Frequently Asked Questions

+ General Questions

+ Code Adoption by Local Jurisdictions and other Political Subdivisions

+ Technical Committee Questions

+ Report and Fee Questions

1. Can I attend an OUBCC commission meeting and address the Commission?
   Yes, the Commission provides time for the public to speak at each regularly scheduled Commission meeting.
2. When and where does the commission meet?
   The Commission generally meets monthly at the OUBCC offices, 2401 NW 23rd St., Suite 82, Oklahoma City, OK 73107.
   • COMMISSION MEETINGS SCHEDULE
3. What are the OUBCC hours of operation?
   The OUBCC is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state holidays.
4. Do members of the OUBCC decide what shall be changed in the codes and standards, make the modifications, and adopt the minimum construction standards for the State of Oklahoma based solely on their own expertise and opinions?
   No, the OUBCC determines which codes need to be adopted and puts out a call for volunteers from across the State to serve on technical committees. Volunteers are professionals in their respective trades and are appointed to the technical committee that best fits their expertise. Technical committees are tasked with reviewing particular codes and standards and making a recommendation to the Commission with any modifications or amendments deemed necessary.

1. Are municipalities or other political subdivisions required to enforce the minimum construction standards adopted by the OUBCC after they become effective in the State’s Office of Administrative Rules process?
   Yes, Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.23
   “A. The Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission shall have the power and the duty to review and adopt all building codes for residential and commercial construction to be used by all entities within this state. Codes and standards adopted by the Commission shall be the minimum standards for residential and commercial construction in this state.”
2. Can a municipality or political subdivision modify the state minimum adopted codes?
   Yes, Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.23
   “C. Municipalities and other political subdivisions shall abide by such minimum standards and requirements; provided, nothing in the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission Act shall prevent or take away from such municipalities and other political subdivisions the authority to enact and enforce requirements containing higher standards and requirements than such minimum standards and requirements.”
3. Do codes adopted by municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state remain in effect until the OUBCC adopts a more current version of any code or standard?
   Yes, Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.24
   “A. 3. Any codes adopted by state agencies, municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state prior to uniform codes being adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, pursuant to the provisions of, or rules promulgated pursuant to, the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission Act, shall be considered valid and in effect until uniform codes are adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission.”
4. If a municipality or political subdivision has already adopted a code with the same year edition, before the OUBCC adopts it, do they need to do anything to their adopted code once the OUBCC completes the adoption and the minimum construction standard goes into effect?
   Yes, the municipality or political subdivision should take immediate steps to adopt the code as adopted by the OUBCC, if their current adoption of the same code contains modifications that are less restrictive than the standards and requirements in the version adopted by the OUBCC.
5. Are all public projects required to abide by the minimum standards and requirements adopted by the OUBCC?
   Yes, Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.23(B)
   “All public projects are required to abide by the minimum standards and requirements; provided, nothing in this act shall prevent or take away from state agencies the authority to enact and enforce requirements containing higher standards and requirements than such minimum standards and requirements.”
6. Who is responsible for enforcing and interpreting the minimum codes and standards once they have been adopted?
   Local jurisdictions, municipalities, and other political subdivisions interpret and enforce the minimum codes and standards once they have been adopted. In unincorporated areas of the state the Construction Industries Board is charged with enforcing Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Fuel Gas minimum codes and standards, and the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal is charged with enforcing commercial building code.
7. What are the current adopted codes?
   Codes currently adopted by the OUBCC and their associated modifications can be found in the Codes & Rules pages group.
   
8. Where can I get a copy of the codes and standards adopted by the OUBCC?
   Through the International Code Council (ICC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA standards and the National Electric Codes. These may be ordered through your local bookstore or supply house.
9. How often are new editions of the codes and standards published?
   The ICC and NFPA update codes and standards every three (3) years.

1. Who may apply to serve on one of the OUBCC technical committees and when may they apply?
   Any citizen of the State of Oklahoma with the required expertise needed to review a particular code or standard may apply. A call for volunteers will be made in preparation for the review of each particular code or standard. Applications for volunteers to serve will be accepted once the call for volunteers has been made. When a call for volunteers is made, email notification will go out to all trade associations and those who have requested notification. The call for volunteers will also be announced on the front page of the OUBCC website.
2. Can the public have input into the changing sections of codes and standards under review by the OUBCC with the intent to be adopted through the State’s Office of Administrative Rules process as the minimum standards for residential and commercial construction in the State of Oklahoma?
   Yes, the OUBCC encourages input from the public. A public comment form is available on the OUBCC website to propose changes to codes and standards under consideration for adoption as minimum standards.
3. Who may attend and participate at a technical committee meeting?
   Anyone may attend a technical committee meeting and every effort will be made to offer the opportunity for individuals to participate in the discussion. However, only committee members are allowed to vote.

1. Are all municipalities and other political subdivisions required to report the number of permits issued and the fees collected each month to the OUBCC?
   Yes, Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.25(B)(4)
   "... Along with the deposits required by this paragraph, each state agency, municipality or other political subdivision shall also submit a report stating the total amount of funds collected and the total number of fees imposed during the preceding month. The report shall be made on computerized or manual disposition reports as provided by rule of the Commission."
   
2. What amount should be charged for each permit issued?
   Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.25(B)(2)
   "The Commission shall charge fees for building permits and renewal of such permits issued by any state agency, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state which is authorized work governed by the codes within the purview of the Commission only within the following ranges:
       For issuance of permit not to exceed $5.00
       For renewal of permit not to exceed $5.00"
   Currently the fees are set at $4.00 per permit.
   Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.25(B)(5)
   "Any state agency, municipality, or other political subdivision collecting and remitting fees may levy a fee up to fifty cents ($0.50) for every construction permit or renewal permit issued. The monies shall be deposited into an account for the sole use of the state agency, municipality or other political subdivision.”
3. Who is responsible for accounting and assuring the accuracy of the reports and payments made?
   Pursuant to 59 O.S. § 1000.25(B)(6)
   "It shall be the responsibility of the state agency, municipality or other political subdivision to account for and ensure the correctness and accuracy of payments made to the State Treasury pursuant to this title."
4. How are jurisdictions required to report?
   Jurisdictions have two options when reporting.
   Option 1: The jurisdiction may fill out a manual form and mail the report with any payments due to the agency.
   Option 2: The jurisdiction may opt to utilize the online reporting system to report their data and may either mail in a payment or pay by electronic funds transfer (EFT) through the State Treasurer's office.