Kansas City, MO Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Cap
- 2 guests per bedroom + 1
- Hard ceiling
- 8 guests per unit
- Basis
- Registration certification
- Fine
- $200-$1,000 per day
Summary
Kansas City caps short-term rental occupancy at two guests per bedroom plus one extra person, with an eight-guest ceiling per dwelling unit, enforced through the annual registration certification.
No more than two persons per each bedroom being rented plus one additional person per dwelling unit, not to exceed eight guests per dwelling unit, shall occupy the dwelling unit at any given time.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Under Kansas City Code § 56-803(2)h.7, every short-term rental registrant must certify that no more than two persons per bedroom being rented, plus one additional person, will occupy the dwelling unit: capped at eight guests total regardless of how many bedrooms are rented. The limit applies citywide to any registered short-term rental in Kansas City, Missouri, whether it's a resident or non-resident rental. Exceeding the cap breaches the safety, legal and tax certification the registrant and owner signed under the same subsection, and is separately grounds for the city to deregister the property.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the occupancy cap breaches the registrant's safety certification under § 56-803(2)h and is punishable under § 56-810 by a fine of $200 to $1,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both, per day of violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests can a Kansas City short-term rental host at once?
What happens if a Kansas City short-term rental exceeds the occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kansas City
Compare Kansas City to another location·View the Missouri short-term rentals overview
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Occupancy Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle occupancy limits.