CAMPING

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 38, art. VI, div. 6

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-476 Camping regulations.

§ 38-476. - Camping regulations. (a) No person shall camp upon any part of the Lake Atoka Reservation, which is not specifically designated and posted as a camping area by the Utilities Director or the Chief of Police. Camping is permitted only within the areas designated for camping on the Lake Atoka Reservation. Campers are permitted on the Lake Atoka Reservoir and Reservation subject to and as provided in this division of the Code. (b) All campers are also subject to the following restrictions, regulations, conditions and prohibitions: (1) campers will also be permitted to place: (1) two tents; or (2) one recreational vehicle and one tent, at an individually established campsite. In no case shall two recreational vehicles be allowed to camp at one individually established campsite. Recreational vehicles includes pop-up trailers, travel trailers, fifth wheels and motor homes. Tents include tents, lean-to's and tepees. (2) no camping is permitted within 100 feet of a stream, river or the reservoir except as posted by the Utilities Director. (3) campers may individually select locations for campsites subject to the provisions of this section. However, the Utilities Director or the Chief of Police may establish appropriate distances between individually established campsites. The Utilities Director or the Chief of Police may require more distance between campsites and may require a camper to move the campsite, if necessary. (4) except as otherwise approved by the Utilities Director or the Chief of Police, a maximum of eight persons, including children, may camp at a campsite. Any persons beyond permitted number shall be deemed visitors to the campsite. Visitors may not remain in the campground between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (5) the maximum number of days for camping at the Lake Atoka Reservoir or Reservation is 14 consecutive days or nights and shall not exceed 14 days or nights a month. (6) no person may establish or possess more than one campsite at a time. (7) no person shall take up residence on the Lake Atoka Reservation. Taking up residence shall mean spending more than 14 consecutive days or nights on the lake reservation. (8) no person who is under 18 years of age may camp in any area of the Lake Atoka Reservoir or Reservation except when accompanied by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian must be a member of the camping party and must be physically present at the campsite. (9) campers shall be responsible and legally liable for all persons having use of their individually established campsite. Campers accept conditions "as is" and shall be responsible for any injury or loss occurring to them or on their individually established campsite. (10) camper's motor vehicles shall be parked near the campsite and so as to not impede traffic or access by others. Motor vehicles impeding traffic or access by others shall be considered unlawfully parked and are subject to removal and/or impoundment at the owner's expense. (11) the Utilities Director may make supplementary regulations needed to enhance the day-to-day operations of any designated campground. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 23451, § 7, 9-25-07)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-477 Authority of the Utilities Director and Chief of Police.

§ 38-477. - Authority of the Utilities Director and Chief of Police. (a) The Utilities Director and the Chief of Police each have the authority to issue a closure order and close any individually established campsite, any camping area and/or the entire campground. The Utilities Director and the Chief of Police may revoke any camping or campsite privileges at any time. (b) No person shall violate a closure order. Any person who violates a closure order will be a trespasser and may be required by the Utilities Director and the Chief of Police to immediately leave the Lake Atoka Reservoir and Reservation. (c) As used in this division the term " Utilities Director" shall mean the Director of Utilities Department for The City of Oklahoma City and his or her designees. As used in this division the term "Chief of Police" shall mean the Chief of Police for the City of Atoka acting in his official capacity and his designees. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 23451, § 7, 9-25-07)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-478 Violation of regulations.

§ 38-478. - Violation of regulations. In addition to any possible prosecution for criminal violations, any campers determined to be in violation of any provision of this division will be directed to leave the lake reservation by the Utilities Director or the Chief of Police. Such an order to leave shall have the same effect, as closing an individual campsite or any portion of the designated camping area, and the camper or campers directed to leave shall be deemed trespassers on the Lake Atoka Reservoir and Reservation. Trespassers shall be subject to applicable laws and law enforcement. The Utilities Director and the Chief of Police are authorized to sign complaints for trespass against persons who remain of the Lake Atoka Reservoir or Reservation after being directed to leave as provided herein. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 23451, § 7, 9-25-07)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-479 Indemnification.

§ 38-479. - Indemnification. Campers and their visitors shall utilize the lake, lake reservation and camping areas at their own risk. Campgrounds and camping areas are unattended and only periodically patrolled. Campgrounds and camping areas are primitive and as such provide no water, sewage or electricity. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-480 Parking; driving on roadways and restricted areas.

§ 38-480. - Parking; driving on roadways and restricted areas. (a) No person shall park a vehicle in violation of posted restrictions or in such manner as to impede normal or emergency traffic movement or the parking of other vehicles, or create a safety hazard, or endanger any persons, facilities or features of the environment. Vehicles parked in violation of this section are subject to removal and impoundment at the owner's expense. (b) Vehicles may only be driven on established roads. No person, except authorized employees and agents of City of Oklahoma City and City of Atoka while in the performance of their duties, shall drive vehicles off-road or within restricted areas unless specifically authorized to do so by the Utilities Director or the Chief of Police. (c) The use of vehicles in the designated camping areas and campgrounds is restricted to transporting campers to and from designated camping areas. (d) Vehicles parked in a camping area shall not extend into improved roadways. Motor vehicles unlawfully parked are subject to removal and impoundment at the owner's expense. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 23451, § 7, 9-25-07)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-481 Fires.

§ 38-481. - Fires. (a) All fires in designated camping areas and campgrounds must be in a fire pit or ring provided for that purpose. Provided however, that portable charcoal grills may be used in designated camping areas and campgrounds for the specific purpose of heating or cooking food. (b) No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire whenever the county is under a Red Flag Fire Alert as issued by the United States Forestry Services. (c) No person shall dispose of lighted materials, matches or other burning materials except in a safe manner. (d) Persons shall not leave a fire or grill unattended nor shall any person fail to completely extinguish a fire or grill before leaving the campsite, even temporarily. (e) No person shall hang propane or gas operated lantern or other flammable device on any tree or plant. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-482 Moving rocks, digging holes, etc.

§ 38-482. - Moving rocks, digging holes, etc. No person shall: (a) move or displace rock, gravel or soil, (b) dig holes or build mounds, (c) move or displace rip-rapping, (d) displace bank protection, (e) level ground, or (f) erect or construct any permanent camping or other structure or facility, unless authorized by the Utilities Director. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 23451, § 7, 9-25-07)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-483 Animals.

§ 38-483. - Animals. (a) No person shall permit any animal owned, possessed or harbored by him or her to swim, bathe, or wade in any of the waters of the Lake Atoka Reservoir or other waters on the Lake Atoka Reservation. Provided however, dogs may be in the water for the retrieval of waterfowl incidental to shooting of waterfowl in accordance with State law and local ordinances. (b) No person shall permit any animal owned, possessed or harbored by him to run at large or without lead or leash in any area designated for camping. (c) No person shall bring or allow horses, cattle or other livestock into any area designated for camping. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-484 Consumption of alcoholic beverages; special permits.

§ 38-484. - Consumption of alcoholic beverages; special permits. (a) No person shall use, possess, consume or distribute alcoholic beverages on the Lake Atoka Reservoir or Reservation except as provided in this section. (b) The Utilities Director has the authority to grant a special permit for the use, in accordance with applicable laws, of wine and beer within any area of the Lake Atoka Reservoir or Reservation. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 23451, § 7, 9-25-07; Ord. No. 23756, § 3, 12-2-08; Ord. No. 26268, § 3, 10-8-19)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-485 Refuse and waste; hazardous substances.

§ 38-485. - Refuse and waste; hazardous substances. (a) No person shall leave refuse or human waste at an individually established campsite or within a designated camping area. (b) No person shall discharge or dispose of human waste into the Lake Atoka Reservoir. (c) Self-contained sanitary facilities/receptacle may not be emptied into reservoir or on the reservation of Lake Atoka. (d) No person shall bring, use or maintain any equipment or substance, which is determined by the Utilities Director to present a hazard to water quality, persons or to the safety or security of real or personal property. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00; Ord. No. 23451, § 7, 9-25-07)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 38-486 Noise.

§ 38-486. - Noise. (a) No person shall, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., create, make, sustain, continue, or cause to be made or continued any excessive, unnecessary or unusual noise disturbance or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, within the campgrounds or camping area. (b) Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., the following acts and sounds, among others and not to exclude other such acts, are declared to be excessive or unusual noises generated at a campsite or in a designated camping area violate this section, namely: (1) horns, whistles, sirens, firearms, explosives or fireworks, sounding of horns, whistles, sirens, firearms or other such alarm or announcement device, whether manual or power-operated, or the detonation of fireworks or explosives except as required as warning of fire, natural disaster or other impending or incidental danger, or which may be required as a part of law enforcement, by emergency, or as excepted by Section 34-5 which produce a noise disturbance; (2) radios, television equipment, electronic audio equipment, musical instruments and similar devices operating or permitting the use or operation of any device designed for sound production, amplification, or reproduction, including but not limited to any radio, musical instrument, phonograph, television set, tape recorder, loud speaker, or other similar device such as to produce a noise disturbance; (3) sounds so loud as to be plainly audible 50 feet or more from such device, except as authorized by permit; (4) boisterous, belligerent, or clamorous noisemaking; and (5) shouting, carousing, singing or other prolonged noisemaking such as to produce a noise disturbance, unless and except such noise is in the urgent interest of public health, safety or welfare. (Ord. No. 21515, § 2, 6-27-00)

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_CH38PARECUAFET_ARTVIATRESE_DIV6CAFetched: 10/28/2026