Short-Term Rentals in Topeka, KS (2026)

Short-Term Rental Permits

Topeka requires an administrative permit before operating a Type I short-term rental, issued by the Director once the property meets zoning standards, valid for two years, and revocable for noncompliance.

Topeka STR Permit Required

Some Restrictions

Topeka Municipal Code § 18.225.010(z)(2)

(2) Administrative Permit. Upon receipt of an application and payment of permit fee to be determined by the Director, the Director will determine whether the application meets the requirements in this subsection (z). Upon approval, the Director will issue the permit and notify owners of all parcels adjacent to the subject property of the issuance of the permit. The administrative permit shall b...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Topeka's short-term rental ordinance bans loud outdoor noise at Type I, II, and III rentals as a standing permit condition, not just a general nuisance rule. TMC 18.225.010(z)(1)(xi) prohibits outdoor activity noise that creates a nuisance or interferes with a neighbor's use of their property, and the same restriction is mirrored, almost word for word, for Type II and Type III rentals.

Topeka STR Outdoor Noise Restriction

Some Restrictions

Topeka Municipal Code § 18.225.010(z)(1)(xi), (z)(2) (mirrored at (aa)(1)(xii), (bb)(1)(x))

(z) Short-Term Residential Rental, Type I. ... (xi) Outdoor activities shall not produce any excessive, unnecessary, unusual or loud noises which: (A) create a nuisance; or (B) interfere with the use or enjoyment of property of any person of reasonable sensibilities. ... (2) Administrative Permit. ... The Director may deny an application, revoke, or suspend a permit for failure to comply with t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Topeka levies a transient guest tax, currently 7 percent through 2027, on gross rental receipts collected by hotels, motels, tourist courts, or accommodations brokers for stays under 28 days, which covers larger home-share listings.

Topeka Transient Guest Tax on Rentals

Some Restrictions

Topeka Charter Ordinance No. 125 § 1, 9-16-25 (codified at TMC Appendix A § A15-17)

Effective November 14, 2015 and continuing through December 31, 2027, a transient guest tax of seven percent shall be levied in the City of Topeka, Kansas, upon the gross rental receipts derived from or paid directly or through an accommodations broker by transient guests for lodging or sleeping accommodations, exclusive of charges for incidental services or facilities, in any hotel, motel, or ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Topeka requires short-term rentals to provide one off-street parking space per two guest bedrooms, on top of the host's own parking, unless on-street spaces substitute on a wide-enough lot.

Topeka STR Parking Requirements

Some Restrictions

Topeka Municipal Code § 18.240.030(a)(5)

(5) Short-term residential rental, types I and III. 1 per every 2 bedrooms for guests in addition to parking required for the residence. In the calculation of parking for guest rooms, a fraction of one-half or more shall be rounded up to the next whole number. Up to 3 on-street parking spaces may substitute for required off-street parking if the property contains frontage of 22 feet or more, ex...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Topeka's zoning code splits short-term rentals into three types based on who lives there. Type I is an owner-occupied dwelling with up to five guest bedrooms; type II is the identical five-bedroom rental in a home the operator does not live in; type III covers any six-or-more-bedroom rental regardless of occupancy. TMC § 18.55.190 draws that line, and it decides which Shawnee County permit track a host must follow.

Topeka's Short-Term Rental Owner-Occupancy Definition

Some Restrictions

Topeka Municipal Code § 18.55.190

“Short-term residential rental, type I” means any owner-occupied dwelling which: (1) contains rooms furnished for the purposes of providing lodging to transient guests; (2) is kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to the public as a place where sleeping accommodations are available for pay or compensation by transient guests; and (3) has no more than five bedrooms furnished for the acc...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Extended Home Share

Topeka allows owner-occupied homes to rent up to five bedrooms to transient guests as a short-term residential rental, type I, but the property must keep looking and functioning like an ordinary house, not a business.

Topeka Owner-Occupied Home-Share Rules

Some Restrictions

Topeka Municipal Code §§ 18.55.190, 18.225.010(z)(1)(i)-(ii)

“Short-term residential rental, type I” means any owner-occupied dwelling which: (1) contains rooms furnished for the purposes of providing lodging to transient guests; (2) is kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to the public as a place where sleeping accommodations are available for pay or compensation by transient guests; and (3) has no more than five bedrooms furnished for the acc...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗