Kansas City Airbnb hosts may face fees with proposed rules
February 14, 2017 | Bobby Burch
One year after a public meeting to cull input on “short-term stay” rules in Kansas City, officials have released a proposed ordinance on how Airbnb hosts can operate.
The proposal would require that Airbnb and HomeAway hosts in Kansas City, Mo. register and pay annual registration fees for short-term renting of their property, which is currently illegal. City officials said that the ordinance was prompted after residents issued complaints against hosts for increased activity and not related to crime.
The ordinance — which would have an impact on more than 300 Airbnb and Homeaway hosts in the area — could be taken up for a vote as early at March 7 by the City Planning Commission. The city is hosting a public discussion on the draft ordinance at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Greg Klice Community Center.
The proposal would create two types of special-use permits for hosts. Type 1 properties — or owner-occupied residences — would be subject to a $100 fee for first-year registration and $50 per year thereafter. The proposal sets a 90-night-a-year limit on Type 1 rentals.
Type 2 properties — or non-owner occupied residences — would be subject to a $596 fee and would be renewable in two years after review by the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Type 2 permits would apply to hosts renting a house or unit that is no one’s full-time residence.
Both types of permits entail that hosts keep records on each short term stay, logging such information as complaints from guests or neighbors. The records are subject to review by the city at any time.
In an attempt to avoid a spat similar to that with Uber, the city has had ongoing contact with Airbnb regarding the regulations. That kerfuffle in 2015 compelled Uber to temporarily leave the city, sparking a heated response from area business leaders. Eventually, the city and Uber struck a compromise that reinstated the service, leading the company to open a new local office.
Join a virtual discussion on the proposed ordinance here or attend the aforementioned public meeting on Wednesday. You can see the ordinance in its entirety by clicking here.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
CAPS Network expanding into rural Kansas schools with $951K education grant
Nearly $1 million in federal funds is expected to help CAPS Network expand its profession-based learning into rural school districts, focusing on the state of Kansas, Corey Mohn shared. The $951,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education was announced earlier this week. “We are really excited about the impact this funding will help us…
Former sports executive teams with startup veteran to simplify visa process for foreign athletes
After 16 years handling immigration visas for the Kansas City Royals, Kyle Vena knew there must be a better way to streamline the daunting task of bringing athletes to the U.S. to play baseball — and keeping them, he shared. “When I left [the job] in the summer of 2022, I had this concept baked…
Cheese, chips, and cheers: Deez Nachos joins Parlor with its first fixed location
Dwight Tiller II is taking his family’s loaded nacho business from wheels to brick-and-mortar with its new spot — parked on the first floor of Parlor, Kansas City’s first modern food hall. Previously at the Crossroads-based Parlor as the former co-owner and head chef of KC Mac and Co., Tiller now is taking Deez Nachos…
Serial entrepreneur Matt Watson completes strategic buy-out of Full Scale
A prominent, twice-exited Kansas City entrepreneur has acquired full control of a company he co-founded five years ago — with plans to expand its leadership team and grow its employee count from 300 to 500 in 2025. Matt Watson announced Monday the completion of a strategic buyout of his co-founder, Matt DeCoursey, at Kansas City,…