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
Why executing even the greatest startup idea first requires sales (and beyond-superficial curiosity)
That sexy pitch alone might not get your startup its first customer, said Lee Walter, noting that lasting success relies heavily on jumping outside the vaunted “ideation” phase to truly question a venture’s value. Walter’s revelation — born from a sales career that stretched from selling school lockers and coffee beans to commercial espresso machines…
Mr K finalist reveal: Meet the 10 contenders for KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year
The KC Chamber just announced the 10 finalists for its prestigious 2025 Small Business of the Year honor — setting the stage for a two-month campaign for selected entrepreneurs that ends this summer with one company crowned the Mr. K Award winner. “Small businesses remain the driving force of Kansas City’s economy, and we couldn’t…
USDA approves KC biotech startup’s secret weapon in the fight against cancer in dogs
Full USDA approval of a Kansas City startup’s bone cancer therapy for dogs reflects a more-than-decade-long commitment to improving the lives of pets and their families, said Tammie Wahaus, CEO of ELIAS Animal Health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics recently approved the first-in-class ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) treatment for canine osteosarcoma…
This (still) ain’t luck: How a decade of grit proved these urban heroes are ‘more than just clothes’
MADE MOBB’s ‘collaboration is community’ mindset takes the stage as streetwear brand named an Urban Hero Earning the title “Urban Hero” allows the owners of MADE MOBB an opportunity to publicly give themselves flowers, they said, sharing a twist on the slogan from one of their most popular tees. MADE MOBB — a Crossroads-based streetwear…