Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Tulsa, OK Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Lead threshold
over 0.5% lead content
Applies to
dwellings, child care facilities
Remediation
EPA-certified firm required
Enforcement
Dept. of City Experience
Violation class
misdemeanor, per-day offense

Summary

Tulsa's Property Maintenance Code bans applying lead-based paint over 0.5% lead content in dwellings and child care facilities, and requires an EPA-certified firm to remove or cover existing lead paint above that threshold.

Lead-based paint with a lead content of more than one-half percent (0.5%) shall not be applied to any interior or exterior surface of a dwelling, dwelling unit or child care facility, including fences and outbuildings at these locations. Existing interior and exterior painted surfaces of dwelling units and child care facilities that contain an excess of one-half percent (0.5%) lead shall be removed or covered with paneling or other suitable covering approved by the Code official.

Full Breakdown

Tulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 55, §§ 304.20 and 305.7 prohibit applying lead-based paint with more than one-half percent (0.5%) lead content to any interior or exterior surface of a dwelling, dwelling unit or child care facility, including fences and outbuildings. Where existing painted surfaces already exceed 0.5% lead, the owner must remove the paint or cover it with paneling or another covering the Code official approves. Any work on paint known to exceed that threshold must follow lead-safe work practices performed by an EPA-certified renovation firm under 40 CFR Part 745, the federal RRP rule. Enforcement runs through the Department of City Experience and the Tulsa City-County Health Department.

Violations & Fines

A Title 55 violation is a misdemeanor or civil infraction and a strict-liability offense (§ 106.3); after notice, each day of noncompliance is a separate offense, and the Code official can order abatement (§ 106.4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tulsa require a lead paint disclosure form for tenants?
Tulsa's code doesn't add a local disclosure form; it bans applying paint over 0.5% lead and requires EPA-certified removal (Title 55, §§ 304.20, 305.7). Federal law still requires the 1978 disclosure for pre-1978 rentals.
Who enforces Tulsa's lead-based paint rule?
The Department of City Experience and the Tulsa City-County Health Department act as code officials under Title 55, § 103.1.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tulsa

All Tulsa rules

Compare Tulsa to another location·View the Oklahoma building safety overview

Get notified when Lead Paint in Tulsa, OK changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.