Did You Know?
Builders Must Obtain a Driveway/Sidewalk Permit
For residential structures, you are required to obtain a separate sidewalk/driveway permit for installation. Please apply for your sidewalk/driveway permit after you obtain your building permit and before you pour your driveway or sidewalk. The process is quick and simple, and the steps are as follows:
  1. Submit a Right-of-Way (ROW) Minor Construction Permit Application to the Permit Center in person or utilize our online permitting portal. Please include a site plan.
  2. Confirm the contractor has a Sidewalk and Driveway Contractor's bond with the City of Tulsa
  3. Pay the application fee of $134.20.
  4. Per City Ordinance, your application will be processed and reviewed within 15 days.
  5. After following the initial application review, City staff will notify the applicant within two-to-three business days of the status.
  6. Permit will be issued.
  7. A sub-grade inspection is required before the foundation is poured.
  8. Final inspection will take place after the concrete is poured.

Sidewalk Café and Tables & Chairs Permit Programs


The City of Tulsa encourages the formation and use of Sidewalk Cafés and Tables & Chairs to stimulate the pedestrian realm with activity. Activation of the street program strengthens the concept of the 24-hour urban core and enhances major dining locations around the city. Sidewalk Cafés and Tables & Chairs areas add vitality to the street by encouraging walking and promoting the local economy.

These programs move away from the License Agreement Process, which has previously been the only process to create a sidewalk café-like area within the public right-of-way. The City of Tulsa is now able to offer a more efficient review and permitting process through a citywide ordinance establishing the Sidewalk Café and Tables & Chairs Permit Programs.

What's the major difference between the License Agreement Process and these two permit programs? The answer is - time. The City's Planning Department will issue a permit decision within 30 days from receiving a complete application, contrary to the sometimes lengthy License Agreement process. Please note the sidewalk café areas previously approved through the License Agreement Process are automatically "grandfathered" into the new programs.

The Planning Department encourages potential applicants to review the program manual before submitting application materials. Additional information can be found online.
The City of Tulsa Offers $500,000 Loans for Environmental Cleanup of Brownfield Sites  

Anyone who has ever attended an event at the BOK Center, watched the Tulsa Drillers play at ONEOK Field, eaten a picnic lunch at Guthrie Green, or had coffee at the Mayo Hotel, has seen the first-hand benefits of the Brownfields redevelopment in Tulsa.

Many of our most popular public spaces are redeveloped, former Brownfield sites but identifying funding to clean up a contaminated property is a challenge. Through a Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) using seed money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the City of Tulsa is offering a total of $500,000 in loans to Tulsa businesses for environmental cleanup. The loans will be available through September 2018.

The RLF provides low-interest bridge loans for environmental clean-ups. Typically, these are three-year loans with interest-only monthly payments and a balloon principal repayment upon long-term financing. These funds can be used to address hazardous materials, such as asbestos, mold, lead-based paint and petroleum at contaminated sites. Through the RLF, the City has provided loans of up to $600,000 for individual environmental clean-up projects to date.

Any business or non-profit organization that owns a brownfield is eligible for funding. The applicant must be able to document that they did not cause the property contamination. 

The applicant must also have the capacity to repay the loan and provide a plan for redevelopment. Project funding is determined based on the environmental impact, public health and safety, economic development, community benefit and neighborhood revitalization.

An application for funding is available  online or by contacting the program manager at:  brownfields@cityoftulsa.org
New Business Processes
FAQ's for Our Online Permitting Self-Service Portal
Since the launch of our Permitting self-service portal, the Permitting Department has processed 8,600 permit applications. To assist our customers, the City of Tulsa has compiled the following list of Frequently Asked Questions.

In the training demonstration, it appears that a customer has to go through several pages/links to get to a Letter of Deficiency (LOD). Is there a simpler way to see the review comments?

A City Reviewer can identify LODs through these three different methods:                          
  1. E-review by directly marking the plans;
  2. Direct communication through plan review tabs; and
  3. Accessing an LOD letter in the attachment tab within each corresponding permit.
Does the system provide a mechanism that allows customers to receive a notification when City of Tulsa staff reviews or completes an action?
Currently the system only displays an update on the customer's dashboard. We are working with the software developers to determine if we can build in a feature that allows customers to receive an email notifying them of a change in status. In the meantime, Development Services staff can email applicants when reviews are complete. We also recommend that customers monitor their account dashboard frequently.

In the training demonstration, it appears that several pages/links had to be gone through to get to an LOD. Is there a way to simplify getting to the review comments?

Our City Reviewer can identify LODs through three different methods.
  1. E-review by directly marking the plans;
  2. Direct communication through plan review tabs; and
  3. An LOD letter found in the attachment tab within each corresponding permit.
Does the system provide a mechanism, which allows customers to receive a notification after City of Tulsa staff has reviewed or completed an action?
Currently, the system will only display an update on the customer's dashboard. We are working with the software developers to determine if we can build in a feature that allows customers to receive an email notifyingthem of a change in status. In the meantime, we recommend that customers monitor their account dashboard frequently.

How do I respond to deficiencies and or corrections?
After the plans have been reviewed and released you may go online to view the feedback. This involves reviewing the PDF documents and acknowledging corrections, if there are any. The guide covers reviewing corrections and recommendations that a reviewer places on your plans. Online Tutorial 

How do I upload a file in the permitting system?
Open an existing case/permit, then select the eReviews Project Details tab and verify the Allow File Upload checkbox is selected. Also, make sure the Project Status choice of Waiting for Files is selected. Once the files are selected they will appear at the bottom of the screen in a queue to be uploaded. As soon as all of the files are uploaded, select Submit for Review. For detailed instructions, please review the "How to Upload a File Tutorial."

Are Tulsa addresses uploaded from the Tulsa County Assessor's site?
Yes, addresses in the online permitting system are derived from the Tulsa County Assessor's database, which is periodically refreshed. If a new address is required, please contact Cindy Ferrendelli at (918) 596-9616, or visit the permit center at 175 E. 2nd St., 4th floor. Often, entering only the street number, pre-direction, and street name will return the best results. *When searching for an address, please avoid punctuation.

If possible, can customers have individual accounts that are controlled by one master company account?
Organizations have the option of one company registration utilized by all staff, or individual registrations, which you can add to projects at any time. The invoice will be paid by the billing contact at the time of the application and/or issuance (permit or license).

If I am working on a project for which I, or my company did not submit the application, can I gain access to monitor the progress of the project?
The applicant may add contacts at any time. Within the Customer Self-Service portal, select the active permit number to add the contact. Once you open the permit, select the contact tab, and then select and add the contact. Repeat the process for each permit needing additional contacts.  
 
How will you handle the Health Department permits in the new system?
Beginning April 30, the Permit Office will no longer accept Health Department plans for food-related projects or projects on a septic system. Applicants will be required to submit plans directly to the Health Department at 5051 S. 129th E. Ave., Tulsa Or, call (918) 595-4300.

Are project names and permit numbers listed on the receipt?
The permit number and address appear on the receipt. However, the project name is not included.

Can you link the escrow account to the new online account?
This is no longer an option with the new permitting system. Currently, it is strictly "pay as you go" by using a credit card - Visa and or MasterCard. However, escrow accounts can be refunded, or users can contact staff to request fees be paid from remaining account balances. Please call (918) 596-9656 or (918) 596-9456 for permits requiring a review.

I am trying to apply for a trade permit, but the system will not let me complete the application process - why?
Permits requiring a trade license must be applied for by the contractor who holds the license, using the contractor's login. This is a security feature that ensures only licensed contractors can apply for permits that require licenses. Other contacts (home owners, office administrators, etc.) may be added to the permit to allow others to track the permit status, pay fees, schedule inspections, etc.

I am locked out of my Citizen Self Service account. Can you reset my password?
The system will reset itself in 10 minutes. If you try to log in early, your time will be extended by the original time (10 minutes).

What happens if our company license, bond, and /or insurance expires after a permit is issued?
The system will not allow any inspections to be scheduled until the license is renewed, and/or current bonds and insurance are received and approved.

How do I know when I need to make a payment?
You will receive an email after your invoice has been created and is now ready for payment.
For additional assistance, please call Keri Fothergill at (918) 576-5527. An additional tutorial to help with City of Tulsa online permitting is available online.
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