Building Safety in Tulsa, OK (2026)
11 verified building safety rules for Tulsa, Oklahoma, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
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.
Tulsa Lead-Based Paint Ban in Dwellings
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 55, §§ 304.20, 305.7
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 rem...
Elevator Maintenance
Tulsa requires elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators to be kept in compliance with ASME A17.1, with a current inspection certificate posted at all times.
Tulsa Elevator Maintenance Rules
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 55, § 606.2 (Property Maintenance Code, Ch. 6)
606.2 Elevators. In buildings equipped with passenger elevators, not less than one elevator shall be maintained in operation at all times when the building is occupied. Exception: Buildings equipped with only one elevator shall be permitted to have the elevator temporarily out of service for testing or servicing.
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Tulsa's adopted residential code strips the automatic sprinkler mandate for new one- and two-family homes, leaving the requirement in an appendix the state never adopted.
Tulsa Residential Fire Sprinklers Not Required
Few RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 51, Ch. 2 (IRC 2018), § R313.2
R313.2 One- and two-family dwellings automatic fire systems. This section, including the exception, has been moved to the newly created Appendix U, entitled "Appendix U, Automatic Fire Systems" and is not adopted as a part of the statewide minimum code for residential construction within the State of Oklahoma. This section has been renumbered in Appendix U to become U101.1. The section number R...
Childcare Center Rules
Tulsa allows up to seven children in a home-based day care to skip fire sprinklers under the residential code, but eight to twelve children triggers a mandatory automatic sprinkler system.
Tulsa Home Daycare Sprinkler Threshold
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 51 (Building Code), § 305.2.4-.5
305.2.4 Seven or fewer children in a detached dwelling - Added. A facility such as the above within a detached dwelling and having seven or fewer children receiving such day care shall be permitted to comply with the International Residential Code® (IRC®)... 305.2.5 Eight to 12 children in a detached dwelling - Added. ...shall comply with the IRC® provided an automatic sprinkler system is insta...
Door Locking Hardware
Tulsa's Property Maintenance Code requires every door into a rented dwelling, rooming or housekeeping unit to have a working deadbolt with at least a 1-inch throw that opens from inside without a key.
Tulsa Rental Unit Deadbolt Rule
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 55, Ch. 3, § 304.18.1 (Property Maintenance Code)
Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a minimum lock throw of 1 inch (25 mm). Such deadbolt locks shall be installed according to the manufac...
Anti-Mansionization
In Tulsa's NCO overlay district, new detached houses and duplexes are capped at 30 feet tall and 40 feet wide to keep infill from overwhelming existing block character.
Tulsa Neighborhood Character Overlay Caps
Some RestrictionsTulsa Zoning Code (Title 42, Tulsa Revised Ordinances) § 20.090.B.1, B.2, B.4
1.Maximum Building Height. The maximum allowable building height is thirty (30) feet.2.Maximum Building Width. The maximum allowable building width is forty (40) feet. For the purposes of the Neighborhood Character Overlay district, building width shall be measured from the exterior wall closest to the side setback to the exterior wall closest to the opposite side setback, parallel to the stree...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Tulsa requires carbon monoxide alarms in dwellings whenever a permitted alteration, repair, or addition occurs, or when a sleeping room is added to an existing home.
Tulsa Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rule
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 51, Chapter 2, § R315.2.2
R315.2.2 Alterations, repairs and additions - Amendatory. Where alterations, repairs, or additions requiring a permit occur, or where one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms located as required for new dwellings. Exceptions: 1.Work involving the exterior surfaces of dwellings, such as...
Building Permits
Reroofing a home or business in Tulsa requires a building permit, and the city's amended residential and commercial codes bar re-covering over a deteriorated deck, slate or tile roofing, or a roof that already carries two or more covering layers.
Tulsa Roofing & Reroof Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 51, Ch. 2, § R908.3.1.1 (2018 IRC, as amended) [parallel commercial provision: Title 51, Ch. 1, § 1511.3.1.1, 2018 IBC as amended]
A roof re-cover shall not be permitted where any of the following conditions occur: 1. Where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing. 2. Where the existing roof covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile. 3. Where the existing roof has two or more app...
Electrical Permits
Any electrical work in Tulsa needs a permit before work starts, under the city's adopted 2020 National Electrical Code. Repairs that don't alter the existing installation are exempt, and unpermitted work draws a penalty fee plus possible misdemeanor charges.
Tulsa Electrical Permit Required for Work
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 52, § 104.2
104.2 Permit Required - Added. No person, firm, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company shall do or cause to be done any electrical work without first having obtained an electrical permit. Electrical permits shall not be transferable. Exception. Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted withi...
Plumbing Permits
Tulsa requires a permit before any plumbing installation, alteration or repair under its adopted 2018 ICC International Plumbing Code, with violations charged as a misdemeanor.
Tulsa Plumbing Permit Required
Some RestrictionsTulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 56, Ch. 1, § 106.1 (When required - Amendatory)
Any contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the code official and obtain the required p...
Building Inspections
Tulsa requires a passed inspection at each construction stage before work can proceed, and covering or occupying uninspected work is a code violation subject to civil fines.
Tulsa Building Inspection Approval Process
Some RestrictionsTulsa Building Code (Tulsa Revised Ordinances, Title 51, Ch. 1) § 110.6
No work shall be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the code official. Upon notification, the code official shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed, or notify the permit holder or an agent of the permit holder where it fails to comply with t...