Breaking a Lease in Oklahoma

Oklahoma rules on breaking a lease for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.

Short answer: A victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking may end a lease without penalty by giving the landlord written notice and a protective order within 30 days of the incident, unless the landlord waives that time limit. 41 O.S. § 111(F); 41 O.S. § 113.3

The rules in Oklahoma

Ending a lease: domestic violence	A victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking may end a lease without penalty by giving the landlord written notice and a protective order within 30 days of the incident, unless the landlord waives that time limit. A landlord may not deny, refuse to renew, or end a tenancy because the applicant, tenant, or a household member is a victim or alleged victim, with or without a protective order. A landlord also may not refuse to rent to, or retaliate against, someone because they previously ended a lease as a victim. Both added by Laws 2021, SB 200, effective Nov. 1, 2021. § 113.3: https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=489296. The statute does not say how much rent, if any, is owed after notice. A protective order is required documentation. Source: 41 O.S. § 111(F); 41 O.S. § 113.3
Ending a lease: military, medical, death	Title 41 has no state-law early termination right for military service (beyond federal SCRA), medical reasons, disability, seniors, or tenant death. For a deceased sole tenant, § 130.1 covers only handling of property and refund of the deposit to the designated contact. Title 44 (military) was not searched for a lease-termination provision. Source: 41 O.S. §§ 101-136; 41 O.S. § 130.1

Ending a lease: domestic violence

A victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking may end a lease without penalty by giving the landlord written notice and a protective order within 30 days of the incident, unless the landlord waives that time limit. A landlord may not deny, refuse to renew, or end a tenancy because the applicant, tenant, or a household member is a victim or alleged victim, with or without a protective order. A landlord also may not refuse to rent to, or retaliate against, someone because they previously ended a lease as a victim.

Both added by Laws 2021, SB 200, effective Nov. 1, 2021. § 113.3: https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=489296. The statute does not say how much rent, if any, is owed after notice. A protective order is required documentation.

Source: 41 O.S. § 111(F); 41 O.S. § 113.3

Ending a lease: military, medical, death

Title 41 has no state-law early termination right for military service (beyond federal SCRA), medical reasons, disability, seniors, or tenant death. For a deceased sole tenant, § 130.1 covers only handling of property and refund of the deposit to the designated contact.

Title 44 (military) was not searched for a lease-termination provision.

Source: 41 O.S. §§ 101-136; 41 O.S. § 130.1

Oklahoma vs. neighboring states

Breaking a Lease: Oklahoma vs. neighboring states
State	Ending a lease: domestic violence	Ending a lease: military, medical, death
Oklahoma	A victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking may end a lease without penalty by giving the landlord written notice and a protective order within 30 days of the incident, unless the landlord waives that time limit. A landlord may not deny, refuse to renew, or end a tenancy because the applicant, tenant, or a household member is a victim or alleged victim, with or without a protective order. A landlord also may not refuse to rent to, or retaliate against, someone because they previously ended a lease as a victim. 41 O.S. § 111(F); 41 O.S. § 113.3	Title 41 has no state-law early termination right for military service (beyond federal SCRA), medical reasons, disability, seniors, or tenant death. For a deceased sole tenant, § 130.1 covers only handling of property and refund of the deposit to the designated contact. 41 O.S. §§ 101-136; 41 O.S. § 130.1
Arkansas	No statutory right to end a lease early. Ark. Code § 18-16-112 protects victims of domestic abuse whose status is documented by a court order. A landlord may not terminate, refuse to renew, refuse to lease, or retaliate because of the tenant's or a household member's victim status. With the landlord's prior consent and at the tenant's expense, the locks may be changed, and the new key must go to the other party. The landlord may evict the abuser. The statute does not let the victim end the lease or escape liability for rent. Ark. Code § 18-16-112	Not verified yet
Colorado	A tenant who is a victim-survivor of domestic violence, domestic abuse, stalking, or unlawful sexual behavior may end the lease and move out because of fear of imminent danger to themselves or their children. The tenant, or a qualified third party, notifies the landlord in writing and provides at least one of: a self-attestation affidavit; a letter from a qualified third party such as an advocate, attorney, social worker, medical or mental health provider, or faith leader; a police report from the prior 120 days; or a valid protection or restraining order. Nothing more may be required. If documentation is missing, the tenant must provide it within 7 days of the landlord's written request. The tenant owes at most one month's rent, and only if the landlord gives the tenant a written statement of actual economic damages within 30 days after move-out. Missing that deadline forfeits the claim. Nothing is owed if another tenant stays on the lease. The tenant cannot be charged for damage caused by the abuse. Landlords must keep the tenant's status and new address confidential, may not ask applicants about it, and must allow lock changes and other reasonable safety measures. Violations: actual damages plus the greater of 3 months' rent or $5,000, plus attorney fees. C.R.S. §§ 38-12-401, 38-12-402 (as amended by HB 25-1168); § 38-12-103(1)	Tenant death: if a lease ends early because a tenant dies, lease clauses requiring any of the following are void: liquidated damages; acceleration of rent past the later of the end of the month or 10 business days after the unit is vacated following notice of the death; repayment of concessions or move-in discounts; or any other early-termination fee or penalty. The landlord may retake possession without court order if the estate's personal representative surrenders the unit, or if 30 days after the death rent is unpaid or substantially all property has been removed. The landlord may keep deposit funds for damage caused by the death. No Colorado statute was found giving tenants a state-law right to end a lease early for military service (beyond the federal SCRA), medical or disability reasons, or a move to senior or assisted care. C.R.S. § 38-12-801(3.5) (added by HB 25-1108, "Letty's Act")
Kansas	A 'protected person' (someone who in the preceding 12 months has been, is, or is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking) is not liable for rent after vacating if they give the landlord a statement about the abuse. If the landlord asks, they must provide documentation: either a document signed by the victim and a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse, or behavioral-sciences licensee declaring under penalty of perjury that the incident occurred, or a court order granting relief. Rent and other amounts owed before move-out remain due. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee of up to one month's rent only if the lease provides for it. The lease continues for remaining tenants. Rights cannot be waived; violations carry $1,000 statutory damages plus attorney fees. K.S.A. 58-25,137 (L. 2019, ch. 56)	Military: a tenant in U.S. military service may end a month-to-month tenancy on not more than 15 days' written notice when military orders require it. No state statute was found for medical reasons, seniors moving to care, or tenant death. K.S.A. 58-2570(b)
Missouri	Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. 441, 534 or 535, a tenant who has moved out has an affirmative defense and is not liable for rent after vacating if the court finds (by a preponderance of the evidence) that the tenant was, or was in imminent danger of becoming, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the tenant notified the landlord and gave any requested documentation. Documentation can be a statement signed under penalty of perjury by a victim-service, health-care, or mental-health professional (also signed by the victim), or a police, court, or administrative agency record. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee. Victims also cannot be denied tenancy, evicted, or found in violation of a lease because of the abuse. RSMo 441.920	Military: an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a Missouri Army or Air National Guard member on full-time duty or serving as a civil service technician, may end a residential lease on 15 days' written notice after receiving permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 90 days to a location at least 25 miles away, discharge or release from duty, or orders to live in government quarters. A copy of the orders (or a commanding officer's letter) must be given before the termination date. Rent is due through the termination date, and the deposit and pet deposit must be refunded in full if the tenant otherwise complied with the lease and 535.300. No state statute was found for medical/disability, senior, or tenant-death terminations. RSMo 41.944
New Mexico	No statute. New Mexico has no right for domestic violence or sexual assault survivors to end a lease early. 2025 SB 400, which would have created one, died. The UORRA does give a defense: in an eviction based on a 3-day substantial-violation notice, being a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault is a defense. If the resident has filed for or obtained a temporary DV restraining order arising from the incident (or a prior one), the writ of restitution may not issue. Otherwise the court may evict only the accused resident and let the others stay. NMSA 1978, § 47-8-33(J); 2025 SB 400 (died)	Not verified yet
Texas	Yes. A tenant may end the lease and avoid future rent if the tenant or an occupant is a victim of family violence (protective order or documentation from a licensed health care or mental health provider or a family violence advocate), or if the tenant or the tenant's resident child is a victim of certain sexual offenses or stalking within the prior 6 months (documentation or protective order). Tenant gives written notice of termination; release takes effect after 30 days have passed and the tenant moves out (no 30-day notice needed where a cotenant/occupant committed the family violence and an order or documentation is provided). Past-due rent remains owed unless the lease lacks the statutory notice sentence about these rights. Landlord violation: actual damages + one month's rent + $500 + attorney's fees. Not waivable. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.016; 92.0161	Military: a servicemember or dependent may terminate on entering military service, or on permanent change of station or deployment of 90+ days; written notice plus orders; for monthly-rent leases termination is effective 30 days after the next rent due date; prepaid rent refunded within 30 days; penalty one month's rent + $500 + damages and fees. Tenant death: representative of a deceased sole occupant may end the lease by written notice once property is removed; effective the later of 30 days after notice or when conditions are met. No statute for medical/disability or senior moves. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.017; 92.0162

City rules that may add to state law

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