Carter County does not issue building permits for unincorporated land; the state Uniform Building Code Commission lists the county as one that issues none. What the county does permit is development in mapped flood hazard areas, through the Carter County Floodplain Administration (580-223-7937), and pipeline and utility crossings of county roads, through the Board of County Commissioners. Inside Ardmore, Lone Grove and Healdton the city issues building permits, and Ratliff City’s code requires a permit from the town clerk.
What needs a county permit in Carter County?
County permit needed
- Any development in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area in unincorporated Carter County: new buildings, additions, alterations, manufactured homes, fill, grading, clearing, mining, dredging and drilling
- Oil and gas work in the floodplain, on the county’s oil and gas floodplain forms
- Pipelines and utility lines that cross, run along or bore under a county road
- New or modified septic systems, which need a DEQ Authorization to Construct
No county permit
- Building a house, barn or shop outside the floodplain on unincorporated land
- County plan review or building inspections, which the county does not provide
Carter County is not on the State Fire Marshal’s July 2026 list of local authorities that do their own plan review and inspections. Where the State Fire Marshal is the authority, its office takes inspection requests at 405-522-5005.
Who issues permits in Carter County?
The Carter County Floodplain Administration, part of the county’s Emergency Management office, administers the Flood Damage Prevention Regulations that the Board of County Commissioners adopted on July 25, 2011, keeps the flood map repository and issues floodplain development permits. Road crossings are approved by the Board of County Commissioners at its Monday meetings.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Floodplain Administration | 25 A Street NW, Suite 111, Ardmore, OK 73401; 580-223-7937; fax 580-223-8362; ccema@cartercountyok.us |
| Board of County Commissioners | 25 A Street NW, Ardmore; 580-223-8414; fax 580-223-8417 |
| E911 addressing | Carter County Administration Office, 25 A Street NW; 580-224-9006 |
| Septic systems | Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality |
Building permits town by town
Carter County has nine incorporated cities and towns. The state code commission’s jurisdiction list, the State Fire Marshal’s list of local authorities and the towns’ own codes and forms show who permits where:
| Town | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Ardmore | The City of Ardmore Community Development Department, 15 First Avenue SE (580-223-3477); see our Ardmore guide |
| Lone Grove | The City of Lone Grove, on the State Fire Marshal’s list of local authorities doing their own plan review, permitting and inspections. Its City Code (Title 11) requires building permits; Section 11-1-8 charges $0.08 per sq ft for residential new construction, remodels, demolition and relocation, $0.10 per sq ft for commercial work up to 80,000 sq ft ($0.03 above, $200 minimum), and $50 for each footing, electrical, gas, plumbing, mechanical or roofing inspection application. City office 580-657-3111 |
| Healdton | The City of Healdton: Section 8-1 of its Code of Ordinances requires a city building permit, charged at $0.025 per sq ft for homes and $0.034 per sq ft for businesses, plus $10 electrical and $10 plumbing permit charges for an electrified or plumbed home ($15 each for businesses) and $5 re-inspections; city hall 580-229-1283 |
| Ratliff City | The town clerk: Section 5-106 of the town code (March 2025 edition) requires a building permit when work changes a building’s outside appearance, costs more than $1,000 or moves a building, with the fee set by the Board of Trustees; the permit covers the first plumbing and electrical work. The state code commission list marks the town as issuing no permits. Town office 580-856-3599 |
| Dickson | The town code adopts the International building, plumbing, mechanical and fire codes and the National Electrical Code, but its building chapter sets no permit procedure or fee, and the state commission list marks Dickson as issuing no permits. Town office 580-223-5445 |
| Tatums | The state commission list marks Tatums as issuing no permits, but the town’s website lists a building permit among its forms; ask the town office, 580-856-3241 |
| Wilson, Gene Autry, Springer | Marked by the state commission list as issuing no permits; no town code or permit form is published online. Town offices: Wilson 580-668-2106, Gene Autry 580-294-3454, Springer 580-653-2500 |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Floodplain permits follow a similar split: Ardmore, Healdton, Lone Grove, Wilson and Gene Autry each have their own floodplain administrator on the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s list, and the county administrator covers unincorporated land.
Carter County permit fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Public service or pipeline road crossing permit | $750 per permit, one permit for each crossing or change of direction |
| Floodplain variance petition to the Board of County Commissioners | $25 filing fee |
The county’s floodplain permit forms and instructions do not list a permit fee. Building permit fees inside a city are set by that city, and septic fees by DEQ.
Septic, trades and utilities
On unincorporated land the county issues no electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits. A new or modified septic system needs DEQ’s site report (Form 581) and an Authorization to Construct, and DEQ or a DEQ-certified installer must inspect it before use. In the floodplain, the county requires utility lines, switches and equipment to be elevated or placed to limit flood damage, with automatic backflow devices on water and sewer connections.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Floodplain permit application
The Floodplain Development Permit Application has the owner and applicant complete Section I (owner, project address and legal description, type of structure and activity); the Floodplain Administrator then records the flood map panel, zone, base flood elevation and required elevation. Depending on the project the county may ask for:
- An Elevation Certificate for any new building in the flood hazard area, and a site plan showing the hazard area and the development
- A substantial improvement worksheet with cost documentation, when an addition or alteration equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s value
- A floodproofing certificate for a floodproofed non-residential building
- A no-rise certificate with a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis for work in the regulatory floodway
- Base flood elevation data for a subdivision of 51 or more lots or over 5 acres in Zone A or AE
How to get a Carter County floodplain permit
Inside Ardmore, Lone Grove, Healdton or Ratliff City, apply to the city or town; elsewhere use the county for floodplain and road work.
Use FEMA’s map or the county map repository at 25 A Street NW, Suite 111.
The floodplain permit is not issued until other required local, state or federal permits, such as a DEQ septic authorization, are in hand.
Mail it to Carter County FPA, fax it to 580-223-8362 or email ccema@cartercountyok.us, with the legal description.
No work may begin until the permit is issued, and the permit expires if work does not start within 6 months.
Submit the engineer’s, architect’s or surveyor’s elevation certification and obtain the Certificate of Compliance before use or occupancy.
Rather not deal with the Carter County building department?
Get a free quote →Floodplain inspections and compliance
By signing the application the owner lets the Floodplain Administrator make inspections during the project and at completion. The administrator records the as-built lowest floor elevation and issues a Certificate of Compliance; a building may not be occupied, and other development may not be used, until it is issued. Failing to provide the required elevation certification is a violation of the permit.
Carter County floodplain standards
Elevation: the county’s June 2026 permit instructions require the lowest floor of a home, including any basement, to be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. A non-residential building must meet the same height or be floodproofed against the 1% chance flood.
Manufactured homes: in Zone A or AE, the bottom of the I-beam must be at or above the base flood elevation, the home must be anchored against flotation, collapse and lateral movement, and the licensed installer must certify the installation in writing before anyone lives in it.
Road crossings: each crossing needs its own $750 permit, valid for 30 days unless the Board agrees otherwise. Applications with the deposit must reach the Commissioners’ office, Suite 101, by noon on the Thursday before the Monday meeting.
Addresses: the county E911 Addressing office provides 911 addresses across Carter County.
Oklahoma building code
Oklahoma sets statewide minimum codes (the 2024 editions since September 14, 2026) that cities enforce and may strengthen; most counties issue no building permits for unincorporated land, though a few do. Oklahoma rules
Official Carter County and Oklahoma permit resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Oklahoma Construction Industries Board: trade licences
- Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission
- Oklahoma Water Resources Board floodplain forms and guidance
- Carter County Flood Damage Prevention Regulations
- Carter County Floodplain Administration
- Carter County floodplain permit instructions (June 2026)
- Carter County Floodplain Development Permit Application
- Carter County road crossing (public service and pipeline) permit
- OUBCC list of cities, towns and counties and whether they issue permits
- State Fire Marshal list of local authorities doing plan review and inspections (July 2026)
- Healdton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8: building permit fees
- Lone Grove City Code 11-1-8: building permit fees
- Ratliff City Code of Ordinances (Municipal Code Management)
- DEQ on-site sewage (septic) permits
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Carter County permit FAQs
Does Carter County issue building permits?
No. The county issues floodplain development permits and road crossing permits, but no building permits for unincorporated land.
Do I need a permit to build a house in rural Carter County?
Not from the county unless the site is in a mapped flood hazard area, but a septic system needs a DEQ Authorization to Construct.
How high must a house in a Carter County floodplain be?
The lowest floor, including any basement, must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation, certified by an engineer, architect or land surveyor.
Which towns in Carter County issue their own building permits?
Ardmore, Lone Grove and Healdton issue city building permits, and Ratliff City’s code requires a permit from the town clerk. Healdton charges $0.025 per sq ft for a home and Lone Grove $0.08 per sq ft. The state code commission lists Wilson, Dickson, Gene Autry, Springer and Tatums as issuing none; Tatums’ website does list a building permit form.
How much is a road crossing permit?
$750 per crossing, approved by the Board of County Commissioners and valid for 30 days.
How do I submit a floodplain permit application?
Mail it to 25 A Street NW, Suite 111, Ardmore, fax it to 580-223-8362 or email ccema@cartercountyok.us.
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More Oklahoma permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Carter County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.