Short Term Rentals

Short Term Rentals in Other Communities

Planning Department staff reviewed 25 cities in Kansas and neighboring states to see if and how they regulate Short Term Rentals. This information can be used to help collect public input about the state of the practice, lessons learned and what some options are for Wichita. Cities evaluated included Lawrence, KS, Manhattan, KS, Springfield, MO, Oklahoma City, OK, Des Moines, IA and Albuquerque, NM.

Of the communities reviewed, 16 communities had regulations, while nine (9) communities surveyed either have no regulations or are reviewing their options at this time. The number of requirements placed on Short Term Rentals varied significantly by community. Below is a graphic that illustrates the number of requirements.

​Common policies covered occupancy restrictions, zoning regulations, length of time a Short Term Rental could be rented based upon if the property was owner-occupied or not. Some communities required neighborhood notification up to 500 feet from the rental property; while others required a public meeting coordinated by the property owner. In some cases, nearby property owners had to agree that the property could be used for short term rental. Most cities required a license and/or permit for the business to operate. Some communities allowed the business to transfer with the property, while others did not.​​​

Regulation Changes

On September 12, 2023, the Wichita City Council approved the following regulatory changes (the changes went into effect on September 22, 2023):

• updates to the Unified Zoning Code; and
• creation of a short term rental licensing program.  

These changes were in response to public comments and requests and following public conversations discussing possible options.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council also deferred consideration of creating new section of the Wichita Municipal Code to address nuisance party houses. The City Council deferred the item until the City Council meeting on December 12, 2023.  

Events

You can learn more about the community discussion and review process. Below is a listing of events related to short term rentals.  

Past Events

• On April 21, 2021, the City hosted a virtual meeting for Crown Heights Neighborhood residents and stakeholders to discuss existing regulations for short-term rentals in Wichita. ​
  
• On February 8, 2022, the City hosted a virtual meeting for Crown Heights Neighborhood residents and stakeholders to review potential option for regulatory changes related to short-term rentals. The feedback and questions from the meeting were used to help identify preferred options that could best meet community needs. The feedback received about short-term rentals and the ability to operate them in Wichita was diverse. There was general support for short-term rentals operating with the owner present. Responses for short-term rentals operating with out the owner present ranged from don't allow, to require a Conditional Use or other opportunity for neighbor input. In general, there appeared to be overall support for licensing. Participants provided a wide range of thoughts on what amount of fees would be appropriate. Multiple participants expressed concerns about the impact that short-term rentals would have on quality of life. Multiple participants also indicated that enforcement is important and had questions about how enforcement is done by the City.
  
• On October 25, 2022, the City Council received a presentation on potential regulation changes and licensing during the City Council workshop.
  
• On November 3, 2022, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) Advance Plans Committee received a presentation on potential regulation changes and licensing.
• On December 5, 2023, DAB I received a presentation on short-term rentals and potential regulation changes.
• On December 7, 2023, DAB III received a presentation on short-term rentals and potential regulation changes.
• On January 4^th, 2023, DAB V received a presentation on short-term rentals and potential regulation changes.
• On January 9^th, 20232, DAB VI received a presentation on short-term rentals and potential regulation changes.
• On February 6^th, 2023, DAB IV received a presentation on short-term rentals and potential regulation changes.

• On February 14, 2023, the Realtors of South Central Kanas received a presentation on short term rentals and potential regulation changes. ​

• On March 9​​, 2023, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission - Advance Plans Committee received a presentation and recommneded that the full planning commission take action to schedule a public hearing. 

• On March 23, 2023, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted to set a public hearing for April 13, 2023 o consider to proposed amendments to the Unified Zoning Code and changes to the Wichita Municipal Code.​

• On April 13, 2023, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Planning Commissionreceived a presentation on proposed regulation changes related to short term rentals in Wichita and held a public hearing. Multiple members of the public provided comments. The Planning Commission voted to defer the item so that the MAPC Advance Plans Committee can consider the proposed regulation changes at their May 11, 2023 meeting.

• On May 11, 2023, the MAPC Advance Plans Committee received a presentation on the proposed short term rentals regulatory changes and voted to recommend the following:
  
• that the full MAPC initiate an amendment to the Unified Zoning Code;
  
• approve the zoning code amendments as presented;
  
• endorse the Municipal Code changes – including the short term rental license program and party house ordinance; and
  
• that the MAPC approve the proposed amendments to MAPC Policy Number 20. The vote was 4-0. No members of the public spoke on this item.
  
• On May 11, 2023, the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission received a presentation on the proposed short term rental regulatory changes and voted (7-5) to:
  
• initiate an amendment to the Unified Zoning Code per Unified Zoning Code Article V.C.2.;
  
• approve the proposed Unified Zoning Code amendments;
  
• recommend that the governing bodies adopt the proposed Unified Zoning Code amendments;
  
• amend MAPC Policy 20; and
  
• recommend that the City Council approve the proposed Municipal Code changes. Multiple members of the public commented on this item some in support and some with concerns.
• ​On September 12, 2023, the Wichita City Council approved the following regulatory changes (the changes went into effect on September 22, 2023):
  
1. updates to the Unified Zoning Code; and
2. creation of a short term rental licensing program. 
• ​​​​In addition, the City Council also considered the creation of a new section of the Wichita Municipal Code to address nuisance party houses. The City Council deferred the item until the City Council meeting on December 12, 2023.  ​

​Upcoming Events​​​

• The Planning Department has submitted the updates to the Unified Zoning Code for the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners to consider on October 2, 2023. This is a tentative date and subject to change. The Commission’s draft agenda will be published the Friday prior the meeting and is available on the Commission’s webpage. 
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Public Input​

You can provide input and share your thoughts in the following ways. 

Email

​Yo​u can submit comments via email at planning@wichita.gov​ o​r ​

Letter 

You can submit a letter to the Planning Department at the following address: ​

Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department 

(Attn: Mary Hunt), 

271 W. 3rd Street, Suite 201, 

Wichita, KS 67202

Additional Resources

APA Short-Term Rental: Regulations and Enforcement Strategies​

Regulation and Policy Change Documents