Oklahoma City Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Home Sharing License (owner-occupied)

The property must be your primary residence. This means investment properties are not eligible for this permit type.

Zoning restriction: Your property must be zoned for residential use. The maximum number of nights a home share can be rented per month is ten unless the owner gets a special exception permit.

Home Sharing License (non-owner-occupied)

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: A special exception from the Board of Adjustment is required if the home is not your primary residence; or the house is in an HP district. The maximum number of Special Exceptions allowed for home sharing / short-term rental on a platted block is one, or 10% of the total number of dwelling units in the platted block (10% Rule), whichever is greater. No new application for Special Exception will be accepted if the 10% Rule would be exceeded. Timely renewal applications are not subject to the 10% Rule. Owners/tenants may apply for the special exceptions from the Board of Adjustment. The fee is $1,100. If the house is in an HP district, in addition to the required special exception, it must be the owner’s primary residence and the owner must be on the premises at the time of rental.

Application Process

Applicants for a license under this Article shall file with the Supervisor of Licenses a verified application in writing on a form to be furnished by the Supervisor of Licenses. Licenses may be renewed on an annual basis upon filing a renewal application with the Supervisor of Licenses.

Tax Obligations

Collection: Airbnb and Vrbo have agreements with the City to collect and remit hotel taxes and file monthly tax reports on behalf of its hosts. Residents who use other services to rent out their home are responsible for their own hotel tax payments and reports.

Filing: Monthly

Rental Limits

Each individual stay must be 30 consecutive days per renter/guest.

Occupancy & Density Limits

The maximum occupancy of any home sharing/short term rental accommodation at any time shall be no more than the number of bedrooms multiplied by two plus two additional occupants or no more than the number of occupants allowed pursuant to a special exception granted by the Board of Adjustment; provided however that under no circumstance shall the total maximum occupancy exceed 16 occupants. This occupancy limit shall apply to the entire site of the home sharing/short term rental accommodation, including any outdoor areas.

Safety

• No person shall offer or engage in home sharing/short term rental without complying with applicable building or fire codes adopted by the City.
• Verification that the dwelling unit being offered for home sharing/short term rental has working smoke detectors as required by City codes, a working carbon monoxide detector and a functioning fire extinguisher
• Verification that the dwelling unit being offered for home sharing/short term rental, and the parcel on which the dwelling unit is located, are in compliance with the City's minimum property maintenance, building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes
• No person shall offer or engage in home sharing/short term rental in or on any part of the parcel not approved for residential occupancy, including but not limited to, a vehicle parked on the parcel, a storage shed, trailer or garage or any temporary structure such as a tent.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Any person convicted of violating the home sharing ordinances is subject to a maximum $500 fine, plus court costs and fees. Each day of continuing violation is a separate offense.
• A license may be suspended or revoked for two or more convictions of Municipal Code violations within two years pertaining to the property, or reasons described in Chapter 26, Section 19 (including felony convictions or convictions involving misconduct, fraud or dishonesty).
• The Board of Adjustment can deny applications or renewals for one year when the home share ordinance is violated.

Platform Requirements

No host shall advertise a home sharing accommodation without a City-issued home sharing license number included on a visible location on the advertisement.

Compliance Checklist

1. Identify your permit type
   • Home Sharing License
   • Home Sharing License; special exception from the Board of Adjustment
2. Meet the safety requirements
   • No person shall offer or engage in home sharing/short term rental without complying with applicable building or fire codes adopted by the City.
   • Verification that the dwelling unit being offered for home sharing/short term rental has working smoke detectors as required by City codes, a working carbon monoxide detector and a functioning fire extinguisher
   • Verification that the dwelling unit being offered for home sharing/short term rental, and the parcel on which the dwelling unit is located, are in compliance with the City's minimum property maintenance, building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes
   • No person shall offer or engage in home sharing/short term rental in or on any part of the parcel not approved for residential occupancy, including but not limited to, a vehicle parked on the parcel, a storage shed, trailer or garage or any temporary structure such as a tent.
3. Apply for the permit
   • How to apply: Applicants for a license under this Article shall file with the Supervisor of Licenses a verified application in writing on a form to be furnished by the Supervisor of Licenses. Licenses may be renewed on an annual basis upon filing a renewal application with the Supervisor of Licenses.
   • Home Sharing License: $120
4. Register for tax
   • Register with City Treasurer
5. Collect and remit tax
   • Filing schedule: Monthly
   • How the tax is collected: Airbnb and Vrbo have agreements with the City to collect and remit hotel taxes and file monthly tax reports on behalf of its hosts. Residents who use other services to rent out their home are responsible for their own hotel tax payments and reports.
6. Renew your permit
   • $120
   • Renewal period: one year

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run a short-term rental in Oklahoma City?

Yes.

Permit: Home Sharing License

Permit: Home Sharing License; special exception from the Board of Adjustment

How to apply: Applicants for a license under this Article shall file with the Supervisor of Licenses a verified application in writing on a form to be furnished by the Supervisor of Licenses. Licenses may be renewed on an annual basis upon filing a renewal application with the Supervisor of Licenses.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Oklahoma City?

Initial fee (Home Sharing License): $120

Renewal fee (Home Sharing License): $120

Renewal fee (Home Sharing License; special exception from the Board of Adjustment): $120

Renewal period (Home Sharing License): one year

Renewal period (Home Sharing License; special exception from the Board of Adjustment): one year

Does Oklahoma City require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

Primary residence required (Home Sharing License): Yes

Primary residence required (Home Sharing License; special exception from the Board of Adjustment): No

Does Oklahoma City limit rental days or stay length?

Maximum stay length: 30 consecutive days per renter/guest

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Oklahoma City?

excise tax: five-and-one-half percent

additional excise tax: 3.75%

Tax authority: City Treasurer

Filing schedule: Monthly

How the tax is collected: Airbnb and Vrbo have agreements with the City to collect and remit hotel taxes and file monthly tax reports on behalf of its hosts. Residents who use other services to rent out their home are responsible for their own hotel tax payments and reports.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Oklahoma City?

Maximum penalty: maximum $500 fine, plus court costs and fees

Penalty: Any person convicted of violating the home sharing ordinances is subject to a maximum $500 fine, plus court costs and fees. Each day of continuing violation is a separate offense.

Penalty: A license may be suspended or revoked for two or more convictions of Municipal Code violations within two years pertaining to the property, or reasons described in Chapter 26, Section 19 (including felony convictions or convictions involving misconduct, fraud or dishonesty).

Penalty: The Board of Adjustment can deny applications or renewals for one year when the home share ordinance is violated.