Oklahoma Code § 74-317.2

§ 74-317.2.

Churches - Temporary overnight accommodations.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

A. The Oklahoma Uniform Building Code or any building code

adopted by any political subdivision of this state, or any rules or

regulations promulgated thereto, may permit the authority having

jurisdiction to allow a church that is occupancy-rated an A3

building pursuant to any codes adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform

Building Code Commission to utilize its building space for temporary

overnight visitors for the purpose of religious retreats, ministry

programs, overnight or lock-in events, emergency or catastrophic

occurrences, to shelter transient persons or to accommodate

displaced persons due to hardship or inclement weather. Such

building use shall not constitute a change in code occupancy rating,

purposes or activities. Provided, any temporary overnight visitor

space utilized by a church within its existing buildings as

authorized by this section shall be authorized only for a limited

duration, unless the Governor has declared a state of emergency or

exigent circumstances exist. The church acting pursuant to the

provisions of this section shall not charge for its accommodations

nor be deemed a bed and breakfast, hotel or motel for any code

occupancy rating purposes.

B. Churches which temporarily accommodate overnight visitors as

provided in this section shall have one of the following:

1. An automatic sprinkler system in the area of overnight

accommodations that is monitored by a third party; or

2. A hard-wired stand-alone fire and smoke alarm in the area of

overnight accommodations in addition to an exit door or window

opening directly to a public way, exit court or yard area.

C. Nothing in the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code or any code

adopted by any political subdivision of this state, or any rules or

regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, shall be construed to

cause a church to be in violation of the Oklahoma Uniform Building

Code or any building code adopted by a political subdivision of this

state for the sole reason the church offers temporary overnight

visitor services within the authority of this section.

D. As used in this section:

1. "Church" means a facility that is owned by a religious

organization and that is used primarily for religious services;

2. "Religious organization" means any church, seminary,

synagogue, temple, mosque, religious order, religious corporation,

association or society, whose identity is distinctive in terms of

common religious creed, beliefs, doctrines, practices or rituals, of

any faith or denomination, including any organization qualifying as

a church or religious organization under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(d)

of the United States Internal Revenue Code; and

3. "Temporary" means no more than seventy-five (75) days in a

calendar year.

Added by Laws 2016, c. 378, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016. Amended by Laws

2017, c. 250, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017, emerg. eff. May 12, 2017.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government