Lenexa, KS Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Lenexa does not run a separate short term rental permit. Short term rentals sit inside the residential rental licensing chapter, Chapter 2-16 of the Code of the City of Lenexa, and Section 2-16-A-4 sets the core rule: no person can allow a rental dwelling to be occupied, offer it for rent, or rent it to another for occupancy unless the owner has first obtained a rental license. That covers three separate acts, so an owner who advertises a unit before it is licensed is already out of compliance even if no guest has arrived.

The Code defines a short term rental as a dwelling or dwelling unit, or a portion of one, offered for rent in whole or in part for a period less than 30 days. A stay of 30 days or more is a long term rental, and the same license covers both.

The application goes to the City on its form under Section 2-16-A-5 and must list the address, the number and type of dwelling units, and whether the property is a short term rental or a long term rental or both. No application is considered without full payment of the license fee, the full fee is owed no matter what time of year the owner applies, and nothing is refunded if the unit stops being rented before the end of the year. An owner who lives out of state, or an out-of-state business entity, must designate a manager who resides in Kansas. That manager can be cited in Municipal Court and shares responsibility with the owner for upkeep, code compliance and accepting notices.

Section 2-16-A-6 also conditions the license on compliance with state requirements, including state, transient guest and local tax collection. Licenses expire on December 31 (Section 2-16-A-8), cannot be transferred to a new owner (Section 2-16-A-9), and a licensed short term rental must also follow the operating rules in Section 2-16-A-7. Hotels and motels licensed by the State of Kansas are exempt under Section 2-16-A-3.