Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-46.21bv2: Architects required for certain buildings - Code Use

Groups - Exempted buildings.

A. An architect shall be required to plan, design, and prepare

plans and specifications for the following Code Use Groups except

where specifically exempt from the provisions of the State

Architectural and Licensed Interior Designers Act. All Code Use

Groups in this section are defined by the current International

Building Code.

B. The construction, addition, or alteration of a building of

any size or occupancy in the following Code Use Groups shall be

subject to the provisions of the State Architectural and Licensed

Interior Designers Act:

1. Code Use Group I - Institutional;

2. Code Use Group R-2 - Residential, limited to dormitories,

fraternities and sororities, and monasteries and convents;

3. Code Use Group A-1 - Assembly and theaters;

4. Code Use Group A-4 - Assembly, arenas and courts;

5. Code Use Group A-5 - Assembly, bleachers and grandstands;

6. Code Use Group H – High hazard; and

7. Buildings for which the designated Code Use Group changes

are not exempt from the State Architectural and Licensed Interior

Designers Act.

C. The following shall be exempt from the provisions of the

State Architectural and Licensed Interior Designers Act; provided

that, for the purposes of this subsection, a basement is not to be

counted as a story for the purpose of counting stories of a building

for height regulations:

1. The construction, addition, or alteration of a building no

more than two stories in height and with a code-defined occupancy of

no more than fifty (50) persons for the Code Use Groups A-2 and A-3

- Assembly and Code Use Group E - Education;

2. The construction, addition, or alteration of a building no

more than two stories in height and no more than sixty-four

transient lodging units per building for the Code Use Group R1 -

Residential, including, but not limited to, hotels and motels;

3. The construction, addition, or alteration of a building no

more than two stories in height and with a gross square footage not

exceeding one hundred thousand (100,000) in the Code Use Group B -

Business;

4. The construction, addition, or alteration of a building no

more than two stories in height and with a gross square footage not

exceeding two hundred thousand (200,000) in the Code Use Group M -

Mercantile; and

5. The construction, addition, or alteration of a building no

more than two stories in height in the following Code Use Groups or

buildings:

a. Code Use Group U - Utility,

b. Code Use Group F - Factory and Industrial,

c. Code Use Group S - Storage,

d. Code Use Group R2 - Residential, including apartments

containing no more than thirty-two dwelling units or

thirty-two guest units per building,

e. Code Use Groups R3 and R4 - Residential,

f. all buildings used by a municipality, county, state,

public trust, public agency, or the federal government

with a construction value under Three Hundred Thousand

Dollars ($300,000.00),

g. incidental buildings or appurtenances associated with

paragraphs 1 through 5 of this subsection, and

h. all uninhabitable, privately owned agricultural

buildings.

D. The addition, renovation, or alteration of buildings where

the use was exempt as new construction shall remain exempt if the

Code Use Group does not change.

E. Upgrades, repairs, replacements, and changes made on

projects in Code Use Groups found in this title requiring an

architect are exempt from hiring an architect if the upgrades,

repairs, replacements, or changes do not affect the existing primary

structural, mechanical, or electrical systems, life safety systems,

fire codes, or exit passageways or egress as determined by the

applicable building official having jurisdiction.

F. Nonstructural interior construction projects in Code Use

Groups requiring an architect are exempt from hiring an architect if

f the upgrades,

repairs, replacements, or changes do not affect the existing primary

structural, mechanical, or electrical systems, life safety systems,

fire codes, or exit passageways or egress as determined by the

applicable building official having jurisdiction.

F. Nonstructural interior construction projects in Code Use

Groups requiring an architect are exempt from hiring an architect if

the services are performed by a licensed interior designer.