GENERALLY

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 37, art. VII, div. 1

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-201 Enforcement generally.

§ 37-201. - Enforcement generally. The City Manager, the Public Works Director and the Chief of Police shall exercise constant supervision of the pipelines, meters, valves, gauges, pumps, appliances and equipment located in the streets, alleys and public places and report to the City Council all violations of this article, and all dangerous, defective or unsuitably placed pipelines, meters, valves, gauges, pumps, appliances and equipment, and guard the public at all times from the dangers incident to the erection, maintenance and operation of all pipelines, meters, valves, gauges, pumps, appliances and equipment used in connection with the sale or distribution of natural or artificial gas to consumers in the City and its environs, in, under or upon the streets, alleys or public places. (Code 1970, § 22-101; Code 1980, § 37-201)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-202 Interpretation.

§ 37-202. - Interpretation. (a) None of the provisions of this article shall be construed or operate to prevent or render unnecessary the securing of any franchise for the erection, maintenance or operation of pipelines, meters, valves, gauges, pumps, appliances and equipment in, under or upon any of the streets, alleys or public places if the pipelines and the equipment referred to herein are used in the sale or distribution of natural or artificial gas to consumers in the City and its environs nor shall any provisions or any act or proceeding conducted under this article be construed as a grant by the City of the right or privilege to use the streets, alleys or public places for the purposes provided. (b) The compensation provided by Section 37-239 for the nonfranchised use of the streets, alleys and public places shall be in lieu of damages for occupation and use, and shall be in addition to other penalties provided for in this article. (c) The City does not waive any of its rights to have the charges herein provided upheld as a tax as authorized under the City Charter. (d) This article, or any part of it, may be altered or repealed at any time, and no rights or privileges shall ever be acquired under it which may not be withdrawn, altered or modified by the City. (Code 1970, §§ 22-96, 22-103; Code 1980, § 37-202)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-203 Limitations upon rights granted.

§ 37-203. - Limitations upon rights granted. The provisions of this article or any acts and proceedings conducted under it shall not be construed as a grant by the City of the right or privilege to use the streets, alleys or public places for the purposes provided in this article, or any purpose, except for and during the annual period immediately succeeding the time fixed for payment of fees to the City and then only if such payment is actually made. (Code 1970, § 22-93; Code 1980, § 37-203)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-204 Special provisions for natural gas pipelines.

§ 37-204. - Special provisions for natural gas pipelines. All pipelines, connections and fixtures installed or used for the purpose of the transportation of natural gas shall be equivalent to the specifications of the National Gas Safety Code, adopted and approved by the United States Department of Commerce and now in force, as to thickness, weight, size, strength and general character of material, workmanship and manner of installation. All pipelines used in connection with the drilling of wells, other than gas lines and lines used for the transportation of petroleum or any of its products, shall be new lap-weld or seamless pipe and shall be equivalent to the specifications as now adopted by the American Petroleum Institute for lap-weld of Grade A seamless pipeline. All such lines shall be operated and maintained in a safe manner at all times so as to prevent all leakage or escape of their contents. (Code 1970, § 22-87(a); Code 1980, § 37-204)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-205 Pressure limitations.

§ 37-205. - Pressure limitations. Pressure in any line shall not exceed those permitted by the rules, regulations or orders of the corporation commission now in force. (Code 1970, § 22-87(c); Code 1980, § 37-205)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-206 Ditches.

§ 37-206. - Ditches. All ditches for pipelines shall be excavated in a manner that will make the smallest possible opening in the public property, provided that all ditches shall be constructed six inches wider than the outside diameter of the pipe. The minimum space between the outside diameter of pipes shall be six inches. (Code 1970, § 22-83(c); Code 1980, § 37-206)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-207 Special provisions for pipes under streets.

§ 37-207. - Special provisions for pipes under streets. On streets and alleys, all pipelines shall be buried to a minimum depth of 30 inches below the normal surface of the ground, the depth to be measured from the top of the pipe, and shall be approved by the Public Works Director. (Code 1970, § 22-87(d); Code 1980, § 37-207)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-208 Removal or change of pipe.

§ 37-208. - Removal or change of pipe. If it becomes necessary to change or remove any pipeline, the entire expense of change or removal shall be borne by the owner upon the approval of the Public Works Director or the inspector. The removal or change shall be made within five days after notice is served by the City. (Code 1970, § 22-87(e); Code 1980, § 37-208)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-209 Testing of gas pipelines and correction of defects.

§ 37-209. - Testing of gas pipelines and correction of defects. Each owner or operator of a gas pipeline other than a high-pressure line for which a permit is required under this article shall have it tested at least once every six months for the purpose of determining whether it is in safe condition and free from leaks, breaks or open spaces, and make a report of the test supported by an affidavit by the person making the test to the Public Works Director. The test may be by the stench method, electrical detection method, or any other method other than a pressure method approved by the inspector; provided that each gas pipeline at the time of its installation shall be tested by the inspector, and a report of the test shall be filed with the Public Works Director before the operation of that line. Testing periods shall end on September 15 and March 15 of each year. No person shall continue the operation of any pipeline after the termination of any testing period provided herein without having it tested and making the required report. For failure to make the test and report, or if the report discloses or it otherwise appears that any line is leaking, defective or unsafe, the inspector shall, within five days of such disclosure, or within five days after the closing of any testing period, close and shut the pipeline. (Code 1970, § 22-88; Code 1980, § 37-209)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-210 Fees for interchanging of pipelines.

§ 37-210. - Fees for interchanging of pipelines. If a pipeline covered by this article is placed in a ditch where another similarly covered pipeline is being removed and if it is not necessary to deepen the ditch and a high-pressure line is not exchanged where a low-pressure line has previously been, a fee in the amount established in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees, shall be collected; provided, however, that in a case where it is necessary to deepen the ditch and the new pipeline being placed in the ditch is a high-pressure line taking the place of a low-pressure line, an additional fee in the amount established in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees, shall be charged for the removal of the old line. (Code 1970, § 22-85; Code 1980, § 37-210)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-211 Alternative to removing pipelines under any public or City property, right-of-way, easement, or utility reserve; plugging; permit fee.

§ 37-211. - Alternative to removing pipelines under any public or City property, right-of-way, easement, or utility reserve; plugging; permit fee. (a) Abandonment and plugging. In lieu of the actual removal of a pipeline or portion thereof located underneath any public or City property, right-of-way, easement or utility reserve, the owner of a pipeline for which an abandonment permit has been applied for and issued may relinquish his ownership and abandon that portion beneath any public or City property, right-of-way, easement, or utility reserve by first, pumping the pipe full of mud, or material approved by the City Engineer, then properly disposing of any residue coming out of the pipe, and securely plugging each end of the pipe left beneath any public or City property, right-of-way, easement, or utility reserve. However, before abandoning and plugging the pipe, the owner shall file with the City Clerk, or incorporate in the application for an abandonment permit, a written transfer and assignment to the City of all his interest, possession and title in and to the abandoned pipe, and shall give 48 hours previous written notice to the Public Works Director as to when and where the owner proposes to plug the pipe. The work shall be subject to inspection and approval of the Director or his authorized representative. (b) Permit fee. Every applicant for an abandonment permit shall pay an inspection and regulation fee per rod based on the number of rods in length of pipeline to be abandoned. The amount of such fee shall be as established in Chapter 60, the General Schedule of Fees. (Code 1970, § 22-86; Code 1980, § 37-211; Ord. No. 18474, § 1, 5-27-86)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-212 Fee collection procedure.

§ 37-212. - Fee collection procedure. The taxes and fees required by this article to be paid shall be deemed a debt to the City, and upon failure to pay them the City may maintain a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the recovery and collection of the debt. (Code 1970, § 22-97; Code 1980, § 37-212)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-213 Unsafe pipeline to be shut down.

§ 37-213. - Unsafe pipeline to be shut down. If a pipeline becomes unsafe or is not maintained as provided in this article or if any of the contents escape, the person in control of the line shall immediately discontinue its use and shut off all its contents until the line is repaired. (Code 1970, § 22-87(b); Code 1980, § 37-213)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-214 Abatement of nuisances.

§ 37-214. - Abatement of nuisances. The Public Works Director, the Director of Public Services and the Chief of Police or any or all of these officers shall summarily abate or remove any of the pipelines, meters, valves, gauges, pumps, appliances and equipment declared by this article to be a nuisance immediately upon the order given by the City Council. No person shall prevent or attempt to prevent any officer or employee or agent of the City from abating or removing any such pipelines, meters, valves, gauges, pumps, appliances and equipment declared to be a nuisance or interfere with such officer, employee or agent when engaged in or attempting to engage in such work. (Code 1970, § 22-100; Code 1980, § 37-214)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 37-215 Violations.

§ 37-215. - Violations. Each day's violation of any provision of this article shall constitute a separate offense. (Code 1970, § 22-90(c); Code 1980, § 37-215)

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_CH37OIGA_ARTVIIPI_DIV1GEFetched: 10/28/2026