Home Sharing License

Home sharing is a temporary rental of a dwelling (or rooms in a dwelling), often using a home sharing platform like Airbnb, VRBO or HomeAway.

The City Council adopted ordinance amendments to Municipal Code (Chapters 13, 59 and 60) in January 2019 to establish new requirements addressing the growing number of Oklahoma City residents and visitors who use home sharing businesses.

In Oklahoma City, home sharing is defined as lodging accommodations provided in a dwelling (or rooms in a dwelling) rented by a host to a guest (or guests) for a temporary period up to 30 consecutive days per guest. The dwelling must be the host’s primary residence. Hosts need a special exception from the Board of Adjustment if the dwelling isn’t the host’s primary residence. Hosts of dwellings in Historic Preservation Districts also need a special exception from the Board of Adjustment. Home sharing doesn’t include a “bed and breakfast,” “hotel” or any other facility specially defined in City Code.

The City requires owners/tenants to have a Home Sharing License before renting a dwelling or room. Find links and information about the criteria and process below on this page. We recommend you review this page before filing an application.

A license may be suspended or revoked for two or more convictions of Municipal Code violations within two years pertaining to the property, or reasons described in Chapter 26, Section 19 (including felony convictions or convictions involving misconduct, fraud or dishonesty).

Grandfather Clause: Hosts who provided home sharing accommodations before Jan. 15, 2019 are exempt from obtaining any special exception required by the ordinance amendments. Those hosts are eligible for a license after providing sufficient proof of the existing prior use to the Supervisor of Licenses. Examples of sufficient proof must reference a short-term rental at that specific property and could include receipts, agreements or reviews. The clause expires if the use as a home sharing rental has been discontinued for two years. Contact the Business Licensing Office for details.

Your property must be zoned for residential use. Chapter 59 also distinguishes between Citywide Residential Districts and Historic Preservation (HP) Districts, and the requirements for each.

In all cases the ordinance will allow home sharing, subject to the following conditions, wherever residential use is permitted:

• The rental of the entire home or bedroom(s) may not exceed 30 consecutive days per renter/guest. (Rentals of more than 30 days per guest are not considered home sharing and are not regulated by these ordinances.)
• The host must comply with any applicable building and fire codes adopted by the City, including having working smoke detectors, a carbon monoxide detector and a fire extinguisher.
• The host must obtain a home sharing license.
• All applicable fees and taxes must be collected and paid.
• A special exception from the Board of Adjustment is required if the home is not your primary residence; or the house is in an HP district.
  
  • If the house is in an HP district, in addition to the required special exception, it must be the owner’s primary residence and the owner must be on the premises at the time of rental.

Owners/tenants may apply for the special exceptions from the Board of Adjustment. Get an application. The fee is $300. Find the procedures and standards for a special exception in Chapter 59 of Municipal Code (59-4250.1 and 59-9350.38.1). For more information or assistance please call (405) 297-2623 or email SubdivisionandZoning@okc.gov.

Citywide Residential - Primary Residence

• No special exception required

Citywide Residential - Not My Primary Residence

• Special exception required before getting a City license (unless exempt under grandfather clause)

Historic Preservation District

• Special exception required before getting a City license (unless exempt under grandfather clause)

You owe a 5.5 percent hotel tax to the City of OKC on your rental payments if you rent two or more bedrooms in your home for home sharing. You are also required to file monthly tax reports.

Airbnb and Vrbo have agreements with the City to collect and remit hotel taxes and file monthly tax reports on behalf of its hosts. Residents who use other services to rent out their home are responsible for their own hotel tax payments and reports.

Hotel tax money goes primarily to promote tourism and conventions in OKC. It also pays for improvements to OKC Fairgrounds, which hosts year-round events bringing visitors from around the world.

Like all businesses in Oklahoma, you also must file reports with and may owe taxes to the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

If you rent more than four bedrooms, you need a review for International Building Code compliance. Call (405) 297-2525 for details.

Report potentially illegal home sharing rentals to the Action Center. Find the way most convenient for you.

Any person convicted of violating the home sharing ordinances is subject to a maximum $500 fine, plus court costs and fees. Each day of continuing violation is a separate offense.