Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 102
Definitions
Operative Text
Unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Building and housing codes" means any law, ordinance or governmental regulation concerning fitness for habitation or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use or appearance of any premises or dwelling unit; 2. "Deposit" means any money or other property required by a landlord from a tenant as a security and which is to be returned to the tenant upon termination of the rental agreement, less any deductions properly made and allowed by this act; 3. "Dwelling unit" means a structure, or that part of a structure, which is used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one or more persons, and includes any site, space or lot leased to the owner or resident of a manufactured or mobile home; 4. "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct of the transaction concerned; 5. "Landlord" means the owner, lessor or sublessor of the dwelling unit or the building of which it is a part, manufactured or mobile home site, space or lot, and it also means a manager of the premises who fails to comply with the disclosure provisions of Section 116 of this title; 6. "Occupant" means any person who abides within a dwelling unit, or any person who owns or occupies a manufactured or mobile home, but who is not a tenant or an unemancipated minor child of a tenant, and who is not legally obligated by the terms of a rental agreement; 7. "Organization" means a corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest and any other legal or commercial entity; 8. "Owner" means one or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested: a. all or any part of the legal title to the property, or b. all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the property, and such term includes a mortgagee in possession; 9. "Person" means an individual or organization; 10. "Premises" means a dwelling unit and the structure of which it is a part, the facilities and appurtenances therein, the site, space or lot leased to the owner or resident of a mobile or manufactured home, and the grounds, areas and facilities held out for the use of the tenant generally or the use of which is promised to the tenant; 11. "Rent" means all payments, except deposits and damages, to be made to the landlord under the rental agreement; 12. "Rental agreement" means all agreements and valid rules and regulations adopted under Section 126 of this title, which establish, embody or modify the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit and premises; 13. "Roomer" or "boarder" means a tenant occupying a dwelling unit: a. which lacks at least one major bathroom or kitchen facility, such as a toilet, refrigerator or stove, b. in a building (1) where one or more of such major facilities are supplied to be used in common by the occupants of the roomer or boarder's dwelling unit and one or more other dwelling units, and (2) in which the landlord resides; 14. "Single-family residence" means a structure used and maintained as a single dwelling unit. A dwelling unit, including those with common walls, shall be deemed a single-family residence if it has direct access to a street or thoroughfare and shares neither heating facilities, hot water equipment, nor any other essential facility or service with any other dwelling unit; and 15. "Tenant" means any person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a dwelling unit.
Oklahoma Statutes § 41 O.S. § 102 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Oklahoma's landlord-tenant law. Terms such as "landlord," "tenant," "dwelling unit," "rent," "deposit," and "premises" are each given specific legal meanings that govern how the rest of the statute is interpreted. For example, a "deposit" is defined as money or property the landlord holds as security and must return at the end of the tenancy, minus any lawfully permitted deductions. These definitions shape the rights and obligations of everyone involved in a residential rental relationship in Oklahoma.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Oklahoma's residential landlord-tenant law should be familiar with the definitions set out in 41 O.S. § 102, because these terms determine how their obligations are measured throughout the statute. Notably, a manager who fails to comply with the disclosure requirements of Section 116 may themselves be treated as a "landlord" under this section, expanding their legal exposure. Compliant operators generally ensure that any money collected as security meets the statutory definition of a "deposit" and is handled accordingly, and that all agreements reflect the defined meaning of "rental agreement" as shaped by Section 126.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Oklahoma benefit from understanding the definitions in 41 O.S. § 102, because these terms set the boundaries of their rights under state law. For instance, the definition of "deposit" makes clear that security money is meant to be returned at the end of a tenancy, subject only to deductions the law permits — which can be relevant if a landlord withholds funds improperly. Tenants who believe their situation involves a dispute over how these terms apply — such as whether a payment qualifies as "rent" or a "deposit" — may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the full statute for context.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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