ADMINISTRATION

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 12, art. III, div. I

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-53 Generally.

§ 12-53. - Generally. The administration and enforcement of this Code shall be the responsibility of both the Chief Building Inspector and Chief Plans Examiner, who are supervised by the Development Services Director, or designated representative. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12; Ord. No. 26248, § 4, 9-24-19; Ord. No. 27534, § 3, 2-27-24, eff. 3-1-24)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-54 Appointments; Chief Building Inspector and assistants.

§ 12-54. - Appointments; Chief Building Inspector and assistants. (a) There is hereby created the title of Chief Building Inspector. (b) The Chief Building Inspector shall be a resident of the State of Oklahoma and shall have at least five years' experience in general building construction, in a municipality of 20,000 or larger population or have at least five years' experience as building inspector in a municipality of 20,000 or larger population, prior to his appointment. The Chief Building Inspector shall possess a current State building inspector license or must obtain a State of Oklahoma building inspector license within one year of the date of hire. The Chief Building Inspector shall give his/her entire time to the duties of said office and shall not be interested directly or indirectly in any way with any construction related business engaged in the construction business within the City. The Chief Building Inspector shall not perform any construction work within the City. (c) Assistant Building Inspectors, as may be necessary to carry out the duties of this office maybe assigned. Assistant Building Inspectors shall have at least five years' experience in general building construction, in a municipality of 20,000 or larger population or have at least five years' experience as a building inspector in a municipality of 20,000 or larger population. Assistant Building Inspectors shall possess a current State building inspector license or must obtain a State of Oklahoma building inspector license within one year of the date of hire. Assistant Building Inspectors shall not be interested directly or indirectly in any way with any construction related business engaged in the construction business within the City. Assistant Building Inspectors shall not perform any construction work within the City. (d) With prior approval of the Development Services Director or the Development Center Manager, the Chief Building Inspector and assistants shall be reimbursed all monies expended to obtain, renew or maintain their State building inspector license and national certification in building. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12; Ord. No. 26248, § 4, 9-24-19)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-55 Duties of Chief Building Inspector.

§ 12-55. - Duties of Chief Building Inspector. (a) The Chief Building Inspector shall be charged with the duty of enforcing all sections of this Code relating to building construction, installation, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, conversion, removal and demolition of buildings or structures and maintenance, including inspections. The Chief Building Inspector or assistants shall inspect, or reinspect as authorized in this Code, all buildings, structures and other work within the City or outside the City that is regulated by this Code, either new or existing buildings, to ensure that the terms and provisions of this Code, and any amendments are complied with in full. (b) The Chief Building Inspector shall institute by and with the advice of the Municipal Counselor, or delegated assistants, such prosecution as may be necessary against any violators of any ordinance with the enforcement for which he is charged. In the event the violation pertains to a defective building installation or structures for which a permit may or may not have been obtained by the building contractor or responsible party and the contractor or responsible party fails to commence proper corrections within 48 hours and/or complete the necessary corrections within a timely manner after receiving notice from the Chief Building Inspector or assistant, the Chief Building Inspector shall take remedial action. The Chief Building Inspector shall maintain files on building contractors violating any provisions of this Code. (c) The Chief Building Inspector shall inspect for unsafe or hazardous conditions as may be necessary for public safety relative to any building or structure used for public, educational, religious, entertainment, and commercial purposes. (1) When any building, structure or premises or any portion thereof is ordered changed for any reason, the Building Inspector shall leave attached to the building a notice showing the date of the order and a memorandum of the correction to be made, and the signature of the inspector making the order. (2) The Building Inspector, in the discharge of his duties, may enter any building or premises as provided for in Chapter 2 of this Code. (d) The Chief Building Inspector or assistant shall check the workers performing electrical, mechanical, gas, boiler and plumbing work to assure that each worker possesses a valid license and/or registration. (e) Copies of notices of violations and citations shall be filed in the office of the Chief Building Inspector. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12; Ord. No. 26248, § 4, 9-24-19)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-56 Notices and orders.

§ 12-56. - Notices and orders. The Chief Building Inspector shall issue all necessary notices or orders to remove illegal or unsafe conditions, to require necessary safeguards during construction, and to ensure compliance with all Code requirements for the safety, health, and general welfare of the public. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-57 Penalties.

§ 12-57. - Penalties. (a) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall severally, for each and every such violation, be deemed guilty of a Class "a" offense. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense. The imposition of a penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation nor permit it to continue. The application of such penalty shall not be held to prevent the removal of prohibited conditions. For any second or subsequent offense and upon proof of prior conviction, said person shall be guilty of a Class "b" offense against the City. Any person who is required by any provision of this chapter or by any other law to obtain a license or to register with a City department or official prior to engaging in conduct that is regulated by this chapter, and who fails to obtain such a license or registration, or who fails to exhibit such a license or registration upon request by a City official, shall be guilty of a Class "b" offense against the City. (b) Failure of owner to correct defects; violations; penalty. Any owner of any premises who shall fail to promptly cause any defective building, structure, or building component to be corrected after having been notified of such defect shall be deemed guilty of a violation of this chapter, and shall be subject to the penalty specified in Section 12-57(a) of this chapter. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-58 Inspections.

§ 12-58. - Inspections. The Chief Building Inspector or assistants shall make all required inspections, or may accept reports of inspections by authorized and recognized services or individuals; and all reports of such inspections shall be in writing and certified by a responsible officer of such authoritative service or by the responsible individual; or may engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual technical issues that may arise, subject to the approval of the Director of Development Services, or designated representative. After inspecting any construction work, the Building Inspector shall leave notice in the form of a sticker, tag or label attached to the building. It shall be unlawful for any person other than an Oklahoma City inspector to remove, alter or damage any sticker, tag, label or notice left by the Building Inspector. The notice shall state whether the building is approved or what corrections need to be made. No person shall in any manner conceal any portion of a building until such work has been approved. Proper conveniences such as ladders shall be provided for inspectors on work to be inspected for the firm, corporation, LLC, or individual desiring inspection. The Chief Building Inspector and assistants shall be responsible to ensure that all inspections are made as needed including, but not limited to, foundation, framing and final inspections. The building contractor or authorized representative shall call for final inspection within ten days after completion of building work performed under any building permit. No structure shall be occupied prior to the final building inspection without approval by the authority having jurisdiction. (1) Address listed on the permit must be posted on all building sites for location purposes. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-59 Inspection or plan review, no relief from responsibility.

§ 12-59. - Inspection or plan review, no relief from responsibility. Inspections and/or plan review shall not be construed to relieve or lessen the responsibility of any person, partnership, LLC, or corporation owning, operating or erecting buildings, from the minimum requirements of the Code, damage to property or injury to persons by any defect in design, materials, or workmanship therein. Nor shall the City or any agent thereof be deemed to assume any such liability by reason of the inspection and/or plan review made by the Chief, assistants and/or plan reviewer. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-60 Credentials.

§ 12-60. - Credentials. The Chief Building Inspector and assistants shall carry proper credentials, City ID, City Commission card, current State inspector license of the office for the purpose of inspecting any and all buildings, structures and premises in the performance of their duties. (Ord. No. 24439, § II, 4-3-12)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 12-61 Records.

§ 12-61. - Records. The Development Services Director, or designated representative, shall keep official records of applications received, permits and certificates issued, fees collected, reports of inspections, and notices and orders issued under this Code. Such records shall be retained as the official records as required by State law. (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_ARTIIIADEN_DIVIADFetched: 10/28/2026