Tulsa, OK Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Tulsa does not sit in a Western-style high-hazard wildfire zone, but the city treats tall grass, dry brush, and accumulated yard debris as both a public nuisance and a fire hazard. The Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) department inspects complaints about overgrown lots, and owners are typically given notice to mow and clear before the city abates at the owner's expense and places a lien. The Tulsa Fire Marshal's office, operating under the International Fire Code as adopted by Tulsa, can require additional clearance around structures during red-flag conditions and near the Arkansas River bottoms and Turkey Mountain wildland areas where grass and cedar fires have spread rapidly in recent dry seasons. Property owners adjacent to the Arkansas River greenbelt, Mohawk Park, or Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness should maintain at least 30 feet of reduced-fuel space around habitable structures, clearing dead vegetation, stacking firewood away from walls, and keeping gutters free of leaves. Outdoor burning of yard waste is restricted within Tulsa city limits, and during statewide burn bans declared by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, all outdoor open burning is prohibited. Violations of the weed and nuisance provisions carry administrative fines plus abatement costs, and fire-code violations can escalate to misdemeanor citations.