Oklahoma City, OK Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted rental use
- Home sharing/short-term rental only
- Occupancy condition
- Host must live in primary home
- Otherwise required
- Board of Adjustment special exception
- Governing section
- § 59-9350.2.1.G.2
Summary
Oklahoma City accessory dwellings can't be rented as a separate long-term unit: under § 59-9350.2.1.G.2, they can only be used for home sharing/short-term rental, and only while the host lives in the primary residence on the same parcel.
Accessory Dwellings shall only be used for Home Sharing/Short Term Rental as defined in Chapter 13 Section 13-500 Definitions and according to 59-9350 Standard for specific uses if the Accessory Dwelling is located on the same parcel as the host's primary residence and the host's primary residence is occupied by the host at the time of the rental. A special exception for home sharing/short term rental must be obtained as described in 59-9350.38.1.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City code § 59-9350.2.1.G.2 restricts accessory dwelling rentals to home sharing/short-term rental use as defined in § 13-500, and only when the ADU sits on the same parcel as the host's primary residence and the host actually occupies that residence during the rental. Renting the ADU as an independent long-term unit, or running home sharing when the ADU isn't on an owner-occupied parcel, requires a special exception from the Board of Adjustment under § 59-9350.38.1. The manufactured-home ban and one-family-per-ADU limit in the same subsection reinforce that these units stay secondary to the main house.
Violations & Fines
Renting an ADU without owner-occupancy or a Board of Adjustment special exception is a Class "a" zoning offense under § 59-4350.2: each day counts as a separate violation, escalating to Class "b" on a third conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent out my OKC accessory dwelling as a normal long-term rental?
What if the host doesn't live on the property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oklahoma City
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