Wyandotte County, KS Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Section 27-623(b) draws a hard line between two approval tracks. An 'actively owner-occupied property' can use the faster administrative review process only 'if the following requirements are met throughout the duration of the tenants' stay': the owner is present on-site for the entire rental period, and the owner stays reasonably accessible to tenants, neighbors, and city staff. That presence requirement then drives the building-typology rules in subsection (b)(2): a single-family home can rent a partial unit or accessory dwelling unit while the owner occupies the rest, and a duplex or multi-family building designates whichever unit the owner actively occupies as the 'primary dwelling unit,' with the others treated as secondary units eligible for short-term or long-term rental.

A rental that isn't owner-occupied for the full stay instead falls under subsection (c), 'Short-term rentals subject to special use permits,' which requires board of commissioners approval, imposes on-site and street-block density caps, and sets shorter initial permit terms for non-owner-occupied units: 12 months on first approval, 24 months on the second, 60 on the third, and 120 months on the fourth and beyond, compared with 24/60/120 months for an owner-occupied special use permit.