With their low building costs, open layout and durable design, barndominiums are quickly becoming a popular choice for property owners wanting to build a home on their land. However, if you’re living in Oklahoma and want to build a barndo, you may be wondering whether it’s legal to build one, the costs of building and whether there are any reputable builders in the state.
Can You Build a Barndo in Oklahoma?
Yes, you can legally build a barndo in Oklahoma as long as you build according to the city/county regulations for the foundation and building.
Each county has its own regulations, so check with your local building department to find out more information.
If you’re hiring a reputable builder or contractor to build your barndo, they will have a thorough understanding of the local building codes. However, it’s worth taking the time to do your own research so that you come into the process well-informed.
A few important things to consider:
- Oklahoma is prone to harsh winters, so ice and snow loads should be considered
- Insulation and home positioning can help ensure that your barndo is comfortable year-round
When building any type of home – including barndos – there are some general regulations that every county will have.
Zoning Regulations
Every county has zoning regulations that dictate what types of buildings can be built in each area and how different plots of land can be used.
If you’re just starting to look for property, it’s important to check the zoning for the parcel and to ensure that it’s zoned for residential use. In addition, some counties will have requirements on the minimum lot sizes for homes, so check for that information as well.
Setback and Height Requirements
Counties also have setback and height requirements for buildings.
- Setbacks refer to how far away the building must be from the property borders. For example, the county may require that your home be at least 20 feet from the property line.
- Height requirements will limit the height of structures. For example, your county may not allow homes to be taller than 50 feet.
Make sure that you understand these requirements and consider having a surveyor come in to ensure that your home’s placement will not violate any regulations.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Barndo in Oklahoma?
The great thing about choosing to build in Oklahoma is that the cost is generally much lower than a stick-built home.
On average, costs range from $95-$110 per square foot. A traditional stick-built home, on the other hand, costs $110+ per square foot.
Of course, it’s important to remember that these costs are just for the structure itself. There are other costs that need to be considered when building a barndominium in Oklahoma.
Grading
Unless you’ve purchased a clear, level lot, there’s a good chance that you’ll need grading and excavation to prepare your property for your barndo. Even with a ready-to-build lot, work will still be needed to ensure the barndo is properly set.
The cost of site preparation can vary greatly, depending on your lot. For example, a heavily treed, sloping property will cost significantly more to prepare than a level lot with little-to-no clearing required.
Some estimates suggest that lot preparation costs $2,375 per acre, but again, it’s impossible to estimate costs without knowing your property. A grader can give you a cost estimate.
Utilities
Does the property already have electricity, Internet, water and sewer? Are these connections nearby? If not, how far will lines have to be run, and is that even feasible? These are all critical questions to ask before building because in some cases, getting utilities to a property can cost more than the home itself.
On average, it costs $37 per foot to run new power lines. If the property is a mile from the nearest line, it could cost $150,000+ to get connected. Costs may be similar for wired Internet connections if they aren’t already present.
Solar power may be an option worth exploring if conventional electricity hook-up is out of your budget. Costs can range from $15,000-$30,000 to outfit a home with solar.
If city water and sewer connections are close to your property, you may be able to connect for free. However, the cost to connect to city water/sewer is usually $500-$10,000+.
Well/Septic
If you don’t have access to city water and sewer connections, you will need to install a well and septic on your property (or some other approved alternative system).
In Oklahoma, the average cost to install a septic tank is around $6,800 for a three-bedroom home.
The cost to drill a well is harder to estimate because it depends on how deep the drilling needs to go. On average, it costs $25-$65 per foot to drill a well. Additional costs will apply for the setup of the well’s components.
Now that you better understand building regulations and costs, it’s time to start looking for barndo builders in Oklahoma.
Foundation
The cost of a foundation for your barndo can range from $8,000 to $30,000+, depending on whether you want a basem*nt. Many barndo owners go with a simple slab foundation, but it’s your home and entirely up to you and your budget.
Barndominium Builders In Oklahoma
There are several barndo builders in Oklahoma.
Greg James Designs
Address
2000 E 15th St. BLDG.300 STE.B
Edmond, OK 73013
Phone
(405) 697-2110
When it comes to Oklahoma barndominiums, there’s no better expert than Greg James. Greg actually began his career building boats down at the Texas Gulf Coast. Later, he went on to discover his love of building and now has more than three decades of experience in the industry.
Greg James Designs specializes in barndominium plans, but he also offers construction management services and home renovations.
Okie Barns
Address
2104 N. Willow Ave Ste-H
Broken Arrow, OK
Phone
918-917-OKIE
Okie Barns is one of the leading Tulsa farmhouse builders, and they specialize in barndominiums. The company offers a number of building services, including:
- Insulation
- Flooring
- Drywall
- Electrical
- Painting
- HVAC
- Kitchen cabinets
- Window insulation
They offer a number of barndo designs, but they build custom homes as well.
Wolf Barns
Address
110 W Delaware St, Tahlequah
Oklahoma 74464
Phone
800-519-WOLF
Wolf Barns are pole barn builders in Oklahoma. The company has been in business since 1980. Since then, they’ve built more than 2000 custom barns.
Wolf uses only the highest quality Galvalume metal and yellow pine lumber for their structures. While they don’t specialize in barndominiums, they do offer custom pole and barn structures.
Wolf will work closely with you to design and build a custom pole barn home that will meet your lifestyle needs and give you years of use.
Legacy Barn Co.
https://www.legacybarnco.com/
Legacy Barn Co. Specializes in post-frame building construction. Along with barndominiums, they also build horse barns, garages, hay barns, storage buildings, commercial buildings and more.
The company services Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and Kansas. They offer free consultations to discuss your dream project.
Legacy Barn Co. is family-owned and based in Tahlequah, OK. Interested buyers can fill out a form on their Contact page to get a free quote for their project. You can go the DIY route, or the company can take care of the building for you.
Buyers can sometimes take advantage of flash sales, where they can purchase barns or barndos for exceptionally low prices. They offer barns and barndos in a wide range of sizes.
Meadows Buildings
https://meadowsbuildings.net/
Meadows Buildings is based in Catoosa, OK and serves many cities in Oklahoma as well as southern Kansas and northern Texas. In addition to pole barns, they build custom homes the traditional way.
Building sizes range from 20x30x10 to 50x100x10. You can choose to build a barndo with or without concrete. Concrete includes a slab reinforced with 1/2″ rebar on 2’ centers.
Meadows Buildings offers complete construction services to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. Buyers have left glowing reviews of the company and speak highly of their team. Pole barns can be built in a matter of weeks, making the process very quick and painless.
Callahan Steel
https://callahansteel.com/
Based in rural Oklahoma, Callahan Steel has been in business for more than four decades and has served more than 1,000 customers. They offer a wide range of steel buildings, including barndominiums.
Barndos from Callahan Steel includes an all-steel frame, 26-gauge metal panels, doors, windows, porches and your choice of insulation. Steel home packages also include the concrete as well as:
- Basic trim accessories
- Skylight panels
- Rough plumbing
- Professional construction of the building
Callahan Steel is rated highly by customers, and they deliver a top-of-the-line shell that buyers can finish to make their dream barndominium.
