Oklahoma non-compete law

Pay figure in the law

None found in the statutes we read

Separate rules for professions

None found in the statutes we read

Statutes and official texts quoted

Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 217; Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219A(A); Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219A(B); Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 218; Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219; Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219B

Is a non-compete allowed?

Oklahoma makes void any contract restraining someone from exercising a lawful profession, trade or business, except as provided in the listed statutory exceptions.

“Every contract by which any one is restrained from exercising a lawful profession, trade or business of any kind, otherwise than as provided by Sections 218 and 219 of this title, or otherwise than as provided by Section 2 of this act, is to that extent void.”
Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 217

A former employee who agreed (in writing or verbally) not to compete may still work in the same or a similar business as long as the former employee does not directly solicit sales from the former employer's established customers.

“A person who makes an agreement with an employer, whether in writing or verbally, not to compete with the employer after the employment relationship has been terminated, shall be permitted to engage in the same business as that conducted by the former employer or in a similar business as that conducted by the former employer as long as the former employee does not directly solicit the sale of goods, services or a combination of goods and services from the established customers of the former employer.”
Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219A(A)

Any employment contract provision that conflicts with section 219A is void and unenforceable.

“Any provision in a contract between an employer and an employee in conflict with the provisions of this section shall be void and unenforceable.”
Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219A(B)

Exceptions

A seller of a business's goodwill may agree with the buyer not to carry on a similar business within a specified county and contiguous counties, or a specified city or town, while the buyer carries on a like business there.

“One who sells the goodwill of a business may agree with the buyer to refrain from carrying on a similar business within a specified county and any county or counties contiguous thereto, or a specified city or town or any part thereof, so long as the buyer, or any person deriving title to the goodwill from him carries on a like business therein.”
Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 218

Partners may, upon or in anticipation of dissolution, agree not to carry on a similar business within a specified county and contiguous counties, or a specified city or town.

“Partners may, upon or in anticipation of a dissolution of the partnership, agree that none of them will carry on a similar business within a specified county and any county or counties contiguous thereto, or a specified city or town or any part thereof.”
Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219

Non-solicitation and no-hire rules

A provision barring an employee or independent contractor from soliciting the business's employees or contractors is not treated as a restraint of trade, and sections 217 through 219A do not apply to it.

“Sections 217, 218, 219 and 219A of Title 15 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall not apply to such contracts or contractual provisions.”
Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 219B

Federal rules

On September 5, 2025, the FTC moved to dismiss its appeals in Ryan, LLC v. FTC and Properties of the Villages v. FTC and to accede to vacatur of the Non-Compete Clause Rule. FTC press release, Sept. 5, 2025

The FTC's final rule removes the Non-Compete Rule (16 CFR part 910) from the Code of Federal Regulations. 91 Fed. Reg. (Feb. 12, 2026), FR Doc. 2026-02866

Before you sign, or before you assume you are bound

1. Find every restrictive clause: non-compete, non-solicitation, no-hire and confidentiality are separate promises with separate rules.
2. Note how long each lasts and what area or customers it covers.
3. Check which state’s law the agreement picks and where disputes must be heard.
4. Compare your pay and your job with the Oklahoma rules above.

Check your state with the non-compete checker.

Common questions

Are non-competes enforceable in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma makes void any contract restraining someone from exercising a lawful profession, trade or business, except as provided in the listed statutory exceptions. (Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 217).