Lawton building department

The City of Lawton handles building permits through two linked offices at 212 SW 9th Street. The License & Permits Division issues building permits and trade licenses. Inspection Services enforces building standards for new construction and alterations, coordinates the engineering side of land development, and inspects building and land-development work against city code and the adopted building codes. Comanche County does not issue permits for incorporated Lawton addresses, so confirm the parcel is inside city limits before applying. For more on that split, see city or county: who issues your building permit.

Applying for a Lawton permit

In 2023 Lawton moved permit submissions to an online system, the Civic Access Portal. It is the city’s self-service portal for standard building permits and licenses, and also for lake permits. The city’s Apply page also routes home occupation licenses, stormwater, earth change and fill permits, and short-term rental permits through the portal. Create an account to apply and track your submittals.

The Building Division publishes a Permits: Required Documentation Guide listing what each permit type needs. Two Lawton-specific requirements affect most new construction:

• Grading and drainage site plan: The city’s Public Works stormwater drainage policy requires residential builders to submit a site plan with the building permit application showing proposed grading and the layout of the stormwater runoff system. It must be approved before the permit is issued.
• Zoning review: The Planning Department checks building permits, development plans, and business licenses against the city’s Zoning Code and Land Use Plan.

On commercial and residential developments, the Fire Prevention Division works with the Building, Planning, and Engineering departments, so commercial projects should expect fire review alongside building review.

Contractor licensing and homeowner work

The City of Lawton issues contractor licenses for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and sign work. Two rules shape who can do the work and who can call for inspections:

• All electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work must be done by a contractor licensed in that trade.
• Only contractors licensed with the City of Lawton may request inspections. The one exception is a property owner who personally did the work being inspected under a building permit.

License applications are handled at the License & Permits office. The licensing regulations are in Lawton City Code Chapters 4, 7, and 12. Homeowners planning their own work can read more about owner-builder permits.

Scheduling inspections

Lawton uses a recorded inspection request line instead of online scheduling:

• Inspection line: (580) 581-3362. This answering machine takes requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Requests received before 9 a.m. are normally inspected the same day.
• Inspections must be called in. The city will not conduct an inspection that was not requested on the inspection line.
• Timed appointments: To set a specific time, call (580) 581-3360 and ask for an inspector in your trade. After you agree on a time, you still have to call the inspection line to formally request the inspection.

Floodplain and stormwater

If you plan to build in a designated special flood hazard area, you need a Special Flood Hazard Development Permit before the city will issue a building permit. New construction and substantial improvements in the floodplain must meet elevation requirements and FEMA rules. Under the city’s stormwater drainage policy, building pads must be graded so the lowest finished floor is at least one foot above the 100-year storm water surface elevation. A FEMA Elevation Certificate is required before the city issues a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Occupancy. Public Works also handles stormwater, earth change, and fill permits.

Appeals and materials review

Appeals of building and development decisions go to Lawton’s Building Development Appeals Board. A separate Building Materials Review Committee reviews building materials questions.

Office location and hours

The License & Permits Division and Inspection Services share the office at 212 SW 9th Street, Lawton, OK 73501:

• Phone: (580) 581-3360
• Fax: (580) 581-3479
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.