Floodplain activity permit requirements.
Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 16-16
in effect§ 16-16. - Floodplain activity permit requirements.
A floodplain activity permit is required for all man-made activities occurring within the FEMA floodplain, and all man-made activities within 200 feet of the external boundary of a FEMA floodplain. All activities within the FEMA Floodplain, including Zone A or Zone AE, may require a flood study to show such activities do not cause any rise in 100-year frequency flood elevation.
The fee for the floodplain activity permit, set forth in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees, must be paid prior to issuance of the permit.
The following provisions apply to lands designated as floodprone areas. Additional review and measures are required to assure protection from flooding as set forth below:
(a) Special review of building permits or development, including subdivisions, in floodprone areas. A floodplain activity permit is required for development within 200 feet of the external boundaries of the delineated floodplain for that watercourse as shown on the official floodplain maps or an area deemed floodprone by the City Engineer. No floodplain activity permit, if any, will be issued for new development or for the start of new construction or for expansion or additional construction to existing buildings or structures or for any residential or nonresidential structure or any bridges or any accessory building including manufactured homes unless the application for floodplain activity permit is submitted and accompanied by the following information for review:
(1) Plans submitted pursuant to the DCM drawn to scale showing the nature, location, dimensions, grade, and elevation of the lot, existing or proposed buildings and structures, fill, storage of materials, floodproofing measures, and the relationship of the above to the location, grade, elevation, and location of the channel.
(2) A typical valley cross section showing the channel of the stream, grade and elevation of land areas adjoining each side of the channel, and cross-sectional areas to be occupied by the proposed development and high-water information.
(3) When a flood study is required for the Floodplain activity permit application, hydraulic analysis and models performed in the flood study shall cover a minimum of 300 feet upstream and downstream from the property limits unless approved by the City Engineer.
(4) Specifications for building construction and materials, floodproofing, filling, dredging, grading, channel improvements, storage of materials, water supply and sanitary facilities.
(5) Copies of all other permits required by State or Federal law, including but not limited to Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 USC 1334.
(6) Plans and/or specifications demonstrating that construction will incorporate methods and practices that minimize flood damage to upstream and downstream property owners and that material resistant to flood damage will be used for all new construction and substantial improvements.
(7) Any other plans, surveys, grades, elevations, calculations, or computer studies that may be required by the City Engineer deemed necessary to determine the impact on and of the proposed development or building activity.
(8) Buildings or structures located within the limits of the FEMA Floodplain are required to provide a FEMA Elevation Certificate upon completion of the building or structure.
(9) Buildings or structures located within 200 feet of the FEMA Floodplain Boundary are required to provide a surveyor's certificate prior to the issuance of the second part of the building permit.
(10) When floodway data has been provided by FEMA, the following control measures and restrictions will apply: The designation of the floodway by FEMA, shall be based on the principle that the area chosen for the floodway be designated to carry the waters of the 100-year frequency flood without increasing the water surface elevation of that flood by more than one foot at any point.
(11) No structure, building, improvement, or development, whether temporary or permanent, may be constructed in the floodway, nor may any obstruction, fill or storage of goods, materials or equipment be permitted within the floodway.
(12) Existing nonconforming uses in the floodway may not be expanded, but a floodway may be modified, altered, or repaired to incorporate floodproofing measures, provided such measures do not raise the level of the 100-year frequency flood with the appropriate FEMA permits and approvals.
(13) An exception to Subsections (a)(10) through (a)(12) above may be made solely for oil and gas drilling operations performed within the floodways of the North Canadian and South Canadian Rivers, provided the following special requirements are met:
a. A special permit, not to exceed 120 days in duration, is required from the City Engineer prior to commencement of such operations. A separate permit is required for every drilling operation and for each subsequent periodic drilling or maintenance operation performed on each well.
b. All permanent well structures or appurtenances must be elevated to a minimum of one foot above the 100-year frequency flood elevation and located outside the limits of the floodway. A permanent completed well head may remain within the floodway, provided that the well head is located in a reinforced concrete vault constructed completely below ground with a protective cover so that no portion of the structure extends above the elevation of the natural ground surrounding the well site that existed prior to construction.
c. Any fill placed for access road construction or site leveling may not exceed six inches in height above the existing natural ground elevation. Prior to issuance of the permit, complete hydraulic calculations must be provided by the permit applicant to demonstrate that no increase in flood elevations will occur due to the proposed fill.
d. Well site construction and drilling operations must be accomplished in a manner which will allow all facilities, equipment, and materials to be dismantled, secured and/or evacuated from the floodway within a two-day time period during anticipated high waters.
(Ord. No. 27691, § 2, 9-24-24)
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_CH16DRFLCO_S16-16FLACPEREFetched: 10/28/2026