Independent Living in Oklahoma

Known for its wide-open landscape and distinctive red dirt, Oklahoma is an ideal retirement destination for seniors looking for a calming, relatively inexpensive lifestyle. The Sooner State’s two largest cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, grew during the oil booms of the early 1900s and today feature popular art museums, zoos, and botanical gardens. On Route 66, which crosses almost the entirety of the state from east to west, travelers can catch a glimpse of the Old West while stopping at old-fashioned restaurants and roadside attractions.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 30 independent living communities in Oklahoma.

In Oklahoma, the state doesn’t license or regulate independent living communities unless they share a building or campus with a senior care facility. As such, stand-alone independent living facilities are only subject to general housing and rental standards to ensure proper maintenance and fairness when renting. Though they’re treated the same as rental properties, many have age requirements (typically residents must be at least 55) and offer senior-focused amenities.

Regulations for independent living communities on a senior care campus

Independent living communities often share a building or campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit. In these instances, independent living communities must follow assisted living regulations set by the Oklahoma State Department of Health Long Term Service of Protective Health Services.

Regulations for stand-alone independent living communities

The state only requires stand-alone independent living communities to comply with housing and apartment regulations, meaning tenants have certain rights. A landlord’s basic responsibilities to them involve:^[01]

• Making repairs within 14 days after receiving notice from a tenant
• Keeping facilities and appliances such as electricity, plumbing, heat, ventilation, air conditioning, elevators, and other appliances you supply in safe, working order
• Installing a smoke detector or detectors in accordance with nationally recognized codes and explaining how to test the detector(s) to the tenant
• Providing trash receptacles and frequent removal on premises with two family units, unless a government entity supplies them
• Always providing running water and reasonable amounts of hot water, unless there are separate metered utility connections

Protections against discrimination

Federal nondiscrimination laws such as the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect tenants from discrimination in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Fair Housing Law additionally prohibits discrimination regarding rentals for protected classes of people. This includes race, color, national origin, sex, familial status, handicap, and age (those who are 62 or older.^[01]

These laws also require landlords to provide reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities involving housing, programs, and activities. Reasonable accommodations are allowances or exceptions landlords make for individuals with disabilities. Examples include assigning a parking spot close to the entrance or allowing service animals, even if a no-pets policy is in place for those who need it.

Modifications are slightly different. These include changes to the physical property to ensure equal access and safety for those with disabilities. Modification might look like adding grab bars to the shower in an apartment or ensuring elevator access wide enough for wheelchair use. Oklahoma law requires landlords to pay for such modifications unless it results in an undue or unnecessary financial burden.

How to find Oklahoma independent living community inspection reports

Oklahoma doesn’t make inspection reports available at the state level. However, some cities and counties do require inspections. For example, the Tulsa Health Department’s housing inspections involve examining existing structures to confirm and enforce minimum building standards if the structure is being used. Prospective tenants can contact their city or county’s local housing authority for more information on independent living inspections in the area.

When independent living communities share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care unit, Protective Health Services/Long Term Care staff conduct unannounced compliance inspections every 15 months.^[02] These inspections — as well as complaint investigations, enforcement notices, and certification documents — can be viewed using the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Long Term Care provider search. Communities can be found by picking the type of facility you wish to look up (such as assisted living centers or nursing homes), then searching for them by name, county, city, or zip code. After choosing a facility, information such as its address, administrator, and phone number will be available, as well as any report conducted and made publicly visible. It’s worth noting the website uses popup windows when looking up reports, so if you use a popup blocker, you may want to disable it or allow popups while searching.

Oklahoma State Department of Health contact information

Oklahoma State Department of Health
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: (405) 426-8000 or (800) 522-0203 (toll free)