Jackson County Landlord-Tenant Law

Oklahoma landlord guide — county ordinances, courthouse info & local rules

Jackson County Rental Market Overview

Jackson County anchors the southwestern corner of Oklahoma, where the Red River plains of cotton country meet the prairie uplands along the Texas border. Named for President Andrew Jackson, the county was organized at statehood in 1907 and has long been one of southwestern Oklahoma’s economic centers — a status rooted in Altus’s position as the region’s commercial hub and reinforced by the presence of Altus Air Force Base, home of the 97th Air Mobility Wing. With a 2020 census population of approximately 24,785, Jackson County is one of the larger rural counties in southwestern Oklahoma. Altus, the county seat with approximately 18,000 residents, is by far the dominant city and the source of nearly all of the county’s rental market activity.

The Altus rental market is defined above all by Altus AFB — one of the U.S. Air Force’s primary training bases for airlift and refueling aircraft, with a permanent party population supplemented by a constant rotation of student aircrew. Military families, active duty personnel, and base civilian employees anchor the rental market. Agriculture (cotton, wheat, peanuts, and irrigated crops from the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District), county government, healthcare at Jackson County Memorial Hospital, and retail fill out the civilian side. Rents in Altus range from $700–$1,100 per month. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is critically important in this market — landlords must understand its protections fully.

Jackson County Ordinances & Local Rules

Last verified: April 2026 · Source: OSCN

Oklahoma State Law Framework

⚡ Quick Overview

5

Days Notice (Nonpayment)

15 (10 to cure; general violations); Immediate (criminal/imminent harm)

Days Notice (Violation)

12-35

Avg Total Days

$$85

Filing Fee (Approx)

💰 Nonpayment of Rent

Notice Type 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit

Notice Period 5 days

Tenant Can Cure? Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 5 days to stop eviction

Days to Hearing 5-10 (hearing scheduled after filing; summons served at least 3 days before hearing) days

Days to Writ 48 hours after judgment (writ of execution served) days

Total Estimated Timeline 12-35 days

Total Estimated Cost $150-400

⚠️ Watch Out

5-day notice for nonpayment - rent is late the moment due date passes (no statutory grace period unless lease provides one). Notice must state unpaid amount and termination date (not less than 5 days). Tenant paying in full within 5 days stops eviction. After judgment: tenant gets 48 hours via writ of execution served by sheriff ($50 or actual expenses). CRITICAL: If tenant didn't receive proper notice and default judgment entered, tenant can reverse by paying all rent + costs + attorney fees within 72 hours (12 O.S. § 1148.10B). Abandoned property: 30 days to claim (§ 41-130). Landlord-friendly state with fast process.

📜 Eviction Laws Main 📊 Compare This State

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📝 Oklahoma Eviction Process (Overview)

1. Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
2. Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
3. File an eviction case with the District Court - Small Claims Division - Forcible Entry and Detainer (Title 12 §§ 1148.1-1148.16). Pay the filing fee (~$$85).
4. Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
5. Attend the court hearing and present your case.
6. If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
7. Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Oklahoma eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice. Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections. For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Oklahoma attorney or local legal aid organization.

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Underground Landlord

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Jackson County Oklahoma Landlord-Tenant Law: Complete Guide for Altus AFB Area Rental Property Owners

Jackson County is the economic and governmental hub of southwestern Oklahoma’s cotton and wheat country, and its rental market is shaped more than any other single factor by the presence of Altus Air Force Base — home of the 97th Air Mobility Wing and one of the U.S. Air Force’s most important pilot training installations. The base trains crews for the KC-46 Pegasus, the C-17 Globemaster III, and the C-130 Hercules, making it a constant source of student aircrew rotations, permanent party military families, and the civilian and contractor workforce that supports the flying mission. This military presence gives Altus a rental market that behaves differently from typical rural Oklahoma counties — it is more active, rents are higher, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a daily operational reality rather than an occasional edge case. The county’s agricultural economy — built on cotton, wheat, peanuts, and the irrigated crops sustained by the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District’s Red River water — provides the civilian economic complement to the military mission.

Named for President Andrew Jackson, the county was organized at statehood in 1907 with Altus as its seat. Today Altus, with approximately 18,000 residents, is the county’s dominant city — one of the larger cities in rural southwestern Oklahoma — with Jackson County Memorial Hospital, a regional retail presence, and the county government providing civilian employment alongside the base. The county’s 2020 census population of approximately 24,785 includes the active duty military population on the installation. Rents in Altus range from $700 to $1,100 per month, significantly higher than surrounding counties, reflecting the BAH-supported demand that military housing creates in any military market.

The SCRA: Non-Negotiable in an Altus AFB Market

Any landlord operating in the Altus market must internalize the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. § 3955) before renting to active duty military tenants. The SCRA allows a servicemember to terminate a residential lease by providing 30 days’ written notice together with a copy of qualifying military orders — a PCS move, a deployment of 90 days or more, or certain separation or retirement situations. When proper SCRA notice is given, the tenancy terminates at the end of the rental period after the 30-day notice period runs. The landlord has no right to hold the servicemember to the lease, impose early-termination penalties, or retain the security deposit as compensation for the early exit. Violating these protections is a federal offense. Military-market landlords who are unfamiliar with SCRA should consult an attorney or review the DOD’s published SCRA guidance before entering their first military lease.

The ORLTA in Jackson County

All residential rental relationships in Jackson County are governed by the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORLTA), codified at Oklahoma Statutes Title 41, supplemented by federal SCRA protections for servicemember tenants. No local ordinances in Jackson County or Altus modify the ORLTA. There is no rental licensing requirement and no rent control. For nonpayment, a five-day pay-or-quit notice (rent only — no late fees) is required before filing a FED. For other lease violations, a fifteen-day notice to cure or quit is required. Month-to-month tenancies require thirty days’ written notice to terminate. Non-emergency entry requires twenty-four hours’ advance notice. Security deposits have no cap but must be held in an FDIC-insured Oklahoma institution, with the 45-day return clock beginning only after termination, possession delivery, and written tenant demand.

Eviction Procedure at the 3rd Judicial District Court

FED actions in Jackson County are filed at the Jackson County Courthouse, 101 N. Main St., Altus, OK 73522, phone (580) 482-4070, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Jackson County is part of Oklahoma’s 3rd Judicial District, which also serves Greer, Harmon, Kiowa, and Tillman Counties. After the applicable notice period expires, the landlord files the FED petition, pays the filing fee, and is assigned a hearing date. Before filing a FED against a servicemember, landlords must verify SCRA compliance — courts are required to stay FED proceedings against servicemembers in some circumstances, and filing without proper SCRA review exposes landlords to significant federal liability.

This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Oklahoma attorney or contact the Jackson County District Court at (580) 482-4070 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: April 2026.