Accessory Structures in Kansas City, MO (2026)
5 verified accessory structures rules for Kansas City, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Kansas City allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot with a detached house, capped at 800 square feet with a five-foot setback and an owner-occupancy deed restriction.
Kansas City ADU Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Zoning and Development Code § 88-305-15
Accessory dwelling units may be attached or detached from the principal dwelling unit. If attached they shall be located in the rear or side yard. If detached they shall be located in the rear yard. The owner of the lot shall reside in either the principal dwelling or accessory dwelling... Maximum footprint of the ADU: 60% of the footprint of the principal dwelling or 25% of the rear yard, whic...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Kansas City requires the property owner to live in either the main house or the accessory dwelling unit, backed by a recorded deed restriction before occupancy is allowed.
Kansas City ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsKansas City Zoning and Development Code § 88-305-15-C.2
The owner of the lot shall reside in either the principal dwelling or accessory dwelling. The owner shall record against the property a deed restriction limiting occupancy of either the principal dwelling unit or the accessory dwelling unit to the owner of the property. Proof that such a restriction has been recorded shall be provided to the Director of City Planning and Development prior to is...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Kansas City caps short-term rentals at one per parcel: if your lot has just one principal dwelling unit, you can rent out either that home or a backyard accessory dwelling unit as a short-term rental, but not both at once.
Kansas City ADU Short-Term Rental Cap
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 56-803(5)
Short-term rental limitation for parcel with one principal dwelling unit. Any parcel with only one principal dwelling unit shall be allowed to have only one short-term rental, regardless of whether the short-term rental is in the principal dwelling unit or an accessory dwelling unit on such parcel. In this subsection, the terms "principal dwelling unit" and "accessory dwelling unit" shall have ...
Shed & Carport Rules
Kansas City treats carports as accessory structures: they can't sit in the front or street-side yard, need at least 1.5 feet from rear and side lines, and stay under 16 feet if built as a garage.
Kansas City Carport Setback and Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Zoning and Development Code § 88-305-02-B
Accessory buildings and structures are prohibited in front and street side yards (i.e., they may not be closer to the street than the principal building)... Accessory buildings and structures must be set back at least 1.5 feet from rear property lines, except that garages accessed from an alley and carriage houses are not required to be set back from a rear property line abutting an alley. Acce...
Tiny Homes
Kansas City adopted the International Residential Code's Appendix Q for tiny houses in 2020, applying that model code chapter's egress, ceiling height, and loft standards to dwellings under 400 square feet within the city's building code.
Kansas City Tiny House Building Code Rules
Some RestrictionsKansas City Code of Ordinances § 18-57
Part X, Appendices: The following appendix chapters are hereby adopted: Appendix I, Private Sewage Disposal. See Article VIII of this chapter. Appendix Q, Tiny Houses.
Looking for Jackson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kansas City city rules.
Accessory Structures in Jackson County →