Short-Term Rentals Decisions in Tulsa
How short-term rentals requests are decided across Tulsa, OK council meetings, the vote and the conditions on the record
Short-Term Rentals is one of the most actively tracked zoning topics in Tulsa, OK. ZoneWire has analyzed 6 council meetings and detected 6 instances of short-term rentals activity. Below are the most recent discussions.
What is Short-Term Rental (STR)?
A dwelling rented for stays shorter than 30 days (Airbnb, Vrbo). Regulated through zoning permits, caps, and owner-occupancy rules that change frequently.
A short-term rental (STR) is a residential property rented out for brief stays - typically under 30 consecutive days - through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Unlike long-term rentals, STRs are treated by many zoning codes as a distinct land use, closer to lodging than to housing, which is why they attract dedicated ordinances.
Read full definitionShort-Term Rentals in Tulsa, OK
A dwelling rented for stays shorter than 30 days (Airbnb, Vrbo). Regulated through zoning permits, caps, and owner-occupancy rules that change frequently. In Tulsa, OK, local government bodies regularly discuss short-term rentals as part of zoning and land use decisions.
ZoneWire has analyzed 6 meetings in Tulsa and detected 6 mentions of short-term rentals, an average of 1.0 mentions per meeting.
No material zoning changes in Tulsa in the last 30 days. We monitor every Tulsa, OK meeting and surface new opportunities here as they happen.
The rules, as adopted
Verified 2026-07-21 from official sourcesTulsa allows short-term rentals by right in every zoning district — including all residential districts — but requires an annual city STR license ($75 license + $300 compliance fee, $375 total, expiring each June 30) before advertising or renting for under 30 days. Occupancy is capped at 8 persons, events are prohibited, and violations are misdemeanors up to $1,200 plus civil penalties up to $1,000 per day.
Are short-term rentals legal in Tulsa?
Yes, by right in every zoning district under Zoning Code Table 5-2 — no special exception needed (unlike bed-and-breakfasts). But each dwelling unit needs a city STR license before it is advertised or rented for periods under 30 days, and advertising without one is itself a violation.
Zoning Code (Title 42) Table 5-2, § 40.375; Title 21, Ch. 26 (Ord. 24328)
What does the license cost?
A $75 license fee plus a $300 implementation-and-compliance fee ($375 total), non-refundable. Licenses expire June 30 each year and must be renewed annually; the license number must appear in all advertising.
Title 21, § 107; Zoning Code § 40.375-A
How many guests are allowed?
Maximum 8 occupants at any one time regardless of unit size (for accessory STRs the cap includes the dwelling’s residents), and square-footage-based occupancy limits may set a lower number. Events — weddings, parties, receptions — are prohibited.
Zoning Code §§ 35.050-G.5, 45.185-A; Title 55, § 404
What taxes apply?
Properties with five or more total rooms (counting all rooms, not just bedrooms) must collect a 5% lodging tax from guests and remit it to the city monthly, due the last calendar day of the following month.
What are the penalties?
Violations are criminal misdemeanors punishable by up to $1,200 per violation, with possible civil remedial penalties up to $1,000 per day, permit withholding or revocation, and other legal remedies.
Title 21, Ch. 26 (Ords. 24323, 24328)
Not specified in the sources we verified
- The code section imposing the 5% lodging tax (the city FAQ states the rate but cites no section)
- The square-footage occupancy formula in Title 55, § 404 (referenced but not published on fetched pages)
- Any per-owner license cap or minimum-stay rule (none found on official pages)
Confirm these directly with Tulsa planning before relying on them.
Rules change at public hearings first — ZoneWire tracks every council discussion of this topic below.
Summary of adopted regulations; not legal advice. Verify current rules with the planning department.
Recent Short-Term Rentals meetings in Tulsa
Board of Adjustment - 2026-06-09
CompletedWhy Track Short-Term Rentals?
STR rules vary more between neighboring jurisdictions than almost any other land-use topic. The common regulatory levers:
Short-Term Rentals Regulations in Oklahoma
Oklahoma sets the regulatory framework that governs how short-term rentals decisions are made at the county and municipal level. State statutes define zoning authority, hearing requirements, and appeal processes that directly affect short-term rentals outcomes in Tulsa.
View all Oklahoma zoning activityEvery Short-Term Rentals decision in Tulsa
See how every short-term rentals request in Tulsa was decided: the vote, the conditions attached, and how it moved through its hearings.
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Short-Term Rentals in Other Counties
Frequently Asked Questions
A short-term rental (STR) is a residential property rented out for brief stays - typically under 30 consecutive days - through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Unlike long-term rentals, STRs are treated by many zoning codes as a distinct land use, closer to lodging than to housing, which is why they attract dedicated ordinances. ZoneWire tracks short-term rentals activity across Tulsa, OK public meetings.
ZoneWire monitors Tulsa, OK planning and council meetings, transcribes them, and flags short-term rentals activity. As of the latest update we have analyzed 6 meetings and detected 6 short-term rentals mentions.
Tracking short-term rentals in Tulsa surfaces zoning and development signals early, so developers, investors, and brokers can evaluate parcels and approvals before they reach the broader market.
The City of Tulsa Zoning Code is codified in Title 42 of the Tulsa Code of Ordinances. The current comprehensive Zoning Code was adopted November 5, 2015 and took effect January 1, 2016. It is administered by the Tulsa Planning Office and is available in full on the Tulsa Planning Office site and through the Municode Library.
Rezoning cases are heard by the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (TMAPC), a joint City-County cooperative planning commission authorized by Oklahoma Statutes Title 19, Section 863 and created in 1953 by the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County. TMAPC is a recommending body: it holds a public hearing and makes a recommendation, and the Tulsa City Council reviews and takes final action on rezoning cases within the city before permits can be obtained.
For a rezoning request, the Tulsa Planning Office mails notice to property owners within 300 feet of the subject property, publishes notice in the newspaper, and includes the case on the meeting agenda that is posted online about a week ahead of the hearing. Applicable fees include postage for mailing, any required physical postings, and the newspaper notice.
According to the Tulsa Planning Office, straight (conventional) rezoning typically takes approximately 60 to 90 days, which accounts for state-mandated notice periods, advertising, and notification of property owners within 300 feet. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) or Master Planned Development (MPD) generally takes 90 to 120 days or more, depending on the complexity of the request.
The City of Tulsa Board of Adjustment is empowered by state law to grant variances for hardships and to approve special exceptions to the zoning within its jurisdiction. It is made up of five appointed members and handles roughly 225 cases per year. Rezoning cases denied by the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council, while Board of Adjustment denials are appealed to District Court.
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Know how short-term rentals requests get decided in Tulsa, OK
Get the vote, the conditions, and how each short-term rentals request was decided, the day it lands.
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What gets approved in Tulsa
In Tulsa, 86% of land-use board decisions were approved over the last 24 months. Land use / comp-plan amendment clear 93%, Special exception / conditional use 93%. ZoneWire analyzed 298 land-use board decisions in Tulsa over the last 24 months. Here are the most active project types and how often each one clears.
| Project type | Decisions | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|
| Land use / comp-plan amendment | 54 | 93% |
| Special exception / conditional use | 44 | 93% |
| Subdivision / plat | 42 | 90% |
| Variance | 41 | 59% |
| Commercial / office / retail | 23 | 96% |
| Multifamily / attached housing | 22 | 95% |
| Industrial / warehouse | 14 | 93% |
| Mixed-use | 8 | 75% |
| Data center | 6 | 67% |
14 decisions that went against the odds
These are the denials and deferrals in categories that usually sail through, the deals worth understanding before you commit capital.
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