Councilors Pass Law to Improve Access to Childcare
- Tulsa City Council
- 22 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
On January 28, the City Council passed an ordinance amending fire suppression requirements for home-based day cares that care for up to 12 children. Previously, the City’s building code required these day cares to install costly commercial-grade automatic sprinkler systems in the home before they could receive a Certificate of Occupancy, leading to numerous existing home-based childcare facilities being out of compliance while preventing new ones from operating.
BACKGROUND
This action follows three years of work by city and state officials to address childcare deserts in Oklahoma by removing barriers and restrictions, simplifying the process for new home-based day cares to open and ensuring current homes remain in compliance. The amendment allows about 250 residential day cares to remain in operation in Tulsa. Residential day cares often provide lower-cost options for childcare in a community or neighborhood setting.
The ordinance also aligns with House Bill (HB) 1847, which went into effect on November 1, 2025. This state law prohibits municipalities from imposing stricter fire and life safety requirements on family child care homes, except those outlined in the 2018 International Residential Code.
WHY IT MATTERS
The 2025 Annual Report from the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness indicated 55% of Oklahomans live in a child care desert. From June 2024 to July 2025, the state saw a net loss of 36 child care centers and 119 family child care homes.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) announced earlier this month that the COVID-era $5 per child, per day, add-on will end for day cares on April 6, 2026. OKDHS also announced that income eligibility for day care subsidies for families will drop from 85% to 55% of the State Median Income on July 1, 2026.
View the press release here.
TIMELINE
November 16, 2022 - Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper initiated a discussion regarding a zoning code amendment that would remove larger lot requirements for principal-use day cares in residential zones. Principal use means no one resides in the home, and a Special Exemption permit is required to consider the operational effect on the surrounding properties. The amendment would allow a simplified path for day care operators to open a facility in a repurposed single-family home when appropriate, without additional lot requirements.
November 30, 2022 - The City Council voted to initiate zoning code amendments removing larger lot size requirements. During public comments, day care providers recommended the City also amend the number of children allowed in family child care homes to align with state rules. A community meeting was held at Rudisill Library in north Tulsa on February 9, 2023, and a virtual meeting was held on March 23, 2023, to discuss the topic.
Watch the vote and comments here.
July 26, 2023 – The City Council voted to approve the zoning code amendment to reduce the lot and area requirement for operating day cares in residential zoning districts, allowing day cares the same lot and building regulations as a detached house. The zoning code amendment also increased the number of allowed children in family child care homes from seven to 12 to align with state rules.
December 6, 2023 - The City Council voted to approve a second round of zoning code amendments to remove the 300-foot spacing requirement between family child care homes. The City Council also grandfathered in about 78 pre-existing principal-use day cares from the requirement to receive a Special Exception permit from the Board of Adjustment. After November 15, 2023, any principal-use day care will need to apply for a Special Exemption permit to consider the effect of the use on surrounding properties. Before the vote, many interested parties expressed concerns regarding the fire suppression requirements for child care homes with more than seven children, which affect about 250 day cares in Tulsa. To obtain a certificate of occupancy and remain in compliance with local laws, residential day cares would have to install costly automatic sprinkler systems.
July 31, 2024 - The City Council voted to initiate a third zoning code amendment brought by Councilor Laura Bellis to extend the deadline for pre-existing child care homes to come into compliance with certificate of occupancy and sprinkler system requirements by one year to December 31, 2025. This allowed time to explore fire safety equivalencies to protect life without adding unnecessary requirements.
December 11, 2024 – City Councilors convened the annual Legislative Forum to engage with Tulsa-area State Legislators ahead of Oklahoma’s Legislative Session. Councilor Laura Bellis presented on the need for state legislation regarding fire suppression requirements.
Watch a video summarizing the forum here.
February 3, 2025 - Oklahoma House Bill (HB) 1847, sponsored by State Representatives Suzanne Schreiber (HD 70) and Ron Stewart (HD 73), went through first reading during a legislative session. This law prohibits municipalities from imposing stricter fire and life safety requirements on family child care homes, except those outlined in the 2018 International Residential Code, essentially removing the requirement for installation of sprinkler systems for in-home day cares.
Read the bill here.
Watch Committee discussions here:
May 13, 2025 - HB 1847 passed and became law without the governor’s signature.
Watch the vote here.
November 1, 2025 - HB 1847 went into effect as state law.
January 28, 2026 - The City Council voted to approve an ordinance amending the City’s Building Code to comply with the new state law, allowing licensed residential child care homes to comply with the International Residential Code and operate without an automatic sprinkler system. The ordinance will go into effect as soon as it is signed by the Mayor.
REACTIONS
"Childcare access is essential for ensuring families and our economy thrive,” said District 4 City Councilor Laura Bellis. “It's been a privilege to work alongside childcare workers, state legislators and my council colleagues over the past three years to make sure children are safe and these essential businesses can stay open. As childcare centers shutter across Oklahoma due to state funding cuts, it's never been more important to do all we can to support childcare operators."
"When regulation doesn’t improve safety or quality, it’s time to get rid of it,” said State House Representative Suzanne Schreiber. “I’m proud to have authored this bill, which directly impacts the cost of childcare. I’m proud to have worked with the childcare industry and local government leaders to get this right for families and those providing the critical service of taking care of our kids.”
"For working families, especially in North Tulsa, access to safe, affordable childcare isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said State House Representative Ron Stewart. “Too many small, home-based providers who have served our neighborhoods for years, and in some cases decades, were being pushed out by costly and unnecessary requirements that had no documented correlation with child safety in childcare. This ordinance, in alignment with state law, removes those barriers, protects trusted providers, and helps keep childcare close to home for parents who are working hard to provide for their families. When we support providers, we strengthen families, stabilize our workforce, and invest directly in the economic health of our communities."
“Family childcare homes are a critical part of Tulsa’s childcare infrastructure,” Cindy Decker, Executive Director of Tulsa Educare, said. “This ordinance reflects more than three years of collaboration between providers, city staff, and elected leaders who were willing to listen and problem-solve together to improve access to childcare across Tulsa.”
View the press release here.