Stephens County, Oklahoma Building Permit Guide

The state’s Uniform Building Code Commission lists Stephens County as a jurisdiction that does not issue building permits, and the county is not on the State Fire Marshal’s list of local permitting authorities. Duncan, Marlow and Comanche run their own plan review, permits and inspections; unincorporated Stephens County takes part in the National Flood Insurance Program, and the state lists a county floodplain administrator for it.

Who issues permits in Stephens County?

The county has no building department. The OUBCC list gives the county’s contact as 101 S. 11th St., Room 203, Duncan (580-255-0977), and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board lists 580-255-3411 for the county floodplain administrator. Where no local building permit is required, State Fire Marshal rules (OAC 265:25-1-4(a)) require a permit from that office for all use and occupancy classifications in the International Building Code.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and septic work

There is no county trade permit. In Duncan, Marlow and Comanche the city handles trade permits and inspections, and trade contractors hold Construction Industries Board licences.

Septic systems outside city sewer service are permitted by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, which issues the Authorization to Construct; only DEQ or a DEQ-certified soil profiler may run the soil profile test.

Permit fees in Stephens County

The county charges no building permit fee because it issues none. When the State Fire Marshal is the permitting office, a building permit costs $0.20 for each square foot, with a $4 OUBCC fee added and a $104 floor. Inside a city, that city’s fees apply; Duncan, for example, charges $100 to review a floodplain development application plus a $25 permit fee and $25 per inspection.

What to submit

• Inside a city: the city’s own application; Duncan’s are online through its Land Use & Permit Applications page.
• State Fire Marshal permit: plans uploaded to the State Fire Marshal’s Accela Citizen Portal.
• Floodplain: the FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Stephens County and its incorporated areas (revised September 29, 2010) and its maps show the mapped flood areas; ask the county floodplain administrator what a rural site needs.
• Septic: DEQ application and soil profile.

How to get permits in Stephens County

Inspections in Stephens County

The county does not inspect buildings. Duncan takes inspection requests Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at 580-251-7711; Marlow and Comanche inspect work inside their limits. Buildings permitted by the State Fire Marshal are inspected by that office, and DEQ or a certified installer checks septic systems.

Local details in Stephens County

Flood insurance communities: FEMA’s flood study lists eight communities: unincorporated Stephens County (400498), Bray (400536), Comanche (405376), Duncan (400202), Empire City (400520), Loco (400521), Marlow (400203) and Velma (400447). The state’s floodplain map shows the county, Comanche, Duncan, Empire City and Marlow as participating.

Tribal trust land: the State Fire Marshal’s jurisdiction page says the tribal government, not that office, governs building on tribal trust property.

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 Stephens County and Oklahoma permit resources

• OUBCC jurisdiction list
• State Fire Marshal list of local permitting jurisdictions (July 14, 2026)
• State Fire Marshal plan reviews and building permit fees
• State Fire Marshal building permit FAQ
• FEMA Flood Insurance Study, Stephens County and incorporated areas (2010)
• OWRB floodplain management
• City of Duncan Community Development
• City of Marlow building permits
• Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission
• Oklahoma DEQ on-site sewage systems
• Oklahoma Construction Industries Board

Stephens County building permit FAQs

Does Stephens County issue building permits?

No. The Uniform Building Code Commission lists Stephens County as not issuing permits, and the county is not on the State Fire Marshal’s list of local permitting authorities.

Who issues building permits in Duncan?

Duncan’s Community Development Department at 1600 S. Highway 81 reviews and issues building permits and inspects new construction.

Which other towns permit their own work?

Marlow and Comanche are on the State Fire Marshal’s list. Bray, Central High, Empire City, Loco and Velma are listed by OUBCC as not issuing permits.

Who handles floodplain questions outside the cities?

The county floodplain administrator; the Oklahoma Water Resources Board lists 580-255-3411.

How do I get a septic permit in rural Stephens County?

Apply to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality for an Authorization to Construct; a DEQ-certified soil profiler or DEQ does the soil test.

Simplify Stephens County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Oklahoma. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Stephens County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.