Short-Term Rentals in Lawrence, KS (2026)

5 verified short-term rentals rules for Lawrence, Kansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Anyone renting a dwelling unit to a transient guest for fewer than 30 days in the City of Lawrence must first get a short-term rental license from the Department of Planning and Development Services under Lawrence City Code § 6-1354. The code official has 21 days to approve a complete application, and multiple co-owners of one property need only one license among them.

Lawrence Short-Term Rental License Requirement

Some Restrictions

Lawrence City Code § 6-1354

No owner or person shall rent to a transient guest, on a short-term basis, a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, located on short-term residential rental property within the city, unless otherwise exempt under this article:(1)Without first obtaining from the department of planning and development services a short-term rental license for that short-term residential rental property; and(2)Without ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Every owner licensed to operate a short-term rental in the City of Lawrence pays an annual license fee set in the city fee schedule under Lawrence City Code § 6-1355, due at application or renewal. The fee is never prorated or refunded if the city denies or later revokes the license.

Lawrence Short-Term Rental License Fee

Some Restrictions

Lawrence City Code § 6-1355

All owners or persons obtaining a short-term rental license under this article shall pay to the city an annual short-term rental license fee as provided in the city fee schedule. The short-term rental license fee shall be due at the time of application or renewal application seeking a short-term rental license. The short-term rental license fee shall not be prorated or refunded upon denial or r...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Short-term rental units in the City of Lawrence must stay within the occupancy limits set for their zoning district under § 20-601(d) of the land development code, applied to short-term rentals through Lawrence City Code § 6-1365. Minor children don't count toward the limit, but exceeding it is a separate unlawful act that can cost a licensee the short-term rental license.

Lawrence Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

Lawrence City Code § 6-1365

(a)Unless otherwise exempted by an approved site plan or except as may otherwise be provided, occupancy limits for dwelling units located on short-term residential rental property in each zoning district shall be those established in section 20-601(d) of the city land development code, as amended. For the purposes of this section, minor children shall not be included in the occupancy count.(b)I...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

In the City of Lawrence, Kansas, the city will not issue a short-term rental license for a non-owner-occupied property in an R-1 or R-2 low-density residential district or a PD planned development district under Lawrence City Code § 6-1353(c). An accessory dwelling unit or two-unit dwelling in those districts may only host short-term guests if the owner actually occupies the lot under § 6-1353(d).

Lawrence Non-Owner-Occupied Short-Term Rental Ban

Significant Restrictions

Lawrence City Code § 6-1353(c)-(d)

The city shall not accept an application for and shall not issue a short-term rental license to any owner, licensee, or person, as defined in this article, for a non-owner occupied, short-term residential rental property when such dwelling unit is located within an R-1 or R-2 (residential low density 1 and residential low density 2) district, as defined at sections 20-304 and 20-305 of this Cod...

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Repeat Violator Strikes

A person, owner, or licensee with more than three short-term rental license revocations in the City of Lawrence becomes a 'habitual violator' under Lawrence City Code § 6-1370 and loses the privilege of operating any short-term rental in the city. The code official must deny every future application or renewal from that person, though the denial can be appealed.

Lawrence Short-Term Rental Habitual Violators

Heavy Restrictions

Lawrence City Code § 6-1370

Any person, owner, or licensee who has had more than three revocations under this article shall be deemed a habitual violator and shall lose the privilege to operate any property within the city as short-term residential rental property. All applications for a short-term residential rental license or any renewal thereof submitted by a habitual violator shall be denied by the code official as su...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗