Tulsa, OK Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Tulsa regulates carports through two layers of the Municipal Code. Title 42 (Zoning Code), Chapter 45 (Accessory Uses and Structures) treats a carport as an accessory building, which means total aggregate floor area of all detached accessory buildings on a lot in RE and RS-1 districts may not exceed 40% of the floor area of the principal residential building, and the carport must comply with the building setbacks and lot coverage limits of the underlying residential district set out in Chapter 5 (Residential Districts). For typical RS-3 lots, that means a 25-foot front yard setback, a 5-foot side yard setback, and an overall maximum building height of 35 feet, with up to 50% lot coverage. An attached carport (sharing a wall or roof with the principal house) is treated as part of the principal building and must observe the principal building's front, side, and rear setbacks. A detached carport may sit in the rear yard subject to Chapter 45 placement rules. Construction is governed by Title 51 (Building Code), which adopts the International Residential Code (the State of Oklahoma adopts ICC codes through the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission), and a building permit is required from the City of Tulsa Development Services Department before construction. Where a carport is proposed in a setback that the zoning code does not allow, a Special Exception or Variance from the Tulsa Board of Adjustment is required. Confirm exact district setbacks and any overlay (such as a Historic Preservation or Neighborhood Conservation overlay) with Development Services at (918) 596-9456.