTML/14726/level1/APXAFECH.html#TOPTITLE

 


+ Do I have to hire a contractor?

- It depends, if you own and occupy your house as your primary residence, you are not required to obtain a building contractor’s license or hire a licensed building contractor to obtain a building permit to do work at your residence; you are acting as your own building contractor. You may also do your own trade work however; all work must be done to code and inspected by the city just as if someone had been hired to do the work. If you own the house, but do not live there, you are required to obtain a building contractor’s license or hire a licensed building contractor to obtain a building permit to do work at that house. All trade work must be done by a licensed contractor in that trade, and again all work must be done to code and inspected by the city. All commercial projects require a licensed building contractor to obtain a building permit to do work at that location. The building contractor is the one responsible for the work in which a building permit is pulled. The building contractor is responsible for hiring licensed trade contractors and making sure that all the appropriate inspections get called in and passed. Note: A licensed contractor in each trade must call in inspections for that trade only.

+ Who is responsible for obtaining a building permit?

- The property owner or owner’s agent. The person who is intending on doing the work, should be the one listed as the building contractor on the building permit application. The listed building contractor must sign the building permit application accepting responsibility for the work. If you hire someone to do the work, look over your contract with them carefully to see if it specifies who is to pull the building permit and who is responsible for the work. Ultimately, the property owner is responsible for what happens on their property.

 

+ Do I have to have a Food Handlers Card?

- If you handle ANY non-prepackaged food, including ice, for public human consumption, then you are required to obtain a food handler’s card .

+ When and where are the classes to obtain a Food Handler’s Card ?


- A complete schedule of classes is available here

[Food Handler Class Schedule]

All classes are held in Room 117, the old Council Chambers, located at Wayne Gilley City Hall, 103 SW 4th Street. Lawton, Oklahoma.

 


+ What does a business license/permit cost ?

- See Lawton City Code Appendix A-Fees and Charges Chapters 4, 7, & 12

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+ How do I get an inspection to get my utilities turned on after my gas or electric meter has been removed?

- You must hire a licensed plumbing contractor for gas or licensed electrical contractor for electric to come out and look over the structure and meter base. Once his work is completed, the licensed contractor should call in and request an inspection. Once the inspection is passed, the gas or electric company should be able to replace your meter and turn on your service .

+ Can I fax or mail in my application ?

- If the building permit application and plans can be submitted legibly by fax, it is allowed, however, no review will begin until the plan review fee has been submitted. Building permit submittals are allowed to be mailed in as long as they include the application, plans, and correct plan review fee. Business licenses are allowed to be faxed in if all documents are legible, but will not be officially submitted until the license/permit fee is received. Business licenses are allowed to be mailed in as long as the license/permit fee is submitted with the application. Background checks are only allowed to be original documents with original signature.

+ Where can I get a garage sale permit?

 

- Garage sale permits are sold at the Lawton Constitution, American Classifieds, and our office. Garage sale permits cost $2.50 and may be held up to three consecutive days. No one location is allowed to have more than 4 garage sale permits in a 12 month permit and there must be at least 30 days between sales. See Lawton City Code Chapter 7-20-1 for complete regulations.

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