Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 51
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this act: 1. "Landlord" means the owner, lessor or sublessor of a nonresidential rental property, but does not mean an "owner" as defined by Section 192 of Title 42 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 2. "Nonresidential rental property" means any land or building which is rented or leased to a tenant for other than residential purposes and the rental agreement of which is not regulated under the provisions of the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Section 101 et seq. of Title 41 of the Oklahoma Statutes or the Self-Service Storace Facility Lien Act, Section 191 et seq. of Title 42 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and 3. "Tenant" means any person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy the nonresidential rental property.
Oklahoma Statutes 41 O.S. § 51 establishes the foundational definitions that govern the state's nonresidential landlord-tenant framework. Under this provision, a "landlord" is the owner, lessor, or sublessor of nonresidential rental property (with a specific exclusion for certain lien-holder owners defined elsewhere in state law), a "nonresidential rental property" is any land or building rented for non-residential purposes that falls outside the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and the Self-Service Storage Facility Lien Act, and a "tenant" is any person with a rental-agreement right to occupy such property. These definitions determine which parties and properties are subject to the rest of the act.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who lease land or buildings for commercial, industrial, or other non-residential purposes should be aware that 41 O.S. § 51 defines whether they qualify as a "landlord" under this act. Operators who fall within that definition—and whose properties are not governed by Oklahoma's residential or self-storage statutes—are subject to the rights and obligations the act creates. Compliant operators generally confirm at the outset of any rental relationship whether their property and agreement fall within these definitions, since that determination shapes which statutory rules apply.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you occupy nonresidential rental property under a rental agreement, 41 O.S. § 51 may define you as a "tenant" entitled to the protections and remedies the act provides. Understanding whether your rental arrangement qualifies—meaning it is not residential and is not covered by the Self-Service Storage Facility Lien Act—is a threshold question that affects which statutory rights are available to you. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid resources familiar with Oklahoma commercial landlord-tenant law can help clarify how these definitions apply to a given rental situation.
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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