Oklahoma City Short-Term Rental Regulations

New to short-term rentals? Jump to the compliance checklist →

Permit & Licensing

Home Sharing License

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

Home Sharing License + Board of Adjustment Special Exception

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: A home share that is NOT the host's primary residence (or a primary residence rented more than ten nights per month, or any home share in a Historic Preservation District) may not be licensed until the host first obtains a Board of Adjustment special exception, which carries an $1,100 application fee in addition to the $120 annual Home Sharing License. Special exceptions on any platted block are capped at the greater of one exception or 10% of the dwelling units on the block (the '10% Rule'); no new special-exception application is accepted once that cap is reached (timely renewals are exempt from the 10% Rule). Hosts who operated home sharing before Jan. 15, 2019 are grandfathered out of the special-exception requirement.

Application Process

Applicants file a verified written application with the Supervisor of Licenses on a City-furnished form, including proof of ownership/authorization, primary-residence proof, property-compliance verification, and platform URL(s); zoning verification is completed by city staff. Owner-occupied primary-residence hosts renting no more than 10 nights/month need only the $120 annual Home Sharing License. Non-primary-residence hosts, hosts exceeding 10 nights/month, and Historic Preservation District hosts must FIRST obtain a Board of Adjustment special exception ($1,100 application fee) before a license will issue. Online licensing was listed as 'Coming Soon' as of the 2026 city fee schedule.

Note: Document requirements vary by permit type. See individual permit sections above for eligibility details.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 17.875% of gross rental income.

Collection: Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit the City's Hotel Tax and file monthly tax reports on hosts' behalf under agreements with the City. Hosts who book through other channels (or who are otherwise required to register, i.e. renting two or more bedrooms so the property meets the Code's 'hotel' definition) are responsible for collecting the Hotel Tax from guests, filing their own monthly reports, and remitting payment directly to the City.

Filing: Monthly

Rental Limits

Oklahoma City does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent. Individual-stay rule: Less than 30 consecutive days per guest; primary-residence hosts capped at 10 rental nights per calendar month unless a Board of Adjustment special exception is obtained.

Occupancy & Density Limits

Maximum occupancy equals the number of bedrooms multiplied by two, plus two additional occupants, applied to the entire site including outdoor areas, up to an absolute cap of 16 occupants at any time, unless a different number is allowed under a Board of Adjustment special exception.

Zoning & Restrictions

• Owner-occupied: An owner-occupied home share (the host's primary residence) is permitted wherever residential use is allowed under Chapter 59 and needs only the $120 annual Home Sharing License - no Board of Adjustment special exception - as long as the host does not rent for more than ten nights in a calendar month.
• Renting the primary residence for more than ten nights per month, or operating in a Historic Preservation District (where the owner must also be present during rentals), pushes the property into the special-exception (non-owner-occupied) track.
• Home Sharing License + Board of Adjustment Special Exception: A home share that is NOT the host's primary residence (or a primary residence rented more than ten nights per month, or any home share in a Historic Preservation District) may not be licensed until the host first obtains a Board of Adjustment special exception, which carries an $1,100 application fee in addition to the $120 annual Home Sharing License.
• Special exceptions on any platted block are capped at the greater of one exception or 10% of the dwelling units on the block (the '10% Rule'); no new special-exception application is accepted once that cap is reached (timely renewals are exempt from the 10% Rule).
• Hosts who operated home sharing before Jan. 15, 2019 are grandfathered out of the special-exception requirement

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Oklahoma City does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Working smoke detectors, a working carbon monoxide detector, and a functioning fire extinguisher in the dwelling unit
• Compliance with the City's building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire codes, and minimum property maintenance code
• At least one off-street parking space on the property for every four guests
• International Building Code compliance review required if renting more than four bedrooms

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Maximum $500 fine plus court costs and fees per violation (Class "A" offense); each day of continuing violation is a separate offense
• License suspended, revoked, or denied for 2+ Municipal Code convictions/pleas within a 24-month period relating to the property; property barred from home sharing re-licensing for 1 year

Platform Requirements

• Home sharing advertisements/listings on any platform must display the City-issued home sharing license number in a visible location
• The license application must also list the URL of every platform on which the property is advertised.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Oklahoma City:

1. Determine your permit type. Oklahoma City has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Home Sharing License, Home Sharing License + Board of Adjustment Special Exception).
2. Meet safety requirements. Working smoke detectors, a working carbon monoxide detector, and a functioning fire extinguisher in the dwelling unit. Compliance with the City's building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire codes, and minimum property maintenance code. At least one off-street parking space on the property for every four guests. International Building Code compliance review required if renting more than four bedrooms.
3. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application. Fees vary by type: Home Sharing License $120; Home Sharing License + Board of Adjustment Special Exception $1,220 total ($120 annual Home Sharing License + $1,100 Board of Adjustment special-exception fee). See permit types above to determine which applies.
4. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with City of Oklahoma City Finance Department / Office of the Chief Financial Officer; Oklahoma Tax Commission.
5. Display your permit number. Include your permit/license number in all listings and advertisements.
6. Collect and remit taxes. 17.875% on all bookings.
7. Renew annually. $120 renewal fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Oklahoma City?

Yes. Oklahoma City requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types — one requires the property to be your primary residence, and another allows non-owner-occupied (investment) use. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

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

A short-term rental permit in Oklahoma City costs $120.

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

It depends on the permit type. At least one Oklahoma City permit requires the property to be your primary residence, while another allows non-owner-occupied (investment) use — see the permit types above.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma City does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

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

Short-term rental stays in Oklahoma City are subject to a combined 17.875% in lodging taxes. This combines 4.5% Oklahoma State Sales Tax + 4.125% Oklahoma City Sales Tax + 5.5% Oklahoma City Hotel Tax (base, §52-63.1) + 3.75% Oklahoma City Hotel Tax (additional excise, §52-63.2). The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.

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

Penalties run up to $500 (see the Penalties section for the full schedule).