Kansas Short-Term Rental Laws (2026)
Kansas regulates short-term rentals primarily at the state level — below is the verified statewide rule set: whether Airbnb-style rentals are legal, what registration or permits apply, the lodging taxes owed, and how the rules are enforced. Each fact is quoted from official sources and stamped with the date we last verified it.
Kansas has no statewide short-term-rental registration or license; regulation is left entirely to cities and counties, which are free to restrict or even ban STRs because Kansas has no permanent state preemption law. The one exception was temporary: HB 2481 (signed April 9, 2026) barred municipalities from capping STR permits or limiting rental duration during the FIFA World Cup window of May 15-July 25, 2026, and required 15-day permit processing with deemed approval. STR stays of 28 days or less owe the 6.5% state sales tax plus local sales tax and a local transient guest tax (1%-10% depending on jurisdiction), and platforms like Airbnb/Vrbo must collect these taxes on non-hotel lodging under the 2021 marketplace facilitator law (Senate Bill 50).
Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 8 official sources. How we verify data
Kansas statewide STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Unregulated |
|---|---|
| Permit required | No |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~12.5% of gross revenue |
| Enforcement | The Kansas Department of Revenue administers sales tax and the (locally imposed) transient guest tax; transient guest tax returns (form TG-1) are filed with KDOR, which remits 98% of collections back to the levying city/county. |
State law & local authority
The state imposes no STR zoning rules and does not permanently preempt local control; Kansas cities and counties retain full authority to zone, cap, restrict, or prohibit short-term rentals. The only state limit on that authority was HB 2481's temporary window (May 15-July 25, 2026, for the FIFA World Cup), during which municipalities could not limit the number of STR permits issued or the duration of rentals and had to process complete STR permit applications within 15 calendar days or the application was deemed approved.
State-level taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas retailers' sales tax (state)State rate 6.5% on gross receipts from sleeping-room rentals; local city/county sales taxes are added on top. Since 1992, rentals longer than 28 consecutive days are also subject to sales tax. Under 2021 SB 50 (KDOR Notice 21-24), marketplace facilitators (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) must collect and remit for rentals of less than 29 consecutive days of non-hotel lodging; hosts collect on direct bookings. | 6.5% | varies |
| Local transient guest taxLocal tax imposed by 39 counties and 100+ cities, administered by the Kansas Department of Revenue. Rates vary by jurisdiction from 1% (Osborne Co.) to 10% (Kansas City, KS, effective 4/1/2026) per KDOR's quarterly rate list (as of July 1, 2026); 6% is a representative mid-range rate — check the KDOR list for the exact local rate. Applies to stays of not more than 28 consecutive days. Statutorily it attaches to establishments with more than two bedrooms (K.S.A. 12-1692) and accommodations brokers with 2+ rooms, but marketplace facilitators must collect it on all non-hotel lodging they facilitate under SB 50, and HB 2481 temporarily broadened the 'transient guest' definition to cover all STR dwellings during May 15-July 25, 2026. | 6% | varies |
Enforcement & penalties
The Kansas Department of Revenue administers sales tax and the (locally imposed) transient guest tax; transient guest tax returns (form TG-1) are filed with KDOR, which remits 98% of collections back to the levying city/county. All other STR enforcement (permits, zoning, nuisance) happens at the local level — the state runs no STR enforcement program.
Statewide sources
- Kansas Dept. of Revenue Notice 21-24: Marketplace Facilitators - Lodging (Jan. 7, 2022)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Kansas Dept. of Revenue Pub. KS-1540, Business Taxes for Hotels, Motels and Restaurantsretrieved July 20, 2026
- Kansas Dept. of Revenue - Transient Guest Tax pageretrieved July 20, 2026
- KDOR Transient Guest Tax Rates and Effective Dates (quarterly list, as of July 1, 2026)retrieved July 20, 2026
- Kansas HB 2481 (2025-26 session), enrolled bill textretrieved July 20, 2026
- Kansas Legislature - HB 2481 bill page (status: signed by Governor)retrieved July 20, 2026
- WIBW: Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signs new bills Thursday (April 9, 2026)retrieved July 20, 2026
- CheckMate Rentals: Kansas Short-Term Rental Laws (secondary; used as lead only)retrieved July 20, 2026
City-level coverage in Kansas
We haven't published city-level rule pages for Kansasyet — statewide rules above are the operative layer we've verified. Cities may still impose zoning, business-license, or tax requirements on top. Request coverage for a specific Kansas city with a Pro account.
Compare every state at once in short-term rental laws by state or track Kansas rule changes on the change tracker.
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Regulations change frequently — verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating. HOA and condo rules may prohibit short-term rentals regardless of city law.