Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 102

Definitions

In Force
Verified 10/17/2026 · Next check 10/18/2026
effective 4/21/2003OklahomaLease Requirements

Operative Text

Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 102
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.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

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.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 18, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

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.

For Tenants

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.

Effective Timeline

Current
Apr 21, 2003
Click on timeline segments to view historical versions.

References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

41 O.S. § 132
41 O.S. § 115
41 O.S. § 121
41 O.S. § 116
41 O.S. § 126
41 O.S. § 116
41 O.S. § 132
41 O.S. § 118
41 O.S. § 118
41 O.S. § 126
41 O.S. § 127
41 O.S. § 111

Related Rules

§ 244.280
Tenant to be given copy of lease
§ 151.35
SEVERABILITY
§ 165.12
SEVERABILITY

Source Information

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