Tulsa Landlord-Tenant Rules
Tulsa adds local rules on top of Oklahoma landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| Local fair housing | Tulsa's fair housing ordinance bans housing discrimination on every basis the federal Fair Housing Act covers, plus ancestry and marital status. In 2015 the city added sexual orientation and gender identity. The city's 2025 fair housing analysis reports stakeholder concerns that the ordinance lacks a strong enforcement mechanism. The city's Compliance Officer in the Mayor's Office of Resilience and Equity handles fair housing compliance. The same report contradicts itself on source of income: p. 125 says it is protected under Oklahoma law, while later pages say it is not a protected class in Oklahoma or Tulsa. Source of income is therefore treated as not locally protected. |
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| Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line | Report property maintenance and code violations to Tulsa 311: call 311 or (918) 596-7777, use the Tulsa311 app, or go online. Code enforcement is handled by the Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) department. Covered problems include missing required utilities, roofs, windows, exterior walls, stairs and porches, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems. Case status is at cityoftulsa.org/code. The brochure cites Title 55 for accessory structures. Other section numbers were not given. No rental registration or rental inspection program was found. |
| Eviction diversion / tenant help | The Landlord-Tenant Resource Center (run by Housing Solutions) gives eviction information and help. It is at 501 W. Archer St., Tulsa, phone or text 918-218-4138, Monday to Thursday, 1-4:30 p.m., email LTRC@housingsolutionstulsa.org. The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office sends eviction questions to this center. Free Early Settlement Mediation, sponsored by the Oklahoma Supreme Court and Tulsa County, is also available to landlords and tenants. The mediation detail comes from the city's 2025 fair housing analysis (https://www.cityoftulsa.org/media/29656/2025-analysis-of-impediments-final.pdf). The city's pandemic-era Emergency Rental Assistance (Restore Hope Ministries) and Gold Star Landlord programs appear in older city materials, but whether they still operate was not confirmed. |
| State preemption | Oklahoma law prohibits cities from enacting or enforcing rent control on privately owned residential property. This rule is covered on the Oklahoma state page. Source: 11 O.S. Sec. 14-101.1 |
Eviction cases in Tulsa are heard in: Tulsa County District Court (small claims docket), 500 S. Denver Ave., Tulsa
Eviction court, fees and help
Right to a lawyer in eviction cases
No city right to counsel found. Official source
Local agencies
- Tulsa 311 / Working in Neighborhoods (code enforcement) — Takes code-violation and property-maintenance complaints. Call 311 or (918) 596-7777.
- Landlord-Tenant Resource Center (Housing Solutions) — Gives eviction information and tenant help near the courthouse. Phone 918-218-4138.
- Tulsa County Sheriff's Office, Civil Service Desk — Serves and executes eviction papers. Located on the first floor of the Tulsa County Courthouse, 500 S. Denver.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does Tulsa add on top of Oklahoma law?
Local fair housing: Tulsa's fair housing ordinance bans housing discrimination on every basis the federal Fair Housing Act covers, plus ancestry and marital status. In 2015 the city added sexual orientation and gender identity. The city's 2025 fair housing analysis reports stakeholder concerns that the ordinance lacks a strong enforcement mechanism. The city's Compliance Officer in the Mayor's Office of Resilience and Equity handles fair housing compliance.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: Report property maintenance and code violations to Tulsa 311: call 311 or (918) 596-7777, use the Tulsa311 app, or go online. Code enforcement is handled by the Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) department. Covered problems include missing required utilities, roofs, windows, exterior walls, stairs and porches, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems. Case status is at cityoftulsa.org/code.; Eviction diversion / tenant help: The Landlord-Tenant Resource Center (run by Housing Solutions) gives eviction information and help. It is at 501 W. Archer St., Tulsa, phone or text 918-218-4138, Monday to Thursday, 1-4:30 p.m., email LTRC@housingsolutionstulsa.org. The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office sends eviction questions to this center. Free Early Settlement Mediation, sponsored by the Oklahoma Supreme Court and Tulsa County, is also available to landlords and tenants.; State preemption: Oklahoma law prohibits cities from enacting or enforcing rent control on privately owned residential property.
← All Oklahoma landlord-tenant rules
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.