housing covenants Archives - Tulsa Flyer

Stephen Wolff, a Tulsan living in Brookside, ran into a legal dispute over modifications he wanted to make to his home. He settled the case, which involved an older covenant in his deed, out of court. — Credit: Phillip Jackson / Tulsa Flyer

Old Tulsa housing covenants can derail home construction. The city can’t stop it.

by Phillip Jackson May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

If a neighbor does not want you to make additions to your home, an older housing covenant could lead to legal challenges.

Discriminatory housing covenants dating back nearly a century still exist in some property records, including several neighborhoods in midtown Tulsa. — Credit: Molly McElwain / Tulsa Flyer

Find discriminatory language in your property records? Here’s what Tulsans can do about it.

by Phillip Jackson April 23, 2026April 22, 2026

While there is no citywide effort to remove discriminatory language from deeds like Oklahoma City, Tulsans can file the paperwork themselves.

Mark Loop's house in Beverly Hill. Loop was researching his house's deed when he discovered an old covenant barring Black people from purchasing the house. — Credit: Molly McElwain / Tulsa Flyer

Hidden in fine print, discriminatory language from a century ago still exists in some Tulsa property records

by Phillip Jackson April 13, 2026April 13, 2026

Tulsa’s midtown neighborhoods have a history of discriminatory housing. But residents can get that property language removed.

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