FALLOUT OR TORNADO SHELTERS

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 12, art. X

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-231 Building permit.

§ 12-231. - Building permit. (a) No fallout or tornado shelter shall be constructed within the City unless a building permit has been issued by the Development Services Director or designated representative. (b) No building permit for the construction of a fallout or tornado shelter shall be issued until plans and specifications for each type shelter have been approved by a registered professional engineer or architect, and/or the Development Services Director, or designated representative, as conforming to the standards and specifications as set forth in this article. (c) A fee for the permit required for the building, erection or installation of a fallout shelter shall be paid to the City. The amount of such fee shall be as established in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-232 Flotation.

§ 12-232. - Flotation. No preshaped fallout or tornado shelter such as metal, plastic, wood, Plexiglas, etc., shall be approved unless the design is sufficient to prevent flotation when the shelter is empty and flotation force is considered to be 100 percent. Weight of earthen fill shall not be considered in reducing this flotation factor. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-233 Shelters in front yard.

§ 12-233. - Shelters in front yard. (a) All fallout or tornado shelters constructed in front yards shall be completely below established grade with the exception of one air intake pipe and hood which may extend three feet above grade, and one exhaust pipe and hood which may extend four feet above established grade. Entranceways may extend not more than one foot above established grade and shall be provided with a metal or metal-clad door. (b) All underground fallout or tornado shelters constructed in front yards shall be provided with a locking device. (c) No underground shelters constructed in front yards shall be used for any type of occupancy other than as an underground fallout or tornado shelter. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-234 Concrete compression ratio.

§ 12-234. - Concrete compression ratio. All concrete used in construction of underground fallout and tornado shelters shall have a compressive strength of not less than 3,500 pounds per square inch. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-235 Waterproofing.

§ 12-235. - Waterproofing. All fallout or tornado shelters shall be adequately waterproofed to prevent seepage. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-236 Inside dimensions of fallout shelters.

§ 12-236. - Inside dimensions of fallout shelters. All fallout shelters shall contain a minimum of 50 square feet of floor area, with an inside height of not less than six feet, three inches. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-237 Protection factor for fallout shelters.

§ 12-237. - Protection factor for fallout shelters. All fallout shelters shall have a protection factor, which is obtained by not less than 12 inches solid concrete or not less than 18 inches of compacted earth, or equivalent combination thereof. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-238 Other provisions applicable to underground fallout shelters.

§ 12-238. - Other provisions applicable to underground fallout shelters. (a) All underground fallout shelters shall be provided with a baffle wall affording at least one right angle turn into the living area. (b) All underground fallout shelters shall be constructed of sufficient mass for the shelter's designed category rating. (c) All underground fallout shelters shall be equipped with a ventilation system producing not less than five cubic feet per minute, per person, of fresh air. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH12BUCO_ARTXFATOSHFetched: 10/28/2026