R-4 Zoning in Oklahoma City — Setbacks, Height, and Use Rules
R-4 is Oklahoma City's high-density multifamily district. It permits mid-rise apartment buildings, larger townhome complexes, and all lower-density residential uses. R-4 is mapped in and around downtown, along Classen, near OU Health, and in select transit-oriented locations.
Density in R-4 can reach 30+ dwelling units per acre depending on lot configuration and building design. Building height can exceed the R-3 35-foot cap significantly — 55 to 75+ feet is common depending on setback compliance and the underlying form-based standards.
R-4 development is typically the domain of experienced multifamily developers working with architects on a full site plan and design review process. First-time applicants should expect significant coordination with OKC Planning and Urban Design before ground-breaking.
What R-4 allows
Permitted uses in R-4
Mid-rise apartments, townhome complexes, and all uses permitted in R-1 through R-3. Some live-work and mixed-use configurations permitted with conditional approval.
Setback rules
R-4 setback requirements
Front setback
15–25 feet depending on street classification
Side setback
Scaled by building height — typically 10–20 feet
Rear setback
20–25 feet from rear property line
Height limit
Maximum structure height
Typically 55–75 feet; taller with conditional use and increased setbacks
Max density
Allowed density
30+ dwelling units per acre depending on configuration
Common uses in R-4 in Oklahoma City
- Mid-rise apartment buildings
- Townhome complexes
- Mixed-use residential (conditional)
- Student housing (near OU Health)
R-4 projects trigger formal site plan review, parking studies, traffic impact analysis for larger projects, and often a Planning Commission hearing. Density bonuses may be available for affordable housing commitments under select programs.
Verify zoning before you design
Permitly's zoning lookup tool cross-references OKC UDC standards against your project so you know what you can build before spending on design.
Related OKC zoning districts
R-3 · Multifamily Residential (Low Density)
Setbacks, height & allowed uses
C-2 · General Commercial
Setbacks, height & allowed uses
PUD · Planned Unit Development
Setbacks, height & allowed uses