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Kansas Statewide Rule

Kansas Bans Local Rent Control

Few RestrictionsApplies statewide across Kansas (2026)

Key Facts

Local rent control
Banned (state-preempted)
Statewide rent cap
None
Preemption statute
K.S.A. 12-16,120
Cities with rent control
None
Last verified: August 20, 2026Source: Kansas Legislature

Summary

Kansas prohibits rent control. Under K.S.A. 12-16,120, no county, city, township, or other political subdivision may enact or enforce any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential property. There is no statewide rent cap and no Kansas city operates a rent-control program.

12-16,120. Prohibiting rent control or control of real estate purchase price by political subdivisions; exceptions. (a) No political subdivision of this state, including, but not limited to, a county, municipality or township, shall enact, maintain or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged or the purchase price agreed upon between the parties to the transaction for the lease or purchase of privately owned residential or commercial property. (b) This section shall not impair the right of any political subdivision to manage and control commercial or residential property in which such political subdivision has an ownership interest. (c) This section shall not impair the right of any owner of privately owned property to enter into a voluntary agreement with a political subdivision to agree to requirements that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged or the purchase price agreed upon between the parties to the transaction for the lease or purchase of privately owned property in return for grants or incentives provided by the political subdivision to the owner of privately owned property.

Source: Kansas LegislatureView official code

Full Breakdown

K.S.A. 12-16,120 expressly preempts local rent regulation, stating that "no political subdivision of this state, including, but not limited to, a county, municipality or township, shall enact, maintain or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged" for privately owned residential property. The statute, enacted in 2001 and amended in 2016, leaves narrow exceptions: a subdivision may control rents on property it owns, and property owners may voluntarily agree to rent limits in exchange for grants or incentives. Kansas sets no statewide cap on how much a landlord may raise rent, so increases are governed by the lease terms and required notice rather than any percentage limit.

Violations & Penalties

A local rent-control ordinance would be void as preempted by K.S.A. 12-16,120; courts will not enforce it, and a city or county adopting one exceeds its authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rent control legal in Kansas?
No. Kansas law (K.S.A. 12-16,120) prohibits rent control on private residential property, and there is no statewide rent cap. Rent increases are limited only by the lease terms and required notice.
Can a city in Kansas pass its own rent control?
No. K.S.A. 12-16,120 preempts local rent regulation, so no Kansas county, city, or township may enact or enforce an ordinance controlling rents on privately owned residential property. Any such ordinance would be void.
Is there a limit on how much rent can increase in Kansas?
There is no statewide cap on rent increases in Kansas. A landlord may raise rent by any amount when a lease renews, subject only to the notice requirements in the lease or under the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Sources

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