Top Ten City Codes

Dear Residents:
We have received a lot of complaints lately regarding neighbors not complying with City code.
If this is you please help us keep our neighborhood looking good by complying.

Yard/Lot Maintenance Standards
Yard/Lot Maintenance standards are the responsibility of every property owner/resident and
include the maintenance of plant material in any right-of-way abutting the property. Grass type
ground cover cannot be over 12 inches in height, except healthy trees, shrubs, or produce for
human consumption grown in a tended and cultivated garden. Weeds, poison ivy, poison oak,
or poison sumac must be removed. Vegetation and trees must be trimmed so as not to impair
vision or obstruct the travel of motorists.

Trash, Junk and Debris
Trash, junk and debris cannot be left in the yard and must be disposed of properly. This
includes junk such as auto parts, appliances, furniture, building materials and tires; trash such
as paper, cardboard, plastics, etc. and debris such as tree trimmings and limbs. (NOTE: The
City of Tulsa provides services to help you dispose of some items. Please contact Bulky Waste
Pickup at (918) 596-9511 for assistance with larger items.)

Inoperable Motor Vehicles
Inoperable motor vehicles must be stored in a fully enclosed structure. A vehicle must appear
to be operable and capable of being legally operated. Signs of inoperable vehicles are flat tires
or missing parts. These vehicles cannot be used for storage or be stored in the yard, street or
driveway.

Parking
Parking is permitted on residential lots only on a legal driveway or in a garage. A driveway or
parking area must be made with approved all-weather surface material (asphalt or concrete) to
meet city standards. In certain zoning situations, there are limits to the amount of yard area
that can be used for a driveway or parking. Check with INCOG at (918) 584-7526 for more
information about legally recognized parking areas.
Note: Vehicles parked in the street must be operable and may not remain parked in the same
space for an extended time. Violations should be reported to the Customer Care Center at
(918) 596-2100. Please note the closest address, the color, model, and tag number of vehicles
when reporting a street parking violation. These violations are handled by the Tulsa Police
Department. This is not a code violation.

Outdoor Storage
Outdoor storage is prohibited on residential property. Generally, any equipment, materials, or
furnishings that would ordinarily not be used outdoors may not be stored outdoors. For
example, you may not keep indoor furniture, household appliances or auto parts outside. You
may store building materials outside if they are neatly stacked. You may store firewood, grills,
lawn furniture, hoses, tools, play equipment for children, or a lawn-mower outside.

Vacant, Unsecured Structures
The maintenance of a structure is the responsibility of the property owner. The property owner
is responsible for maintaining secure windows, doors, or other openings that cannot be readily
opened from the outside. An owner may need to board up a vacant structure if a break-in or
fire occurs. These structures are a very real problem for neighborhoods. They have become a
target for vandals, criminal activities, and a general nuisance for adjacent properties and
values. If the building has deteriorated to a condition that meets the criteria of health and
safety risks for the public, it can be considered for demolition.

Illegal Business
Home occupations and cottage industries have sprung up throughout neighborhoods across
the country. Some occupations are permitted by right and others are permitted by special
exception. Most businesses are not allowed to operate in residential areas. Examples of illegal
businesses would include auto repair and ongoing sales. For more information, you can refer
to Title 42; Section 402 B.6.a, or call INCOG at (918) 584-7526.

Commercial Equipment and Recreational Vehicles
Commercial equipment and commercial vehicles may not be parked in a residential area
unless they are within a fully enclosed structure. It is illegal to park any vehicle not customary
to residential use (such as box vans, dump trucks, semitrailers, etc.). Recreational vehicles
have specific conditions for parking in residential neighborhoods. Please contact the
Neighborhood Investigations office or see Title 42; Section 402; 7 to review these
requirements.

Illegal Fencing, Screening, Walls
Fencing in a front yard may not exceed four (4) feet in height and side and backyard fencing
may not exceed eight (8) feet. INCOG Land Development Services staff can discuss the
allowed heights for fencing. The City of Tulsa requires a building permit to build retaining walls.
Screening fences are required between residential and commercial/industrial areas in some
cases. For more information, contact INCOG at (918) 584-7526.

Dead Trees
Trees damaged or dead to the extent that a limb, tree or part could fall and pose a hazard to
the public are a violation of the codes.