Kansas Short-Term Rental Laws and Lodging Tax by City: Wichita, Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City KS and More
Kansas Short-Term Rental Laws and Lodging Tax by City: Wichita, Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City KS and More
If you plan to list a house, apartment or room on Airbnb, VRBO or a similar platform in Kansas, the first thing to know is that the state does not have a permanent short-term rental statute. Your real rules come from the city or county where the property sits, plus two state taxes: the state transient guest tax and the state sales tax. Kansas kept its rules at the local level, so the same listing can face very different permit, tax and minimum-stay requirements a few miles apart.
This guide covers the kansas short term rental laws that matter, the kansas short term rental tax you will collect, and the kansas airbnb laws that differ by city. It also shows where to confirm each item.
Informational only. This guide is not legal or tax advice. Rates, fees and local ordinances change. Confirm every figure with the agency named before you accept a booking, and talk with a qualified attorney or CPA about your situation.
Is There a Statewide Short-Term Rental Law in Kansas?
No permanent statewide short-term rental statute exists. Kansas does not set a state license, a state permit or a state registration process specifically for short-term rentals. Local governments decide whether you need a permit, zoning approval, an occupation tax, a minimum stay or a limit on how many nights you can host.
Because local rules govern most of the work, start with the city clerk and the planning or zoning office for the address. If the property is outside city limits, the county governs it. Kansas has 105 counties and 624 cities, and every incorporated place is legally a city. A property that is not inside any city is unincorporated and falls under county rules.
The 2026 World Cup Permit Cap (HB 2481)
In 2026, the Legislature passed HB 2481, which limited the number of city short-term rental permits for a short window. The cap applied only from May 15, 2026 to July 25, 2026, the period tied to the World Cup. According to the Kansas Register notice dated April 23, 2026, that law has expired. It does not apply to listings you create today.
If you saw older articles about a broader statewide short-term rental bill, those are not current. This guide does not rely on any other bill number or statute for short-term rentals.
The State Transient Guest Tax
The state transient guest tax is the lodging tax most hosts need to understand first. According to the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR), it applies when more than two bedrooms are furnished for guests and the rental is 28 consecutive days or less.
Two points to check with KDOR:
- Your bedroom count and stay length. If your property has two or fewer bedrooms furnished for guests, or your stays regularly run longer than 28 consecutive days, confirm your status before you assume the tax applies or does not apply.
- The current state rate. This guide does not state the state transient guest tax rate. Look up the current figure on the KDOR business page at ksrevenue.gov/business.html.
Local Transient Guest Tax Rates by City
Local transient guest tax rates vary by city. The table below lists the rates shown on the KDOR transient guest tax rate list as of October 2026. Rates change, so check the list for the exact address before you set your nightly price.
| City | Transient guest tax rate (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Wichita | 6% |
| Topeka | 7% |
| Manhattan | 7.5% |
| Lenexa | 8% |
| Lawrence | 8% |
| Olathe | 9% |
| Overland Park | 9% |
| Shawnee | 9% |
| Kansas City | 10% |
The KDOR list shows Kansas City at 10%. Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri are different cities in different states, and this guide covers only the Kansas side. Confirm the rate for a Kansas City, Kansas address directly with KDOR before you rely on the 10% figure. Leawood and Prairie Village are not in the table above, so confirm their rates on the KDOR list as well.
Sales Tax on Lodging Is Separate
State and local sales tax on lodging is a separate obligation from the transient guest tax. Kansas charges a 6.5% state sales tax rate. Do not assume that one number covers the other. Register for the taxes that apply to your property through KDOR, and ask KDOR how each tax is reported and remitted. The sales tax permit registration page is ksrevenue.gov/busregistration.html.
City-by-City Rules
The rules below are the ones this guide could verify. Where a city is not listed with a specific rule, treat the city as having its own requirements and confirm them before you list.
Wichita
Wichita requires zoning approval and an annual license for short-term rentals, a requirement in place since September 2023. Apply for zoning approval before you accept your first booking, then renew the license each year. Wichita's transient guest tax rate is 6%.
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas requires a short-term rental permit. Under the 2025 fee table, the city also charges an occupation tax of $4 per bedroom. Confirm the current permit fee and the occupation tax calculation with the city before you apply, because fee schedules change.
Lawrence
Lawrence sets its own short-term rental rules and may set minimum stays. Confirm the current requirements with the Lawrence city clerk and planning office. Lawrence's transient guest tax rate is 8%.
Topeka
Topeka sets its own short-term rental rules and may set minimum stays. Confirm them with the Topeka city clerk and planning office. Topeka's transient guest tax rate is 7%.
Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Leawood, Prairie Village and Shawnee
Each of these Johnson County area cities sets its own short-term rental rules or minimum stays. Overland Park and Olathe both show a 9% transient guest tax rate on the KDOR list. Lenexa and Lawrence show 8%. Shawnee shows 9%. Leawood and Prairie Village require a check on the KDOR list. Ask each city's clerk and planning office what applies before you list.
Manhattan
Manhattan's transient guest tax rate is 7.5%. This guide could not confirm Manhattan's short-term rental rules, so check with the city before you list.
Unincorporated Riley County
Properties outside city limits in Riley County fall under county rules. The county charges $200 for an unincorporated short-term rental license. Confirm the current license requirements with the Riley County office.
Registering the Business
Kansas has no general statewide business license. Registering a business entity with the Kansas Secretary of State is a filing, not a license. Business tax registration with KDOR is free. Local permits, occupation taxes and any trade license still apply separately.
If You Form an LLC
Many hosts hold rental property in an LLC. In Kansas, the formation document is Articles of Organization, Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form DL), with an $85 filing fee. The filing is processed through the Secretary of State online filing portal at sos.ks.gov, and online filings process within minutes.
Keep these LLC details in mind:
- Name: The name must include L.L.C., L.C., LLC, LC, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY or LIMITED COMPANY.
- Resident agent: Kansas uses the term resident agent. The registered office must be a Kansas street address, not a PO box.
- Recurring filing: The Information Report is biennial, not annual. It costs $90 online and is due every two years by April 15. Businesses formed in an even year report in each succeeding even year, and businesses formed in an odd year report in each succeeding odd year.
- No franchise tax: Kansas has no LLC franchise tax. An LLC is a pass-through entity for state income tax, so members report Kansas income on individual returns at 5.2% up to $23,000 of Kansas taxable income for single filers or $46,000 for married filing jointly, and 5.58% above those thresholds.
Using a Name Other Than Your Legal Name
Kansas has no state-level DBA, assumed name or trade name filing. Check your city and county for any local name requirement. You can protect a brand through a Secretary of State trademark or service mark registration instead.
Search existing registrations at the Secretary of State's business search at sos.ks.gov business search before you choose a name.
Renovations and Trade Licenses
If you convert a space into a guest unit, Kansas has no statewide general contractor, electrician, plumber or HVAC license. Cities and counties license those trades, so hire a contractor licensed where the property sits and pull the permits the city or county requires. A short-term rental that serves food or prepares meals may also need a food license from the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), so confirm that separately.
Host Checklist
- Confirm the jurisdiction. Determine whether the address is inside a city or unincorporated county land.
- Ask the local office for its rules. Contact the city clerk or county office and the planning or zoning office. Ask about permits, zoning approval, occupation taxes and minimum stays.
- Apply for any local permit or license first. Wichita requires zoning approval and an annual license. Kansas City, Kansas requires a permit.
- Check the transient guest tax. Confirm whether more than two bedrooms are furnished for guests and whether stays run 28 consecutive days or less. Then confirm the state and local rates on the KDOR list.
- Register with KDOR. Set up the tax accounts that apply to you through the Department of Revenue. Registration is free.
- Decide on an entity. If you form an LLC, file Articles of Organization for $85 and calendar the $90 online Information Report due every two years by April 15.
- Price for the tax. Build the local transient guest tax and sales tax into your nightly rate before you publish.
- Keep records. Save permit approvals, tax filings and receipts, since local offices and KDOR may ask for them.
Where to Confirm Each Requirement
- Kansas Department of Revenue: ksrevenue.gov/business.html for transient guest tax, sales tax and rate lists.
- Kansas Secretary of State: sos.ks.gov/business/business.html for LLC formation, the Information Report and business name searches.
- City clerk and planning or zoning office: Use the city's own website or phone line for permits, zoning and minimum stays. Kansas City, Kansas and Lawrence, Topeka and Johnson County cities each handle their own rules.
- Kansas Small Business Development Center: kansassbdc.net for general help with starting a Kansas business.
A short-term rental in Kansas is a local permit question layered on top of two state taxes. Confirm the city or county rules first, then the KDOR rate, then the state filing. For anything complex, such as multiple properties, a property inside a city with a tight permit cap, or an LLC holding real estate, consult a qualified attorney or CPA before you accept bookings.