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Tulsa, OK Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

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

Key Facts

Registration deadline
30 days after vacancy
Registration fee
$50 per year
Vacant-building fee
$500 per year
Liability insurance
$300,000 minimum
Max penalty
$1,000 fine, 6 months jail

Summary

Tulsa requires owners of neglected vacant buildings and residential structures to register with the Working in Neighborhoods Department within 30 days, submit a demolition, securing, or rehabilitation plan, and pay annual fees of up to $500.

The owner of a neglected vacant building or residential structure will pay a registration fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per year for each such structure he/she owns. The Fifty Dollars ($50.00) registration fee is due and payable upon registration no later than thirty (30) days after any building or structure becomes a "neglected vacant building or residential structure," as defined herein, or no later than thirty (30) days after being notified by an Enforcement Officer of the requirement to register.

Source: Tulsa Code EnforcementView official code

Full Breakdown

Title 24-A of the Tulsa Revised Ordinances defines a 'neglected vacant building/residential structure' as any unoccupied structure that is unsecured, secured by non-standard means, or has suspected or confirmed code violations. Owners must register with the Working in Neighborhoods/Neighborhood Inspector's Office within 30 days of the property becoming vacant, pay a $50 annual registration fee, and, if the building stays unoccupied with a code violation on file, an additional $500 annual vacant-building fee. Registrants must submit a demolition, securing, or rehabilitation plan, carry at least $300,000 in liability insurance if the plan keeps the building standing, and maintain the exterior, interior, and grounds to code. The Fire Marshal's Office, Tulsa Police, and Working in Neighborhoods jointly enforce it.

Violations & Fines

Failure to register or comply carries a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense (Title 24-A, § 207).

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a Tulsa building a 'neglected vacant building'?
Any unoccupied building or residential structure that is unsecured, secured by non-standard means, or has suspected or confirmed code violations, per Title 24-A, § 101.
What happens if I don't register my vacant building in Tulsa?
The City can fine you up to $1,000, jail you up to six months, and bill you for any emergency securing work it performs, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tulsa

All Tulsa rules

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