Lawrence, KS Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)

Section 6-1355 sets a single annual short-term rental license fee, amount fixed in the city's fee schedule, payable at the time of the initial application or any renewal application under § 6-1360(a)(1). The statute is explicit that the fee is never prorated for partial-year use and is never refunded if the city denies the application or later revokes the license. A second, separate charge applies when a property comes up in its biennial inspection cycle under § 6-1361(a): the inspection fee set in the fee schedule under § 6-1362(a), due at the same time as the license fee.

If an owner or licensee misses a scheduled inspection or refuses consent to it, § 6-1362(b) adds an administrative fee per property, though rescheduling at least seven days ahead, or a delay caused solely by the tenant, avoids that charge; a further re-inspection beyond the first carries its own re-inspection fee under § 6-1362(c). Anyone appealing a notice of denial, notice of violation, or revocation to the building code board of appeals owes a docketing fee under § 6-1367(d), due when the notice of appeal is filed.

None of these charges are municipal taxes: Lawrence's transient guest tax on hotel, motel, and tourist-court receipts is set by separate charter ordinance and is not part of this licensing article.