Tulsa, OK Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- RE/RS-1 cap
- 30% of rear setback
- RS-2 cap
- 35% of rear setback
- RS-3 through RM cap
- 40% of rear setback
- Whole-lot coverage cap
- None: governed by setbacks
- Interior lot line setback
- 3 feet minimum required
Summary
Tulsa sets no blanket lot-coverage percentage for houses: bulk is controlled through setbacks and minimum open space instead. But detached accessory buildings built in the required rear setback are capped at 30% to 40% of that setback area, depending on the residential zoning district.
Accessory building coverage in the rear setback does not exceed the maximum limits established in Table 90-2: RE and RS-1 Districts 30%; RS-2 District 35%; RS-3, RS-4, RS-5, RD, RT, and RM Districts 40%.
Full Breakdown
Table 90-2 of the Tulsa Zoning Code caps how much of the required rear setback a detached accessory building, shed, garage, workshop, may cover: 30% in RE and RS-1 districts, 35% in RS-2, and 40% in RS-3, RS-4, RS-5, RD, RT and RM districts. The cap applies only inside the rear setback itself, not the whole lot; Tulsa has no separate whole-lot coverage percentage for principal residential buildings, relying instead on each district's minimum lot area, setbacks and open-space-per-unit standards. Accessory buildings covered by this rule must also sit at least 3 feet from interior lot lines.
Violations & Fines
An accessory building that exceeds its district's rear-setback coverage cap won't clear zoning review for a building permit; the City can issue a stop-work order or require the structure be reduced or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tulsa cap total lot coverage for single-family homes?
How much of my backyard can a shed or garage cover in Tulsa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tulsa
Compare Tulsa to another location·View the Oklahoma building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle lot coverage limits.