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Oklahoma: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

Oklahoma has 1.8 million housing units. 49.4% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1980. 65.8% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

Oklahoma housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

Oklahoma housing units by year built 49.4% of Oklahoma housing units were built before 1980 and 50.6% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 2.0%; 2010–2019: 11.2%; 2000–2009: 13.2%; 1990–1999: 10.3%; 1980–1989: 13.8%; 1970–1979: 17.6%; 1960–1969: 10.8%; 1950–1959: 9.3%; 1940–1949: 4.8%; 1939 or earlier: 6.9%. Before 1980 49.4% 1980 or later 50.6% 2020 or later 2.0% 2010–2019 11.2% 2000–2009 13.2% 1990–1999 10.3% 1980–1989 13.8% 1970–1979 17.6% 1960–1969 10.8% 1950–1959 9.3% 1940–1949 4.8% 1939 or earlier 6.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Lead-Based Paint Management Program administers in Oklahoma.

How homes are heated

How homes in Oklahoma are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 1.6 million occupied homes

  • Utility gas 49.7%
  • Electricity 41.7%
  • Propane or other tank gas 6.1%
  • Wood 1.3%
  • Other fuel 0.6%
  • No fuel used 0.4%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 0.2%
  • Solar energy 0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how Oklahoma's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
3A90.5%59
4A8.8%15
4B0.7%3

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. Oklahoma spans 2: South-Central (90.5% of residents), North-Central (9.5% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 77 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 48 days in the mildest county to 135 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

0.5% of residential structures in Oklahoma carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 6,994 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 2 of 77 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding.

Fire ants and termites

23 of Oklahoma's 77 counties are inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine, home to 15.2% of its residents. The federal quarantine requires a certificate to move soil, sod, nursery plants with soil attached, used soil-moving equipment, and hay or straw stored on the ground out of the quarantined area.

Who licenses the work in Oklahoma

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Consumer Protection Services Division ag.ok.gov ag.ok.gov
  11. Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Consumer Protection Services Division ag.ok.gov ag.ok.gov
  12. Oklahoma Construction Industries Board oklahoma.gov oklahoma.gov
  13. Oklahoma Construction Industries Board oklahoma.gov oklahoma.gov
  14. Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Lead-Based Paint Management Program oklahoma.gov oklahoma.gov