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 2025 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 within a dwelling) rented by a host to a guest (or guests) for a temporary period up to 10 nights per month. Hosts need a special exception from the Board of Adjustment if the dwelling isn’t the host’s primary residence or if located within Historic Preservation Districts. Home sharing doesn’t include a “bed and breakfast,” “hotel” or any other facility specifically defined in City Code.

The City requires owners/tenants to have a Home Sharing License before renting a dwelling or room. Links and information about the criteria and process may be found below on this page.

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. This clause expires if its 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 10 nights per month. (Rentals of more than 10 nights per month 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 provide 1 parking space per every 4 possible guests (2 guests per bedroom + 2 additional as prescribed by ordinance---a maximum of 16 occupants total). Structures providing overnight stay for more than 16 occupants will be considered commercial in nature and must comply with separate requirements.
• 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.
  • Ordinance prohibits more than 10% of Special Exemption home shares per city block.

Owners/tenants may apply for the special exceptions from the Board of Adjustment. Click here for 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). Call (405) 297-2606 for details.

You owe a 9.25 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. Click here for hotel tax forms.

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. Click here for details.

Home shares are required to comply with the International Residential Code as adopted by Oklahoma City. If you rent more than four bedrooms, your structure will be classified as a commercial property requiring a commercial change of use building permit reviewed under the International Building Code instead. Call (405) 297-2525 for details.

Report potentially illegal home sharing rentals to the Action Center. Find the way most convenient for you at okc.gov/action.

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. Violations and delinquencies in tax filings will be subject to penalties provided under Municipal Code section 57-72.