Tillman County occupies the southwestern corner of Oklahoma along the Red River, bordering Texas to the south in a landscape of flat to gently rolling red plains, cotton fields, and shortgrass prairie. Named for Senator Benjamin “Pitchfork Ben” Tillman of South Carolina — a controversial figure remembered for inflammatory rhetoric who had no actual connection to Oklahoma — the county was carved from Comanche County at Oklahoma statehood in 1907 with Frederick selected as the county seat. Cotton, wheat, cattle, and sorghum have defined the agricultural economy since settlement. Altus Air Force Base (97th Air Mobility Wing, in neighboring Jackson County) is the region’s major military presence and its employment influence extends into Tillman County. Frederick Regional Airport serves both civilian and significant military training functions. The county is not subject to McGirt v. Oklahoma.
With a 2020 census population of approximately 6,968, Tillman County is one of Oklahoma’s smaller counties and has experienced rural depopulation common to agricultural southwest Oklahoma. Frederick (~3,600) is the county seat and sole community of significant size. Grandfield, Tipton, and Davidson are very small communities. The rental market is extremely limited, with almost all housing owner-occupied. Rents in Frederick range from $400–$600 per month.
3rd Judicial District (with Greer, Harmon & Jackson)
Typical Rent
~$400–$600/mo (Frederick)
⚠️ Courthouse Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (closes 1 hr early)
McGirt Status
No McGirt — standard OK state court
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Lease Violation
15-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Month-to-Month Term.
30-Day Written Notice
Security Deposit Cap
No statutory cap
Deposit Return
45 days after termination + possession + written demand
Late Fees
Must be in lease; cannot be included in 5-day notice
Entry Notice
24 hours (non-emergency)
Statute
Okla. Stat. tit. 41 (ORLTA)
Tillman County Ordinances & Local Rules
Topic
Rule / Notes
Rental Licensing
No county rental licensing required. Oklahoma has no statewide landlord licensing statute.
Rent Control
None. Oklahoma has no rent control statute and no local rent stabilization ordinances exist in Tillman County.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap. Deposit must be held in an Oklahoma FDIC-insured financial institution (Okla. Stat. tit. 41 § 115). Must be returned within 45 days after all three triggers: termination of tenancy, delivery of possession, and written demand by tenant.
3rd Judicial District Court — ⚠️ Closes at 4:00 PM
Evictions (FEDs) filed at Tillman County Courthouse: 201 N. Main St., Frederick, OK 73542. Phone: (580) 335-3421. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM — closes one hour earlier than most Oklahoma county courts. Plan courthouse visits and FED filings before 4:00 PM. The 3rd Judicial District also serves Greer County (Mangum), Harmon County (Hollis), and Jackson County (Altus).
Habitability
ORLTA habitability standards apply (tit. 41 § 118). Southwestern Oklahoma along the Red River brings very hot, dry summers, variable winters with ice storm risk, tornado exposure, and periodic drought. Strong winds are common. Functioning HVAC is essential; heating system reliability in winter is critical.
Altus AFB / SCRA
Altus Air Force Base (97th Air Mobility Wing, in neighboring Jackson County) is the region’s dominant military employer. Some active-duty personnel assigned to Altus AFB live in Tillman County. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) applies to active-duty military — always run a SCRA search before filing any eviction action against a tenant who may be on active duty.
Tribal Jurisdiction
No tribal jurisdiction issues. Tillman County is not subject to McGirt-type reservation analysis. Standard Oklahoma state court FED proceedings apply in full.
Self-Help Eviction
Prohibited statewide. All tenant removals require a court FED process. Lockouts and utility shutoffs without a court order are illegal under Oklahoma law.
15 (10 to cure; general violations); Immediate (criminal/imminent harm)
Days Notice (Violation)
12-35
Avg Total Days
$$85
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Notice Period5 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 5 days to stop eviction
Days to Hearing5-10 (hearing scheduled after filing; summons served at least 3 days before hearing) days
Days to Writ48 hours after judgment (writ of execution served) days
Total Estimated Timeline12-35 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-400
⚠️ Watch Out
5-day notice for nonpayment - rent is late the moment due date passes (no statutory grace period unless lease provides one). Notice must state unpaid amount and termination date (not less than 5 days). Tenant paying in full within 5 days stops eviction. After judgment: tenant gets 48 hours via writ of execution served by sheriff ($50 or actual expenses). CRITICAL: If tenant didn't receive proper notice and default judgment entered, tenant can reverse by paying all rent + costs + attorney fees within 72 hours (12 O.S. § 1148.10B). Abandoned property: 30 days to claim (§ 41-130). Landlord-friendly state with fast process.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the District Court - Small Claims Division - Forcible Entry and Detainer (Title 12 §§ 1148.1-1148.16). Pay the filing fee (~$$85).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
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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tenant screening in Oklahoma —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Altus AFB spillover / SCRA: Some active-duty personnel at Altus Air Force Base (Jackson County) reside in Tillman County. Altus AFB is one of the Air Force’s primary tanker/airlift training bases. Always run a SCRA search before filing any eviction action against a tenant who may be on active duty. SCRA protections include caps on interest rates and protections against eviction.
Agricultural & government workers: County, school district, and Frederick city government provide the county’s most stable employment. Agricultural income (cotton, wheat, cattle) is seasonal and weather/commodity-price dependent — request multi-year documentation for farm operators. Farm employee income can vary significantly with crop cycles.
Small market guidance: With a county population under 7,000, written leases and documented screening criteria are essential. Fair Housing Act compliance applies in full regardless of market size — apply consistent, objective written standards to every applicant.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Tillman County Oklahoma Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Frederick & Southwestern Oklahoma Red River Country Rental Property Owners
Tillman County occupies southwestern Oklahoma along the Red River — the boundary between Oklahoma and Texas — in a landscape of flat to gently rolling red plains, cotton fields, and shortgrass prairie that exemplifies the agricultural character of Oklahoma’s southwestern corner. Named for Senator Benjamin “Pitchfork Ben” Tillman of South Carolina — a controversial figure in American political history who had no actual connection to Oklahoma — the county was carved from Comanche County at Oklahoma statehood in 1907, with Frederick selected as county seat. Cotton, wheat, cattle, corn, and sorghum have defined the agricultural economy since the earliest settlement era, when prominent Texas ranchers including Daniel and William Thomas Waggoner leased grazing land from the Kiowa and Comanche before settlement.
With a 2020 census population of approximately 6,968, Tillman County has experienced the rural depopulation that affects much of agricultural southwest Oklahoma. Frederick (~3,600) is the county seat and sole community of significance. Altus Air Force Base, located in neighboring Jackson County, is the region’s dominant military employer and its economic influence extends into Tillman County — some active-duty personnel live in Frederick while working at Altus AFB. No tribal jurisdiction issues apply. The rental market is extremely limited, with most housing owner-occupied, and rents in Frederick range from $400 to $600 per month.
The ORLTA in Tillman County
All residential rental relationships in Tillman County are governed by the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORLTA), codified at Oklahoma Statutes Title 41. No local ordinances modify the ORLTA in Tillman County. 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. Non-emergency entry requires twenty-four hours’ advance notice. Security deposits have no cap but must be held in an FDIC-insured Oklahoma institution. Self-help eviction is prohibited statewide.
Eviction Procedure at the 3rd Judicial District Court
FED actions in Tillman County are filed at the Tillman County Courthouse, 201 N. Main St., Frederick, OK 73542, phone (580) 335-3421. Important: Courthouse closes at 4:00 PM — one hour earlier than most Oklahoma county courts. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. The 3rd Judicial District also serves Greer County (Mangum), Harmon County (Hollis), and Jackson County (Altus).
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Oklahoma attorney or contact the Tillman County District Court at (580) 335-3421 for guidance specific to your situation. Last updated: April 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Courthouse closes at 4:00 PM. Always run a SCRA search before evicting any tenant who may be active-duty military. Consult a licensed Oklahoma attorney or contact the Tillman County District Court at (580) 335-3421 for specific guidance. Last updated: April 2026.
