There is no county building permit in McIntosh County, which the state building code commission records as issuing none. The county does require a floodplain development permit for any work in the floodplain, issued by the Emergency Management director at 110 N First St., Eufaula (918-689-3441), under flood damage prevention ordinances adopted February 25, 2019. Inside Eufaula and Checotah, the city issues building permits.
Which projects need a McIntosh County permit?
Any development in the floodplain needs a county permit. The Emergency Management page names building construction, excavating, grading, drilling, road or driveway construction and storing equipment in the floodplain, and the application form adds manufactured home placement, fill, mining, and burying pipelines or cable. The county ordinances make building or altering a structure without complying a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500, up to a year in jail, or both, for each violation.
County
- Floodplain development permit, residential or commercial
- Notice of intent, inspections and variances under the floodplain ordinances
Not county permits
- Building and trade permits: the cities, and the State Fire Marshal for buildings in International Building Code occupancy classes where no local authority permits (OAC 265:25-1-4)
- Septic systems: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
- Trade licences: Construction Industries Board
Who handles permitting in McIntosh County?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | McIntosh County Emergency Management (Floodplain Administrator) |
| Address | 110 N First St., Eufaula, OK 74432 (mail: PO Box 110) |
| Phone | 918-689-3441 |
| em@mcintoshcountyok.gov | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →McIntosh County has seven incorporated places. Who issues building permits in each:
| Town | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Eufaula (city) | City Hall, 64 Memorial Dr., 918-689-2534. A city licence and permit must be in place before work starts, and a city inspector inspects all work. On the State Fire Marshal’s list since January 2, 2026. |
| Checotah (city) | City of Checotah, City Hall, 200 N. Broadway, 918-473-5411. Code section 48-29 requires a zoning clearance and building permit, issued by the designated city official at a fee set by the city council, before any building is erected, altered, moved or enlarged; section 24-144 sets floodplain fees ($100 application review, $25 permit, $25 per inspection, $25 variance filing). On the State Fire Marshal’s list since January 2, 2024. |
| Vernon | Not marked by the state building code commission as a town that issues no permits, and not on the State Fire Marshal’s list; ask the town, 918-505-8734. |
| Hanna, Hitchita, Rentiesville | Listed by the state building code commission as issuing no permits; the published sources do not say otherwise. Ask the town: Hanna 918-657-2244, Hitchita 918-466-3531, Rentiesville 918-473-1577. |
| Stidham | Not on the building code commission’s list or the State Fire Marshal’s list; the published sources do not say who permits there, so ask the town clerk. |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Permit fees in McIntosh County
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Notice of intent | Up to $25 |
| Floodplain development permit application review | $50 |
| Floodplain development permit | $35 |
| Inspection | $25 each |
| Variance request filing | $50 |
The ordinance caps the fee for any one service at $500.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New residential construction | $39 + $0.10 per sq ft |
| Residential remodel | $39 + $0.05 per sq ft |
| New commercial construction | $39 + $0.15 per sq ft |
| Commercial remodel | $39 + $0.10 per sq ft |
| Electrical, mechanical, plumbing or roofing: city licence / permit | $50 / $54 |
| Sign permit | $50 |
| Business permit | $10 |
A new 2,000 sq ft house in Eufaula therefore pays $39 + $200 = $239 for the building permit, before trade permits. The city licence for a trade is in addition to the state licence.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →The county floodplain application
The application (revised August 22, 2023) is mailed to P.O. Box 547, Eufaula, OK 74432, care of the County Treasurer, or emailed to em@mcintoshcountyok.gov. It asks for:
- The parcel number and whether the project is residential or commercial
- A description of the work with the legal description (section, township and range, or lot and block)
- The address, latitude and longitude, and the creek, lake or water body nearby, with a floodplain map attached
- The type of development: new building, addition, remodel or demolition, manufactured home, fill, excavation, storage, mining, drilling, or pipeline and cable burial
- Whether sites outside the floodplain were considered, and why they were not used
In a Special Flood Hazard Area the county also records the lowest finished floor, lowest adjacent grade and base flood elevation. In a floodway, the permit is granted only on an engineer’s study showing no adverse impact and no rise in the base flood elevation.
McIntosh County floodplain standards
- Homes: the lowest floor, including any basement, of new and substantially improved homes must be at or above the base flood elevation, certified by a registered professional engineer, architect or land surveyor.
- Commercial and industrial buildings: the lowest floor must be at or above the base flood level, or the building made watertight below it, with an engineer or architect certifying the design.
- Enclosures: enclosed areas below the lowest floor used only for parking, access or storage must let floodwater in and out automatically.
- Septic: onsite systems must be located to avoid impairment or contamination during flooding; DEQ issues the septic permit.
Rather not deal with the McIntosh County building department?
Get a free quote →How to get permits in McIntosh County
Inside Eufaula or Checotah, apply to the city; elsewhere there is no county building permit.
The county floodplain page links the flood maps and parcel lookup.
Mail it to P.O. Box 547, Eufaula, or email it to em@mcintoshcountyok.gov, with the floodplain map attached.
In a flood zone, have the floor elevation certified by an engineer, architect or land surveyor.
Get the DEQ septic permit, and on unincorporated land a State Fire Marshal permit for buildings in the International Building Code’s occupancy classes ($0.20 per square foot, $100 minimum).
Inspections in Eufaula
The city building inspector inspects every phase of the work. Call City Hall (918-689-2534) at least 48 hours ahead. A permit is valid for 12 months from issue if work starts within 6 months, every new building needs a certificate of occupancy, and permanent electric service is not released until the final and all other inspections are done.
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 McIntosh County 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
- Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission
- OUBCC list of cities, towns and counties that issue permits
- State Fire Marshal list of local plan review authorities (July 14, 2026)
- State Fire Marshal permit questions
- McIntosh County Emergency Management
- McIntosh County floodplain administrator
- McIntosh County floodplain development permit application and ordinances
- City of Eufaula permits and licenses
- City of Eufaula building permit and fee form (rev. October 2026)
- City of Checotah
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →McIntosh County permit FAQs
Does McIntosh County issue building permits?
No. The county issues floodplain development permits; building permits come from cities such as Eufaula and Checotah.
How much is a McIntosh County floodplain permit?
$50 for application review and $35 for the permit, plus $25 for each inspection; a notice of intent costs up to $25 and a variance request $50.
What elevation rule applies to homes in the McIntosh County floodplain?
The lowest floor, including any basement, must be at or above the base flood elevation, with a certification from a registered engineer, architect or land surveyor.
How much is a building permit in Eufaula?
$39 plus $0.10 per square foot for a new home, and $39 plus $0.05 per square foot for a residential remodel.
How do I book an inspection in Eufaula?
Call City Hall at 918-689-2534 at least 48 hours ahead.
Who permits septic systems?
DEQ, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, issues onsite sewage permits throughout the county.
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More Oklahoma permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about McIntosh County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.