Kansas Short-Term Rental Laws & Hotel Tax (2026)

State license required

Yes

Latest rule change

Jul 26, 2026

The laws in brief

Who needs it

Hosts in places that require one: every short-term rental in Wichita, Lawrence and Topeka, and every rental in unincorporated Johnson County and unincorporated Riley County.^{3,8,9,11,12,13}

Issued by

The city or county where the home stands, for example Lawrence Planning and Development Services, Wichita's City Licensing office, the Topeka Planning Division or the Johnson County Planning Department

Valid for

Wichita licenses expire one year after issue and cannot be transferred; unincorporated Johnson County permits are valid one year; Topeka administrative permits are valid two years; Lawrence licenses renew annually.

Processing

Wichita's application asks owners to allow 30 days for approval.

Fees

Who qualifies

• Wichita: one annual license for each dwelling unit; rentals without the owner present in the SF-10, SF-5, TF-3, MF-18 and MF-29 districts also need an administrative permit
• Lawrence: an owner may hold at most three licenses; the home is inspected before and during licensing
• Topeka: an administrative permit valid two years; Type II rentals without the owner may not sit within 500 feet of another Type II or Type III in residential districts
• Unincorporated Johnson County: a permit, a 24-hour local representative and no more than two guests per bedroom plus two
• Unincorporated Riley County: a license, with smoke, carbon monoxide and fire-extinguisher requirements

How to apply

1. 1 Find out whether the address is inside a city or in an unincorporated county area, then use that city's or county's planning or licensing office.
2. 2 Check zoning first: Wichita and Topeka approve rentals without the owner present only in certain districts, and Lawrence limits non-owner-occupied rentals in R-1 and R-2 districts.
3. 3 Submit the application and fee (Wichita through its City Licensing office, Lawrence through its online permit portal, unincorporated Johnson County to Planning staff).
4. 4 Register for Kansas lodging taxes where Airbnb does not collect, such as bookings made outside the platform.

Permit rules

Permits come from cities and counties

Short-term rental permits and authorizations in Kansas are issued by the city or county where the home stands, so the first step is to check that local office.¹

Airbnb collects state and local lodging taxes

Platforms that rent homes for fewer than 29 consecutive days count as marketplace facilitators and must collect and remit Kansas sales tax and transient guest tax on those stays, starting July 1, 2021.^6,18 In force since July 1, 2021

Wichita: annual license for each unit

Wichita requires an annual license for each dwelling unit run as a short-term rental. The license expires one year after issue and cannot be transferred to another person or location.⁸ Applies to: Wichita · In force since September 22, 2023

Wichita: $225 annual fee

The Wichita short-term rental license application lists a $225 annual fee, with a separate application for each property address.^2,9 Applies to: Wichita

Lawrence: license before renting

No one may rent a dwelling to transient guests in Lawrence without first obtaining a Short-term Rental License from Planning and Development Services and holding a current license for that property.³ Applies to: Lawrence

Lawrence: $17 license and $50 inspection

The Lawrence license fee is $17 a year, due at application and renewal, and the inspection fee is $50 per property.³ Applies to: Lawrence

Topeka: administrative permit, two years

Topeka approves most short-term rentals through an administrative permit that is valid for two years and renewed on a finding of compliance and payment of a fee; hosts who cannot meet the use requirements may seek a conditional use permit.¹¹ Applies to: Topeka

Unincorporated Johnson County: permit from April 2026

Rentals outside any city in Johnson County need a permit; the regulations took effect April 1, 2026, and the permit costs $150 a year.¹² Applies to: Johnson County (unincorporated) · In force since April 1, 2026

Unincorporated Riley County: license since 2022

Riley County has required a license for every short-term rental outside its cities since January 1, 2022; the application carries a $200 license fee.^13,14 Applies to: Riley County (unincorporated) · In force since January 1, 2022

Overland Park: allowed with a rental license

Overland Park's city page says short-term rentals are not regulated by its municipal code and are generally allowed with a rental license.¹⁵ Applies to: Overland Park

Wichita: administrative permit when the owner is away

In Wichita's SF-10, SF-5, TF-3, MF-18 and MF-29 districts, an owner-occupied rental is allowed by right and a rental without the owner needs an administrative permit; neighbors can protest it, and protests from more than half of eligible properties deny it.⁸ Applies to: Wichita · In force since September 22, 2023

Lawrence: three licenses per owner

An owner, licensee or person may hold at most three short-term rental licenses in Lawrence at one time.^3,10 Applies to: Lawrence

Lawrence: no non-owner rentals in R-1 and R-2

The city's temporary World Cup rule that allowed non-owner-occupied rentals in R-1 and R-2 districts ended in late July 2026; without it, non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in those districts are prohibited.¹⁰ Applies to: Lawrence · In force since July 26, 2026

Topeka: owner-occupied means 182 days

Topeka sorts rentals into Type I (owner-occupied), Type II (non-owner-occupied) and Type III (six or more bedrooms); a home is owner-occupied when the owner lives there 182 days or more a year.¹¹ Applies to: Topeka

Topeka: 500 feet between non-owner rentals

A Type II rental in a residential, M-1 or M-1A district established after March 1, 2021 must be at least 500 feet from another Type II or Type III rental in those districts.¹¹ Applies to: Topeka · In force since March 1, 2021

Overland Park: HOA rules may be stricter

Homeowner associations in Overland Park may set stricter rules than the city.¹⁵ Applies to: Overland Park

1. 1. Wichita

   Sedgwick County

   Wichita requires an annual license for each short-term rental dwelling unit, in force since September 22, 2023, and sets a $225 annual fee. Rentals without the owner present need an administrative permit in the city's residential districts, and the local guest tax is 6%.^2,7,8,9

   • Annual license for each dwelling unit; $225 a year; not transferable
   • Administrative permit for non-owner-occupied rentals in SF-10, SF-5, TF-3, MF-18 and MF-29 districts
   • $250,000 liability insurance per unit (platform coverage accepted)
   • Misdemeanor fine up to $500 and six months in jail, each day a separate offense

2. 2. Lawrence

   Douglas County

   Lawrence licenses short-term rentals through Planning and Development Services for $17 a year plus a $50 inspection, and limits an owner to three licenses. Non-owner-occupied rentals in R-1 and R-2 districts are prohibited now that the temporary World Cup rule has ended, and the local guest tax is 8%.^3,7,10

   • Short-term Rental License required; $17 a year plus $50 inspection
   • Maximum of three licenses per owner
   • Non-owner-occupied rentals prohibited in R-1 and R-2 after the temporary rule ended on July 26, 2026
   • Fine $500 to $2,500 for each unlawful act

3. 3. Topeka

   Shawnee County

   Topeka approves short-term rentals through an administrative permit valid for two years, with Type I (owner-occupied), Type II (non-owner-occupied) and Type III (six or more bedrooms) categories. The local guest tax is 7%.^7,11

   • Administrative permit, valid two years, renewed for a fee
   • Type I and II rentals have no more than five bedrooms for guests
   • A Type II rental must be 500 feet from another Type II or III in residential districts (after March 1, 2021)
   • No weddings, receptions or large gatherings at Type I and II rentals

4. 4. Overland Park

   Johnson County

   Overland Park's city page says short-term rentals are not regulated by its municipal code and are generally allowed with a rental license; homeowner associations may be stricter. The local guest tax is 9%.^7,15

   • Generally allowed with a city rental license
   • No short-term rental section in the municipal code, per the city's page
   • HOA rules may be more restrictive
   • Local transient guest tax 9%

5. 5. Olathe

   Johnson County

   Olathe's city page lists no separate short-term rental license and asks hosts to follow existing noise, trash and property maintenance codes and any HOA rules. The local guest tax is 9% from January 1, 2026.^7,16

   • No separate short-term rental license listed on the city's page
   • Existing noise, trash and property maintenance codes apply
   • Check HOA rules where they apply
   • Local transient guest tax 9% from January 1, 2026

What the host still handles

• A Kansas Department of Revenue sales tax and transient guest tax account for bookings made outside Airbnb (businesses with two or more rooms count as accommodation brokers)
• A city or county short-term rental license or permit where required (Wichita, Lawrence, Topeka, unincorporated Johnson and Riley counties)^4,5,6,7,18

2026 World Cup law paused local caps

A 2026 state law barred cities and counties from capping short-term rental permits or limiting rental length from May 15 to July 25, 2026, and required a response to a complete application within 15 days. The window has closed and local caps apply again.¹ In force since May 15, 2026

Guest tax depends on bedrooms and stay length

The Department of Revenue says the local transient guest tax applies when more than two bedrooms are furnished for guests and the stay is 28 consecutive days or less.^4,18

Accommodation brokers owe sales tax at any stay length

A business that keeps two or more rooms for rent, in one or more locations, is an accommodation broker. Its receipts are subject to sales tax whatever the length of stay, while the guest tax stops after 28 consecutive days.⁵

Wichita: $250,000 liability insurance

Wichita applicants attach proof of general liability insurance of $250,000 per rental unit; coverage provided by a booking platform is accepted.^2,9 Applies to: Wichita

Wichita: inspection after a complaint

When a complaint is filed with the Zoning Administrator, the city's inspection team checks the rental against housing, fire, building and zoning codes, and no license is reissued until violations are fixed.⁸ Applies to: Wichita

Unincorporated Johnson County: guest limit

Guests are limited to two people per bedroom plus two additional guests.¹² Applies to: Johnson County (unincorporated) · In force since April 1, 2026

Unincorporated Johnson County: local contact and quiet hours

The owner names a local representative available 24 hours a day during every rental, and quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.¹² Applies to: Johnson County (unincorporated) · In force since April 1, 2026

Unincorporated Riley County: safety equipment

Each rental needs a smoke detector in every bedroom, a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and furnace room, and a carbon monoxide detector.¹³ Applies to: Riley County (unincorporated)

Olathe: general codes apply

Olathe's city page lists no separate short-term rental license and asks hosts to follow existing noise, trash and property maintenance codes.¹⁶ Applies to: Olathe

• Lawrence: renting without a license is a municipal offense with a fine of $500 to $2,500 for each unlawful act, and the judge cannot suspend the minimum fine.³
• Wichita: operating without a license is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail, and each day is a separate offense.^2,8
• Unincorporated Riley County: properties that violate code requirements or operate without a license are subject to standard code enforcement and prosecution.¹⁷

1. July 26, 2026
   Lawrence temporary licenses expire

   Lawrence's temporary short-term rental licenses expired on July 26, 2026, restoring the three-license limit and the ban on non-owner-occupied rentals in R-1 and R-2 districts.¹⁰

2. July 25, 2026
   State World Cup window closes

   The state-law window that barred local permit caps and rental-length limits ran through July 25, 2026; local rules apply again.¹

3. May 25, 2026
   Lawrence relaxes short-term rental rules for the World Cup

   Lawrence allowed non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in R-1 and R-2 districts and set no limit on rentals per owner from May 25, 2026.¹⁰

4. April 9, 2026
   Kansas enacts World Cup short-term rental law

   House Bill 2481 was approved on April 9, 2026. It paused local caps on short-term rental permits and rental length from May 15 to July 25, 2026, set a 15-day permit decision deadline and widened the transient guest definition for that window.¹

5. April 1, 2026
   Unincorporated Johnson County permit

   Johnson County's short-term rental regulations for unincorporated areas took effect on April 1, 2026, with a $150 annual permit.¹²

6. January 1, 2026
   New guest tax rates in Lawrence and Olathe

   The Department of Revenue lists an 8% transient guest tax for Lawrence and a 9% rate for Olathe, both effective January 1, 2026.⁷

7. September 22, 2023
   Wichita licensing and zoning approvals

   Wichita's short-term rental zoning approvals and annual licensing program took effect on September 22, 2023, after council approval on September 12, 2023.⁸

8. January 1, 2022
   Riley County requires licenses

   Riley County began requiring a license for every short-term rental outside its cities.¹⁴

9. July 1, 2021
   Platforms start collecting Kansas lodging taxes

   Marketplace facilitators such as Airbnb must collect and remit Kansas sales tax and transient guest tax on rentals of fewer than 29 consecutive days, with collection starting July 1, 2021.⁶

Estimate what a home could earn

1. 1. 2026 Session Laws of Kansas, Chapter 96: House Bill 2481 · Kansas Secretary of State
2. 2. Short-Term Rental Licensing, Chapter 3.40 (draft of May 8, 2023) · City of Wichita
3. 3. Ordinance No. 9740, Short-Term Residential Rental Property Code (Chapter 6, Article 13A) · City of Lawrence
4. 4. Transient Guest · Kansas Department of Revenue
5. 5. Business Taxes for Hotels, Motels and Restaurants (Publication KS-1540) · Kansas Department of Revenue
6. 6. Notice 21-24: Marketplace Facilitators, Lodging · Kansas Department of Revenue
7. 7. Transient Guest Tax Rates and Effective Dates (updated October 1, 2026) · Kansas Department of Revenue
8. 8. Short Term Rentals in Wichita · Wichita-Sedgwick County Planning
9. 9. Short-Term Rental License Application ($225.00 annual fee) · City of Wichita City Licensing
10. 10. The Flame, April 2026 · City of Lawrence
11. 11. Short Term Rentals Summary · City of Topeka Planning Division
12. 12. Short-Term Rental Permit · Johnson County Planning Department
13. 13. Short-Term Rental Regulations · Riley County
14. 14. Proposed Updates to Short-Term Rental Policy (April 15, 2025) · Riley County
15. 15. City's research, work continues on short term rentals · City of Overland Park
16. 16. Short Term Rentals · City of Olathe
17. 17. Proposed Updates to Short-Term Rental Regulations (October 23, 2025) · Riley County Planning and Development
18. 18. Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Kansas · Airbnb Help Center