Oklahoma City ADU permit requirements
Last reviewed: June 22, 2026
Quick answer
Permitting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma means pulling a building permit from the local authority that issues it. ArchPermit tracks 14 source-cited requirements (9 required, the rest conditional) for this jurisdiction. Submittals go through OKC Citizen Access (Accela). These requirements were last reviewed June 22, 2026; confirm the exact forms and fees with the local permitting authority.
A source-cited checklist of what an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) permit package needs in Oklahoma City. Every item links to its authoritative source; items that vary are flagged to confirm locally.
ADUs are a CONDITIONAL use (Ordinance 27,847 / § 59-9350.2.1) — not by-right — allowed only where (A) the site is in the Urban Medium (UM) or Urban High (UH) planokc Land Use Typology Area AND (B) the site is zoned R-1, or is zoned NC/R-2/R-3/R-4 and occupied by a single-family structure. Prohibited in a Historic Landmark Overlay (HL/HP) and in SPUD/PUDs where the ADU use wasn't permitted. One ADU per parcel, ≤950 sf, and it cannot be sold separately. A building permit is required; a detached ADU is submitted under the Residential New Construction checklist. Owner-occupancy attaches only if the ADU is used as a home-share/short-term rental (which needs a Board of Adjustment Special Exception + Home Sharing License). A temporary neighbor-notice sign must be posted within 30 days of filing.
- Building Permit Applicationrequired
Property address & legal description, owner/applicant contact, estimated cost, and floor area (ADU must be ≤950 sf), submitted via OKC Citizen Access.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Exterior Elevation Detailsrequired
Elevations showing materials, color, and style (ADU materials must meet the residential codes + district design standards).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Floor Plans (dimensioned)required
Walls, rooms, doors/windows with dimensions; cabinetry; fixtures; hot-water tank; and smoke + combo smoke/CO detector placement.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Footing & Foundation Plansrequired
Footing/foundation plans and details.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Licensed Contractor (insured) or Notarized Homeowner Exemptionrequired
A licensed, insured contractor must submit — unless the homeowner builds it and files a notarized homeowner insurance-exemption form.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - PDF Formatting / Plan-Set Standardsrequired
Flattened/compressed PDF (Acrobat v9+), prescribed file naming, ≤100 MB, bookmarks per sheet, index, cover/page stamp space, drawn to scale.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Site Plan (to scale, dimensioned)required
Dimensioned property lines, easements, right-of-way, north arrow; proposed ADU location with distances to each property line (rear-yard placement + zoning setbacks).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Temporary Neighbor-Notice Signrequired
The owner posts a temporary sign (address, permit #, Citizen Access QR/URL) within 30 days of filing, kept until the Certificate of Occupancy issues (§ 59-9350.2.1.M).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Water & Wastewater Connection Approval (Utilities Dept.)required
The ADU must have water/wastewater connections as approved by the OKC Utilities Department (§ 59-9350.2.1.H).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Flood Elevationconditional
Required if located within/near flood-prone areas.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Oklahoma-Licensed Engineer Designconditional
Required for pier/grade-beam or post-tension foundations, structural members spanning over 30 ft, or rated wall assemblies.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Portal-Frame / Braced-Wall-Line Drawingsconditional
Portal frames at bay windows/garage doors and braced-wall-line drawings when required.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Special Exception + Home Sharing License (STR only)conditional
Only if the ADU will be a home-share/short-term rental: a Board of Adjustment Special Exception (mailed notice + public hearing) and a Home Sharing License, separate from the building permit.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Well/Septic Location + DEQ Perc Testconditional
Required where the lot is served by well/septic — show the well & septic location and provide the Oklahoma DEQ percolation test.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22