New approach
From One-Size-Fits-All to Context-Driven
Planners in Oklahoma City have spent years listening to residents, neighborhoods, and stakeholders to shape a new city development code built for the future. This update is about more than rules and maps. It is about how Oklahoma City will grow, function and feel for generations to come.
The updated code recognizes that diversity by clearly defining different areas of the city and drafting the right rules in the right places. This matters because it allows development to fit its surroundings, rather than forcing every neighborhood into the same mold. It supports smarter design, better landscaping and thoughtful mixing of uses where it makes sense.
This new, contextual approach protects what residents value most:
Rural areas
Benefits from stronger environmental protections for things like septic systems and agricultural land, helping preserve country living for the long term.
Urban areas
In parts of the city, the code supports places where homes, jobs, shopping, services and recreation can exist closer together, creating more convenient, walkable and predictable neighborhoods.
This update sets the foundation for the next chapter of Oklahoma City. It ensures that growth strengthens our neighborhoods, reflects our values and leaves a positive legacy for future residents.
Parking requirements
Excessive parking requirements will be lifted, especially for commercial zones. Relieving parking requirements will spur redevelopment of small commercial sites, which can be cost-prohibitive for small business owners. Eventually, development can replace worn, hot, and oversized parking lots with new development like shopping and eating options within walking distance of your home.
Landscaping
New landscaping rules will beautify our community, create better buffers for privacy and noise reduction, improve air quality, and help combat urban heat, particularly from parking lots.
Base zoning
The new code will provide various customized “base zones” that will guide more predictable development in each given region. The regions are selected based on Land Use Typology Areas (LUTA) grouping similar regions together to designate the following regions:
Urban Core:
already zoned as a higher traffic and population region with heavily concentrated commercial and recreational sites.
Urban Medium:
many neighborhoods border business districts and the code update would plan for managed, gentle density in those transition areas between housing and commercial areas. More diverse housing types are a major emphasis for this region.
Urban Low and Suburban neighborhoods:
more options for housing and can expect “infill” projects on empty or underutilized lots.
more environmental considerations for trees, creeks, groundwater, and wildlife, with subdivision layout flexibility for rural living, and updated subdivision requirements to accommodate safe installation of septic systems.
Often, building projects must rely on Simplified Planned Unit Developments (SPUDs) to compensate for the current code that can not offer clarity for our city’s more modern needs. While the new code will eliminate the need for SPUDs in many situations, they are still available to residents as needed.
Nothing about the SPUD process will change.
The character of each neighborhood—historic single family homes, rural large-lot housing, urban apartment complexes, etc.—will be respected and protected. The code will facilitate similar developments in each given base zone.
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Past presentations
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Proposed code update
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Interactive map
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Comment or submit feedback
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Planning Department
Resources & documents
Feedback
Learn about zoning
- Watch a Video on Proposed New Zones
- Watch a Video on Zoning
- Bulk Regulations Explained slides(PDF, 6MB)
- Density Explained slides(PDF, 3MB)
