SHORT-TERM RENTAL

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, ch. 26

in effect

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, § 2600 Definitions.

Section 2600. - Definitions. A. Short-term rental defined. 1. Short-term rental (principal use). A dwelling unit which is not the primary residence of a household, in which temporary lodging in all or part of the dwelling unit is offered for compensation, limited to a maximum occupancy of eight (8) persons at any one time. 2. Short-term rental (accessory use). A dwelling unit which is the primary residence of a household, in which temporary lodging in all or part of the dwelling unit is offered for compensation, limited to a maximum occupancy of eight (8) persons—including the dwelling's residents, if present—at any one time. B. Other definitions. 1. Dwelling unit. A room or group of rooms arranged, intended, or designed as a habitable unit, containing kitchen, bath and sleeping facilities, for not more than one household living independently of any other household. 2. Household. One or more persons who inhabit a single dwelling unit, as a single housekeeping unit, that is: (1) traditionally characterized by matrimonial or parent-child relationship, provided that all such persons are related by blood, marriage, adoption, fosterage, or guardianship and no more than two (2) unrelated inhabitants are included in the housekeeping unit; or (2) predominantly characterized by voluntary associational, communal relationships, provided that no more than eight (8) inhabitants are included in the housekeeping unit. 3. Local contact person. A resident of the City or County of Tulsa (can include the Operator if a resident) to be contacted by the City regarding violations by the short-term rental property or the guests. 4. Operator. A person or entity that offers a dwelling unit or portion thereof for rent as a short-term rental. An operator may be owner of, or person authorized by the owner of the dwelling unit. 5. Temporary lodging. Rental of a dwelling unit for a period of less than thirty (30) consecutive days, where rents are charged by the day or by the week. (Ord. No. 24323, § 1, 3-11-2020)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, § 2601 License required.

Section 2601. - License required. A. No dwelling unit or portion thereof shall be rented, advertised or offered for rent as a short-term rental unless the City has first issued a short-term rental license to the operator. B. A short-term rental license shall expire June 30 of each year. Annual renewal of said license is possible upon application. Application fees shall be pro-rated for a first-time applicant that applies after July 2. C. A short-term rental license is granted to a specific operator for a specific dwelling unit or portion thereof and the license shall not be sold or otherwise transferred. A new short-term rental license is required when the dwelling unit is sold or conveyed or when the operator ceases to have a legal right to occupy the dwelling unit. D. A short-term rental license is not required for operation of a "bed and breakfast," which is a separate use category in the City of Tulsa zoning code. (Ord. No. 24323, § 1, 3-11-2020)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, § 2602 Application required.

Section 2602. - Application required. The application for a short-term rental license shall be on a form to be supplied by the Finance Department, which shall contain, at a minimum, the following information: A. Information about the dwelling unit: 1. Address. 2. Legal description. 3. Dwelling unit details (list the number and type of rooms). 4. Type of Short-Term Rental (principal use or accessory use). B. Information about the operator of the short-term rental: 1. Name, address, phone number and email address of the operator of the short-term rental. 2. Name, address, phone number and email address of the owner of the dwelling unit. 3. Written consent to the license by the owner of the dwelling unit, if the operator is not the owner. C. Information about the local contact person: 1. Name, address, phone number and email address of the local contact person. D. Information regarding the website address for any and all platforms or advertisements in which the property will be offered for rent. E. The operator and the owner of the dwelling unit shall acknowledge in writing that the short-term rental is subject to all short-term rental regulations and policies of the City of Tulsa. (Ord. No. 24323, § 1, 3-11-2020)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, § 2603 Operator's responsibilities.

Section 2603. - Operator's responsibilities. A. The operator shall include the City-issued short-term rental license number in a visible location on all material (including but not limited to print, digital, electronic) advertising a short-term rental (principal use or accessory use) or offering it for rent. B. The operator shall display the short-term rental license within the premises near the main entry in a noticeable location so that the license may be readily seen at any time by a person entering the premises. C. The operator shall cause the short-term rental to comply with the laws of the State of Oklahoma, federal laws and regulations, and the ordinances and policies of the City of Tulsa, including but not limited to Tulsa Revised Ordinances Title 24 "Nuisances", Title 42 "Zoning Code", and Title 44 "City of Tulsa Hotel Tax". D. The operator shall cause the local contact person to be available to be contacted by the City at all times, twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven days per week. Failure of the local contact person to be available at all times for contact by the City constitutes an instance of non-compliance as described in Section 2605. When the local contact person is notified by the City by phone or email that the guests at a short-term rental are violating City ordinances or policies, the local contact person shall communicate with the operator within the hour, and the operator shall immediately commence remedial action and cause the violation(s) to cease. E. The operator of a short-term rental must update information in the City's license records throughout the year regarding: (1) the websites on which the short-term rental is offered for rent; and (2) the name, address, phone number and email address of the local contact person. F. Whether the dwelling unit offered for rent is principal use, accessory use or a combination thereof, the operator shall ensure that the short-term rental does not exceed a maximum occupancy of eight (8) persons at any one time. (Ord. No. 24323, § 1, 3-11-2020)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, § 2604 Annual fees.

Section 2604. - Annual fees. A. The application for a short-term rental license or the annual renewal thereof shall be filed with the Finance Department. It shall be accompanied by a license fee of Seventy-Five Dollars ($75.00). B. At the time of application for, or renewal of, a short-term rental license, an operator shall also pay the City an annual implementation and compliance fee of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00). The implementation and compliance fee is intended to provide funding to defray costs associated with monitoring or compliance with City ordinances governing short-term rental license, short-term rental use and nuisances. (Ord. No. 24323, § 1, 3-11-2020)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, § 2605 Revocation.

Section 2605. - Revocation. A short-term rental license shall be subject to revocation by the duly authorized officer upon the occurrence during twelve consecutive months of three (3) or more instances of non-compliance by the operator or the short term rental with any ordinance or policy of the City of Tulsa, including, but not limited to, Tulsa Revised Ordinances Title 21 "Licenses" Chapter 26 "Short-Term Rental"; Title 24 "Nuisances", Title 42 "Zoning Code", and Title 44 "City of Tulsa Hotel Tax". The duly authorized officer shall mean the Mayor or the Mayor's authorized representative. The duly authorized officer shall give notice of each instance of non-compliance by personal service on or by mail to the Operator at the address given on the application or license. Notwithstanding the above, the short-term rental license may be subject to immediate revocation if the short-term rental is operated in violation of the laws of the State of Oklahoma or in violation of any federal law or regulation. The duly authorized officer shall give, by personal service or by mail to the operator at the address given on the application or license, notice of the revocation of the license. Such license shall stand revoked from the time of giving of the notice. The operator may appeal to the City Council from such decision within ten days after the giving of the notice, by filing a written notice of appeal with the City Clerk. Upon the timely filing of a notice of appeal, a hearing shall be held by City Council at its next regular meeting. Upon a preponderance of the evidence, the Council may affirm, modify or vacate the order of revocation. (Ord. No. 24323, § 1, 3-11-2020)

Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 21, § 2606 Penalty.

Section 2606. - Penalty. A. Any operator, person, firm, corporation, association, partner, manager, employee, or member thereof who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter requiring the licensing of a short-term rental, shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine, excluding costs, and/or by imprisonment in the City jail. For a first offense, the punishment shall be a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), excluding costs. For second and subsequent offenses, the punishment shall be a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), excluding costs, and/or by imprisonment in the City jail for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense. B. In addition to the criminal penalty provided herein, any operator, person, firm, corporation, association, partner, manager, employee, or member thereof who violates this chapter shall cease to operate the short-term rental until such time there is a valid short-term rental license for that dwelling unit, and the City Attorney may apply for a court order restraining the operation of the short-term rental until such time as a valid license is obtained. (Ord. No. 24323, § 1, 3-11-2020)

Source: City of Tulsa, Revised Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/tulsa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT21LI_CH26SHRMREFetched: 10/28/2026