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1. Are city tags required for my animal?

No, but City ordinance 4-421 requires that a current rabies tag be placed on your animal’s collar.

2. Can I have chickens at my residence?

No.  Ordinance 4-303 does not allow for chickens in residential areas. Only agriculturally zoned properties may have poultry. If you do not know your property’s zoning, contact Community Development at City Hall at 580-252-0250.

3. Are pit bulls automatically euthanized if impounded by Animal Control?

No, all dogs, regardless of breed type, that are impounded by Animal Control are held 72 hours.

4. How do I get my dog out of impound?

You may get your dog out of impound by providing proof of a current rabies certificate, or prepayment of rabies vaccination through a licensed vet, paying the impound and boarding fees.

5. Why can’t I buy the rabies vaccination from rural lifestyle retail stores and give the shot to my animal myself?

City ordinance 4-420 and OAC Title 310:599-3-9.1 state that a rabies vaccination can only be given by a licensed veterinarian.

6. If I have an animal problem in my neighborhood, who do I call?

You should call the police dispatch non-emergency number. Animal Control officers are dispatched through the Duncan Police Department.

7. What should I do if I lose my animal?

Animal Control has a Lost and Found number.  Please call this number and leave all your information.  Be sure to leave a description of your animal, where it was lost and a good contact number.  The Lost and Found number is 580-252-6608.

8. Is Animal Control part of the Stephens County Humane Society?

No.  City of Duncan Animal Control is separate from the Stephens County Humane Society, but Animal Control offers any dogs deemed adoptable, that are not claimed within the 72 hours hold time, to the Humane Society to be adopted.

9. Can I have a pot belly or mini pig in city limits?

No.  City ordinance 4-311 does not allow for any farm animal in residential area Only agriculturally zoned properties may have swine.  If you do not know your property’s zoning, contact Community Development at City Hall at 580-252-0250.

10. Can I have a snake?

No.  City ordinance 4-503 does not allow for anyone to own any exotic snakes, animals or wildlife.

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1. What is the Federal Emergency Management Agency?

The mission of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is to support citizens and first responders to work together by building, sustaining and improving their capacity and to prepare, protect, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards, such as tornadoes, floods, fires and acts of nature or terrorism. On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

2. What is a Floodway?

FEMA defines a floodway as a channel of a river, or other watercourse, and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood water without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height.

3. What is a floodplain, and what is a flood?

FEMA defines a floodplain as a land area that is susceptible to being inundated by flood waters from any source.

As compared to a floodplain, FEMA defines a flood as a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area, or two or more properties from overflow of inland waters, from unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source or from mudflow.

4. What is the National Flood Insurance Program?

The flood insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), a component of FEMA manages the National Flood Insurance program or NFIP.  This program has three components: 

• Identifies and maps floodplains across the nation 
• Provides flood insurance 
• Reduces flood damages through floodplain management regulations.

By the City of Duncan participating in the NFIP it makes federally backed flood insurance available for homeowners, renters and business owners.

5. What is a Flood Insurance Rate Map? What is the importance of a Special Flood Hazard Area and what are flood zones?

As part of its administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA publishes flood hazard maps, called Flood Insurance Rate Maps, FIRMs.  The purpose of a FIRM is to show areas that are subject to flooding and the risk associated with these flood hazards.

One of the important factors of a FIRM is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), which indicates the areas with a 1% or greater chance for flooding in any given year.  These areas are also referred to as a 100-year floodplain.

Another important feature is to show the elevation of the 100-year floodplain.  The floodplain elevation is called the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).  BFEs are shown on FIRMS and in profile view in the Flood Insurance Study.  This information is required for completing an Elevation Certificate, to flood proof a structure, and to determine a flood insurance premium.

There are flood zones throughout the City which are shown on the FIRM.  These zones indicate the type of floodplains within the SFHA.  The flood zones consist of Zone AE for a 100-year floodplain.  Zone X for either a 500-year floodplain or an area outside the 500-year floodplain.  Zone AO for overland sheet flow with depths of one to three feet, and Zone A for “non-studied” floodplains that have not determined a Base Flood Elevation.

6. What is the probability of flooding within a 100-year floodplain?

The term 100-year flood is misleading.  It is not the flood that will occur once every 100 years.  Rather it is a flood that has a 1% chance of being equal to or exceeding each year.  Because of this, the 100-year flood could occur more than once in a relatively short period of time.

According to FEMA.gov and the NFIP, another way to analyze the flood risk is to contemplate the odds that a 100-year flood will occur sometime during the life of a 30-year mortgage.  A structure located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), shown on a National Flood Insurance Rate Map, has a 26% chance of suffering flood damage during the term of a 30- year mortgage.  Even these numbers do not convey the true flood risk since it focuses on the larger, less frequent floods.  If the topography of a house is low enough, it may be subject to the 10- or 25-year flood.  Assuming a 30-year mortgage, it may have a 26% chance of being affected by a 100-year flood, but the probability is 96% for the structure to be affected by a 10-year flood.  mortgage. Property owners outside the 100-year floodplain are free of regulatory requirements, but not the risk.  Federally backed flood insurance is available to property owners outside the 100-year floodplain as well.  

7. Is there really a need for flood insurance?

Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.  Over the past 10 years the average flood claim in the United States has amounted to over $33,000.  Flood insurance is the best way to protect your investment from a devasting financial loss since typical homeowners’ insurance does not cover property loss from a flood.  Nearly 25% of all flood insurance claims come from moderate to low risk areas.  Flood insurance is available to homeowners, condominiums owner/renters, and commercial owners/renters.  Costs vary depending on how much insurance is purchased, what it covers, and the property’s flood risk.

8. My house is in a Floodplain? What do I need to do?

Insurance:

You need to consider purchasing floodplain insurance.  Your homeowners or renters’ insurance policy DOES NOT cover flooding.  To purchase flood insurance, contact your regular homeowner’s insurance agent.

Preparation:

Your family is at risk of flooding, which can happen quickly and without warning.  Prepare a family disaster plan for your best protection.  The American Red Cross has excellent publications in English and Spanish to help you with this process.  Your planning should include the following:

• Designating a meeting place
• Educating yourself and your children on the warning signs
• Assembling an emergency food and water supply kit
• Learning how to turn off utilities
• Arranging animal care
• Planning how to help family members and neighbors with special needs

Restrictions:

The City of Duncan requires a Floodplain Development Permit along with a building permit for remodeling, improving, expanding, or rebuilding your home, buildings, parking areas, etc. within the floodplain.  If your property is in a floodplain, all projects must be compliant with stricter rules for floodplain construction. 

9. Who has to buy Flood Insurance?

1. If you do not have a mortgage and do not live in a floodplain you are NOT required to purchase flood insurance.
2. If you do have a mortgage but do NOT live in a floodplain you are NOT required to purchase flood insurance.
3.  If you do not have a mortgage but do live in the floodplain, you are NOT required to purchase flood insurance; however, it is recommended.  Verify if the property owner currently has a flood insurance policy.  If you provide FEMA an Elevation Certificate, with technical data indicating the floodplain is below the lowest adjacent grade of the structure, your status may exempt you from being in a floodplain.
4. If you do have a mortgage and do live in a floodplain, you are affected and will be required to purchase flood insurance.  If flood waters affect any portion of your property, the whole property is declared as being in a floodplain.  If you provide FEMA an elevation Certificate and the technical data proves the floodplain will never reach your structure, you may possibly receive a reduced flood insurance rate.

10. What is a Preferred Risk Policy? Can this save property owners money?

On January 1, 2011, FEMA’s NFIP started a new flood insurance rating system called the Flood Map Modernization Program.  The purpose of this program is to help reduce the financial burden on homeowners who are placed in high-risk flood areas.   The property owner may be entitled to a reduced insurance premium for up to a 2-year period based on SFHA’s remapped on or after October 1, 2008.  This would permit the “grandfathering” of a parcel, based on conformance with a prior FIRM, indicating that it was out of the 100-year floodplain before the effective date of the new FIRM.

11. What is an elevation Certificate?

An elevation Certificate is a federal form that is completed by a licensed land surveyor or registered professional engineer to indicate the lowest adjacent grade (LAG) of the structure in relation to the BFE of the 100-year floodplain.  If the structure is above the BFE the property owner may be eligible to change flood zone classification.  The information is needed for insurance company reviews to prove that a structure is above a floodplain.  The relationship between the BFE and a structure’s lowest adjacent grade determines the flood insurance premium.  

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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

You can now make credit card payments over the phone by calling 866-224-6372. Payments may also be made via drop box at City Hall, or pay online.

2. How do I apply for a job with the City?

Applications can be downloaded from our website and submitted via email. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application form unless the advertisement specifically requests resumes.

The City of Duncan is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please be aware that the City of Duncan does not subscribe to 3rd party job sites and will not receive an application submitted to those sites.

3. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

Please call Waste Connections, LLC to report your concern.

4. How do I get a new trash can lid?

Please contact Waste Connections LLC at 580-252-1422.

5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

There is no city permit required to have a garage sale within City of Duncan limits.

6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

Please visit the Agenda Center.

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1. What happens if I received a citation for Defective Equipment?

You have forty-eight (48) hours to bring the vehicle in to the court clerk for inspection.  If the defective equipment has been corrected according to vehicle equipment standards, the court clerk can dismiss the citation without an assessment of court costs.  

If the defective equipment has been corrected according to vehicle equipment standards outside the forty-eight (48) hour time frame, upon inspection, the court clerk can dismiss the citation with an assessment of court costs.  

2. What happens if I received a citation for No or Expired Insurance?

If you plead guilty, no contest, or are found guilty of not having a current security verification form covering the vehicle you were driving at the time of the violation, the Department of Public Safety will suspend your driver's license until you have furnished them with a current security verification form, receipt of payment of the citation and paid a reinstatement fee.

If you have insurance and a set court date, verification must be provided prior to the court date or court costs will be collected.

3. Where is my citation number located?

Handwritten Citation:

If your citation looks like the one below. the citation number will be at the top right.  This citation number is 200953.        

Printed Citation:  

If your citation looks like this one, the citation number will be in the middle of your citation, just above the offense, in black, bold letters and numbers.  This citation has multiple offenses listed on it.  The citation numbers are E059362, E059363, E059364, and E059365. As notated, E059365 is a warning.

4. When can I see the Judge?

The Judge is available Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Court starts at 10:00 a.m.  You must check in for court at 9:45 a.m.  If you are late, you will not be allowed in the court room.   

5. I speak Spanish. Can someone assist me with my citation?

We will have a Spanish Interpreter available at court the last Wednesday of each month. If you need an interpreter and your court date is not scheduled for that Wednesday please call 580-251-7740 or visit us in person during regular business hours of Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM-5:30 PM.

6. What is an arraignment?

An arraignment is a court proceeding at which a defendant is formally advised of the charges against them and is asked to enter a plea to the charges. Generally, an arraignment will be a defendant’s initial appear before the judge.

7. What is a trial?

A trial is the formal examination of evidence before a judge to determine a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law.  If the city attorney cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the alleged offense, you cannot be found guilty, and the court will dismiss the citation.  

When provided a trial date, you will also receive a date to speak with the city attorney to discuss your options, to include why you should not have received the citation or conditions to keep the citation from affecting your driving record. 

8. My driver’s license was suspended. What do I do?

Find out the requirements for reinstatements or request a compliance officer from Service Oklahoma to contact you for payment through this easy to navigate self-service option by QR code or connect to the Service Oklahoma website.

Physical Locations:      

• Ardmore: Monday – Friday
• Enid: Tuesday & Thursday Only
• Lawton: Monday – Friday
• McAlester: Tuesday 10 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 2: 45 p.m.
• Muskogee: Monday 
• Tulsa: Monday – Friday
• Oklahoma City: Monday – Friday 

Phone Number: 405-425-2424 (very long wait times)

Hours of Operation may vary.  Some locations are staffed with only one Hearing Officer.  It is strongly suggested that if you must travel a lengthy distance, you may want to call ahead on that day to confirm a Driver Compliance Hearing Office will be available.  All Compliance customers are seen on a first come, first serve basis. 

9. How much is my citation?

You can find a list of the standard fines and cost (PDF) for all citations here. The fines and costs assessed are set by City Council. Upon a conviction, the Judge may impose a range of punishments set by City Council

10. Do you offer a Defensive Driving Course?

Defensive driving courses (PDF) are listed here.  The 8-hour course costs $50.00 and is certified through the State of Oklahoma.  By attending the course offered by our office, it will remove 2 points from your driving record and the completion certificate can be used to see if you qualify for a discount with your vehicle insurance.

If you would like to discuss the opportunity of a deferred sentence with the Judge to keep the citation from affecting your driving records, we do offer our Defensive Driving Course without assessing additional fees. 

11. I am unable to attend court on my scheduled date. What do I do?

You will need to contact the court, either in person or by phone, to sign and complete a continuance request. You can call us at (580) 251-7740 or email the court. Alternatively, you can come to our office during our business hours before your appearance date.  

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1. What are the basic requirements of the safety belt law?

All drivers and front seat passengers ages 13 and older must have a safety belt properly fastened about his/her body at all times while the vehicle is being operated. Children ages 12 and under are covered under the Oklahoma Mandatory Child Restraint Law.

2. What vehicles are covered by the law?

All vehicles required by Federal law to be equipped with safety belts are covered. All passengers cars manufactured after 1967 are required by Federal law to be equipped with safety belts and are covered. Vans, pickups and sport utility vehicles manufactured after 1971 are required by Federal law to be equipped with safety belts and are covered. Oklahoma law does not require safety belt use in trucks, truck-tractors, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, postal service route carrier vehicles or farm tagged vehicles used primarily for farm use. Implements of Husbandry, such as combine harvesters and various other motorized agricultural implements are also exempt from the safety belt law.

3. Why are school buses and commercial buses exempt from the Safety Belt law?

School buses and commercial buses are not required by Federal law to have safety belts because they are manufactured under a greater structural standard than passenger cars, making them stronger and much less prone to rollovers. In addition, compartmentalized seating provides enhanced protection inside the vehicle.

4. What are the penalties for a violation of the Safety Belt Law?

Drivers and front seat passengers who violate this law are subject to a fine of no more than $20, including court costs.

5. Is the Oklahoma Safety Belt Law a primary law or a secondary law?

Oklahoma has had a primary safety belt law since November 1, 1997. This means that a law enforcement officer can stop and cite a driver solely for a violation of the safety belt law.

6. Are there medical exemptions and how do I get one?

Exemptions may be requested by persons who, for medical reasons, are unable to wear a safety belt. To apply for this exemption, the person must submit a written application to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety requesting an exemption, including written verification from their physician attesting to the need for the exemption. If the request is approved, a special notation will be placed on the person's driver license to indicate the exemption from the safety belt law.

7. If a passenger isn't buckled up, who gets the ticket?

Generally, drivers are responsible for themselves and any front seat passengers under age 16. Front seat passengers age 16 and older are generally responsible for themselves.

8. How does the Mandatory Child Restraint Law differ from the Safety Belt Law?

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that children ages 12 and under are properly restrained, regardless of whether they are in the front seat or a rear seating position. Children ages 12 and under are required to ride in a safety belt, booster seat or child car seat. Children ages 5 and under are required to ride in a booster seat or child car seat.

9. My car doesn't have safety belts. Do I have to install them?

Cars manufactured after 1967 and vans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles after 1971 are required by Federal standards to have safety belts. Belts must be installed in these vehicles if the original belts have been removed or are otherwise not operational. Belts do not have to be added on older models.

10. I’m too large for my safety belt to fit around me. What should I do?

Safety belt extenders are available for most domestic vehicles for a small fee. These extenders are 10 inch lengths of webbing with buckles on both ends to fit onto the belts already in the vehicle. Take the information on the safety belt label along with your vehicle to the parts department of your local auto dealer. Extenders are generally not interchangeable, so go to a dealer for your particular vehicle. If you have trouble getting service from the dealer, check your vehicle owner's manual for a customer assistance number.

11. Does the Safety Belt Law apply to employer owned vehicles?

The Oklahoma Safety Belt Law does not recognize any difference between privately owned vehicles and employer owned vehicles. The safety belt law still applies.

12. Now that I’m pregnant, should I still wear my safety belt?

Yes, especially now! The greatest threat to the unborn child is death or serious injury to the mother, and a seat belt will help insure your survival in the event of a crash. When possible, choose a seating position with a combination lap/shoulder belt, with the lap portion low and snug on the hips beneath the baby and the shoulder belt snug and across the chest above the baby.

13. Can’t safety belts actually cause injuries?

Yes, they can cause some injuries, especially in severe crashes. These injuries are usually limited to bruises and cracked collar bones and ribs - minor injuries in comparison to what often happens without the safety belt. It is important that safety belts be worn correctly to reduce the chance that they might injure you. Lap belts should be worn as low and snug as possible on the hips, since belts that are worn high crossing the stomach can cause injuries. Shoulder belts must also be worn snugly across the chest and middle of the shoulder. Never wear a shoulder belt with more than an inch of space between your chest and the belt. 

Too much slack will allow your head to go too far forward in a front-end crash. If the shoulder belt rubs against your neck, try adjusting your seating position, the position of the seat or the seat belt height adjustment, if equipped, to get a proper fit. Cloth comfort sleeves may also be placed on the shoulder belt to make it more comfortable. Do not place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm. With the shoulder belt behind the back, your head and upper torso will be thrown forward in the event of a frontal crash. As with the belts behind the back, shoulder belts under the arm do not hold your head and upper torso back away from danger. In addition, the belt under the arm can fracture ribs and cause serious internal injuries.