Short-term rentals

What Are Short-Term Rentals?

A Short-Term Rental (STR) is a dwelling unit rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days. In Kansas City, Missouri, all STRs must be registered with the City and comply with applicable zoning, licensing, safety, and tax requirements.

Find more information on the Short-Term Rental City page .

KCMO recognizes two types of STRs:

  • Resident STR: The owner or applicant lives on the property 270 days out of the year.
  • Non-Resident STR: The owner or applicant does not live on the property 270 days out of the year.

Types of Short-Term Rentals

Resident STR

A Resident STR is a rental where the applicant lives on the property as their primary residence 270 days out of the year.

  • Allowed in residential zones.
  • Not subject to zoning or density requirements.

Non-Resident STR

A Non-Resident STR is a rental where the owner or applicant does not live on the property 270 days out of the year.

  • Prohibited in residentially zoned areas. Check your zone using Parcel Viewer .
  • Properties with two or fewer units may not be located within 1,000 feet of another Non-Resident STR in a building with two or fewer units.
  • For properties with three or more units, no more than 12.5% of the units may be used as short-term rentals.
  • The property must not receive City incentives, such as tax abatements, to qualify for Non-Resident short-term rental.

Properties that are “grandfathered-in” are exempt from zoning, density, and City incentive restrictions. “Grandfathered-in” refers to properties that were previously permitted before the new ordinances on June 15, 2023.

Why STR Registration Matters

STR registration ensures compliance with KCMO zoning laws, safety requirements, and tax regulations. All STRs must be registered before being listed on platforms such as Airbnb or VRBO. Failure to register may result in fines or enforcement actions.

How to Apply

Both applications are available online through CompassKC , and applicants must have the required documents before submitting. Once you submit your application, expect someone to reach out within 7-10 business days to schedule your inspection.

Resident STR Application Checklist

  • Proof of possession of property
    • Warranty Deed - obtained through the county Recorder of Deeds office
    • Deed of Trust - obtained through the county Recorder of Deeds office
    • Lease
    • Verification of tenant's rights to possession of dwelling unit
  • Proof of residency - Two different forms of proof are required. Multiple utility bills count as one form.
    • Motor vehicle registration
    • Voter registration
    • Current utility bill(s)
    • Recent pay stub, if address is shown
    • Other legal documents deemed sufficient. Email shorttermrental@kcmo.org.
  • Registrant Certification Affidavit - required for all registrants.
  • Owner Consent Affidavit - required for registrants who do not own the property.
  • Owner's Certification of Registration Affidavit - required for registrants who do not own the property.
  • Kansas City Tax Clearance Letter
    • Register your STR account with a business license online through QuickTax .
    • When your accounts are set up, you can then obtain a tax clearance letter.
      • If you have an existing account with the Finance Department, you will still need to establish a short-term rental account for each short-term rental property by completing one RD-100.
      • You can complete this in person on the 1st floor of City Hall, Finance Division / Business License, as well.
  • Submit the Short Term Rental Registration, Resident application through CompassKC .
  • Once the inspection is completed and all required fees are paid, you are approved to operate and can add your STR registration number to all online listings.

Non-Resident STR Application Checklist

  • Proof of possession
    • Warranty Deed
    • Deed of Trust
    • Lease
    • Verification of tenant's rights to possession of dwelling unit
  • Active Business License or Notice of Active Accounts
  • Registrant Certification Affidavit - required for all registrants.
  • Management Control and Responsibility Affidavit
  • Owner's Consent Affidavit - required for non-owners only.
  • Owner's Certification of Registration Affidavit
  • Kansas City Tax Clearance Letter
    • Register your STR account with a business license online through QuickTax .
    • When your accounts are set up, you can then obtain a tax clearance letter.
    • If you have an existing account with the Finance Department, you will still need to establish a short-term rental account for each short-term rental property by completing one RD-100.
    • You can complete this in person on the 1st floor of City Hall, Finance Division / Business License, as well.
  • Submit the Short Term Rental Registration, Non-Resident application through CompassKC .
  • Once the inspection is completed and all required fees are paid, you are approved to operate and can add your STR registration number to all online listings.

Renewal Requirements

Per Kansas City, Missouri Code of Ordinances Chapter 56, Article VIII, Sec. 56-803(6), a valid, unexpired short-term rental registration is required to legally operate a short-term rental property within the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

Each registration issued shall expire at the end of its registration period, which is one year, and shall be subject to renewal annually. Renewal registration, or re-registration, will be accepted beginning 30 days before the end of the previous registration period.

To renew, you will need to follow the steps as if you were applying for a new short-term rental registration. The Tax Clearance Letter and utility bills, if applicable, should be dated within 30 days of the application date.

Important KCMO STR Rules

  • Non-Resident STRs are prohibited in residential zones unless grandfathered in.
  • STRs in 1-2 unit buildings must follow the 1,000-foot separation rule.
  • Multifamily buildings may only have up to 12.5% of units as STRs.
  • STR registration numbers must be displayed on all listings.
  • There is a 7.5% Transient Boarding and Accommodation Tax that must be filed quarterly.
  • STR registrations for tax accounts can be completed online through KCMO QuickTax / STR tax registration or in person in the Business License office located at City Hall, 414 E. 12th St., 1st Floor. The registration will be completed using form RD-100.
  • You can appeal an STR decision with the Property Maintenance Appeals Board, also known as PMAB. More information is available on the Short-Term Rental City page .
View the Short-Term Rental Checklist

Contact KCMO for STR Assistance

Short-Term Rental Department
635 Woodland Ave., Suite 2101
Kansas City, MO 64106
816-513-3226
shorttermrental@kcmo.org

Doing business in KCMO is easy!

Get a customized checklist of steps to launch your business today.
Get Started