Permits in Plaza Towers Area, Moore, OK — Post-2013 Rebuild

The Plaza Towers area refers to the residential neighborhoods directly impacted by the May 20, 2013 Plaza Towers EF5 tornado, centered on the area where Plaza Towers Elementary School was destroyed. The school itself was rebuilt with a hardened community safe room serving the entire student population. The surrounding residential blocks were largely rebuilt between 2013 and 2018, mostly to the new Moore wind-load amendments adopted in March 2014.

New construction in this area typically includes built-in storm shelters, hurricane clips at every truss connection, garage doors rated to 135 mph, and the six-nail roof fastener pattern. Insurance carriers often require the post-2014 standards as a condition of coverage. Many homeowners who rebuilt installed integrated above-ground steel safe rooms as part of the floor plan.

Permit activity now is primarily second-decade maintenance — re-roofs, HVAC change-outs, additions to homes that were rebuilt 5-10 years ago. The wind-load amendments still apply on any new permit. Storm shelters that were not installed during the rebuild are now being added retrofit, with the discounted $25 permit fee and free Moore Fire Department registration.