Overview: Are Short‑Term Rentals Allowed in Wakefield, KS?

Yes—short‑term rentals (STRs) are allowed in the City of Wakefield, Kansas, but they are tightly regulated. The City allows STRs through a registration and conditional use permit system with specific limits and operational rules. As of October 3, 2022, Wakefield codified STRs in Article 4 of Chapter V (Business Regulations) of the City Code (Ordinance 1345), which includes a firm cap of four STR locations city‑wide, a one‑property‑per‑entity cap, defined occupancy limits, and a waiver‑of‑liability requirement. The City also requires proof of Kansas state registration and ongoing compliance with all municipal ordinances.

Market Entry: How to Start an STR in Wakefield, KS

A practical, step‑by‑step path to launch and maintain compliance:

1. Verify eligibility and position against caps

• Confirm the four‑unit cap: the City limits STRs to four locations total.
• Confirm the one‑property‑per‑entity cap: a single entity (including a married couple/partners) may own at most one STR. Owners who had more than one property as of October 3, 2022 (but not more than two) were grandfathered.
• If you are not already on a waiting list and the cap is reached, you may be unable to obtain a permit until a slot opens.

2. Secure state registration and gather proof

• Register the property as required by the State of Kansas and obtain documentation evidencing registration. Provide that proof to the City’s Code Enforcement Officer.

3. Pursue the City’s conditional use permit (CUP)

• Apply for and receive a CUP from the City before operating as an STR. The City’s Code of Ordinances governs the process and the criteria.

4. Register with the City and pay the $100 annual fee

• Complete City STR registration and submit the annual registration fee ($100), made payable to the City of Wakefield.
• Confirm the designated Code Enforcement Officer contact process at City Hall.

5. Complete required compliance materials and waivers

• Sign the City’s waiver of liability (attached to Ordinance No. 1345). Submit at registration or with the CUP application as directed.

6. Prepare the unit and operations

• Structure qualification: The STR must be in a permanent residential dwelling unit or portion thereof. Mobile homes, RVs, travel trailers, tents, vehicles, and similar non‑permanent structures are prohibited.
• Bedroom conformity: Occupancy is based on conforming bedrooms (rooms meeting building code standards for bedrooms). Confirm bedroom status with local building code standards before listing.

7. Set occupancy limits correctly

• Occupancy formula: Two persons per conforming bedroom plus two additional persons. Example: two conforming bedrooms = maximum six occupants.
• Keep listings and door signage consistent with this limit.

8. Operational compliance

• Traffic: The STR must not generate more traffic or different traffic types than a permanent residence.
• Multi‑unit/mixed‑use: No more than one STR may be operated within any multi‑unit or mixed‑use building.
• Law and ordinance compliance: Maintain continuous compliance with all City ordinances at all times.

9. Maintain and renew

• Renew City registration annually and remit the $100 fee.
• Keep proof of state registration current and on hand.
• Keep proof of the signed waiver on file.
• Maintain occupancy and operational standards; monitor any ordinance updates.

10. Ownership transitions (if applicable)

• On sale, the new owner has 30 days from closing to apply for a CUP in their name to continue operation. Failure to do so results in loss of the conditional use permit, and the City will award the permit to the next person on the waiting list.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

At a minimum, plan for the following:

• State of Kansas registration

  • Requirement: Every STR must be registered with the State of Kansas.
  • Submission: Provide proof of registration to the City’s Code Enforcement Officer.

• Conditional Use Permit (City of Wakefield)

  • Requirement: Apply for and receive a CUP prior to operation.
  • Governing body: City of Wakefield (ordinance references the Code Enforcement Officer for proof submission).

• City STR registration and annual fee

  • Registration fee: $100.00 annually, payable to the City of Wakefield.
  • Renewal: Annual renewal required.

• Waiver of liability

  • Requirement: The owner must sign a waiver of liability to register with the City (attached to Ordinance No. 1345).
  • Submission: Provide as part of registration.

• Operational compliance documentation

  • Maintain records demonstrating: occupancy limits, bedroom conformity, traffic behavior consistent with a permanent residence, non‑use of prohibited structures, and the single STR rule in multi‑unit/mixed‑use buildings.

• Proof of state tax registrations (if applicable for lodging or transient guest taxes)

  • Guidance: Kansas lodging laws treat properties offering lodging for compensation as lodging places, typically requiring state registration. You may also have local tax obligations (e.g., transient guest tax). Consult the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and your county/city officials for applicability and registration details.

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

Key city rules (City of Wakefield—Ordinance 1345, adopted Oct 3, 2022):

• Definition

  • STR: A permanent residential dwelling unit (or portion) rented for occupancy less than 30 consecutive calendar days, or in February less than 28 consecutive days; portions of a day count as full days. It applies regardless of whether a permanent resident is present during occupancy.

• Eligibility and caps

  • City‑wide cap: Four STR locations total.
  • Entity cap: One STR per entity; a married couple/partners are treated as a single entity.
  • Grandfathering: Current owners as of 10/03/2022 with more than one property (but not more than two) were grandfathered.

• Structure and use restrictions

  • Prohibited structures: Mobile homes, RVs, travel trailers, tents, vehicles, and similar non‑permanent structures may not be used as STRs.
  • Bedroom qualification: Occupancy is limited by conforming bedrooms (rooms meeting building code requirements to be a bedroom).

• Occupancy limits

  • Formula: Two persons per conforming bedroom plus two additional persons. Example: two conforming bedrooms = six occupants maximum.

• Building and site use limits

  • Single STR per multi‑unit or mixed‑use building.
  • Traffic: Must not generate more traffic or different vehicle types than a permanent residence.

• Permitting and registration sequence

  • State registration required.
  • City conditional use permit required.
  • City registration required; annual $100 fee.
  • Waiver of liability required.

• Ownership transitions

  • New owners have 30 days from closing to apply for a CUP in their name; failure to do so results in loss of the permit, which is then awarded to the next person on the waiting list.

• Compliance deadlines for existing STRs

  • STRs operating as of 10/03/2022 had one year from adoption to come into full compliance.

• Penalties

  • Violations are Class A, Non‑person Misdemeanors; punishable by up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,500.
  • Minimum fines:
    • 1st offense: $50
    • 2nd offense: $100
    • 3rd offense: $500
    • Plus $10/day (not to exceed $2,500 maximum) for each day not in compliance.

County level

• No county‑specific STR regulations were identified in the provided materials. Investors should confirm with the County Clerk/Zoning official whether county overlay rules apply to properties within Wakefield city limits.

State level (Kansas)

• Kansas lodging place registration: Properties offering lodging for compensation (including many short‑term rentals) are considered lodging places under state law and generally require registration with the State of Kansas. Confirm applicability, process, and any ongoing compliance obligations with the appropriate state agency.
• Transient guest and lodging taxes: State and local lodging taxes may apply. Confirm tax registration and remittance requirements with the Kansas Department of Revenue and local authorities.

Contact Information: Local Authority in Charge of STRs

Primary City contacts (as identified in municipal records):

• Code Enforcement Officer

  • Role: Receives proof of state registration and administers city‑level compliance for STRs.
  • Note: Direct phone/email not provided in the supplied materials.

• City Clerk (City of Wakefield)

  • Address: City Hall, Wakefield, KS (official mailing address per City records)
  • Role: Handles municipal records, registrations, CUP submissions, and fee processing.
  • Note: Direct phone/email not provided in the supplied materials.

Practical guidance

• If the City’s official website and contact details are not publicly listed in your records, contact City Hall in person or by phone during business hours to obtain the Code Enforcement Officer’s contact information and the required forms/submission instructions for the CUP and City registration.

Links to Source Pages

• City Code—Article 4. Short‑Term Rental Operations (Ordinance 1345)
  • wakefieldks.citycode.net/articleShortTermRentalOperations.htm
• Code of the City of Wakefield, Kansas—Table of Contents
  • wakefieldks.citycode.net/tableOfContents.htm
• City of Wakefield—Public Hearing/Council Meeting (Aug 1, 2022)
  • www.wakefieldks.com/api/blob/viewBlob?rf=t&i=QXXznS0WirQao9afo%2BmLZxLkqK8wlaQl0ywhs6JKJuxF%2F4Ft%2Bt1c%2BDw3GVFVmMJP
• City of Wakefield—Council Meeting (Oct 3, 2022) (Ordinance 1345 adoption)
  • www.wakefieldks.com/api/blob/viewBlob?rf=t&i=QXXznS0WirQao9afo%2BmLZ%2Bjg1x8L%2FX54JLd13xnNLPaAkVtSD3fq0QP60h%2B7y5qz

If you need assistance obtaining direct contact numbers/emails or the official forms for the conditional use permit, stop by City Hall and request the Code Enforcement Officer’s details and the current STR registration package. Keep copies of your state registration, CUP approval, City registration receipt, and signed waiver in a compliance binder for inspections and renewals.