Wichita, KS Short-Term Rentals: Extended Home Share (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $225 annual, per unit
- Stay length covered
- 28 days or less
- Liability insurance
- $250,000 minimum required
- Max occupancy
- 2 adults/bedroom, plus 2
- Penalty
- up to $500 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Wichita requires an annual $225 license for every short-term rental unit; renting a room or home for 28 days or less without one is unlawful and can bring misdemeanor penalties.
It shall be unlawful for any Owner or Responsible Party to operate, rent, own maintain, or otherwise permit or allow any Short-Term Rental without a valid License issued by the City's Licensing Department in accordance with this Chapter upon the payment of a license fee. The annual license fee for Short-Term Rentals is $225.00. A separate license is required for each dwelling unit or structure utilized as a Short-Term Rental.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
The City of Wichita licenses all short-term rentals, dwellings rented for 28 days or less, through its Licensing Department. Owner-occupied units are allowed by right under the Unified Zoning Code; non-owner-occupied units may need zoning approval first. Every licensee must carry at least $250,000 in liability insurance per unit, post the license number on all advertising, and keep occupancy within the limits set in Sec. 3.40.120. Operating without a license, or violating chapter terms, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and six months in jail, with each day a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Operating a Short-Term Rental without a valid City license, or violating the chapter's terms, is a misdemeanor: up to a $500 fine and/or six months' jail, each day counted as a separate offense (Sec. 3.40.170).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to rent my Wichita home short-term?
How many overnight guests are allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wichita
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