Short answer: Short-term rentals are allowed in Independence, but each one needs a Short-Term Rental Permit approved by the Planning Commission at a public hearing. The city also keeps rentals at least 500 feet apart, caps operators at five, and limits homes to four guest bedrooms and ten guests. YourSTRManagement manages short-term rentals in Independence and helps owners prepare the permit application.
How the Independence permit works
The city's short-term rental page says you "must first apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit, which is reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission." It also asks owners to call 816-325-7823 before applying to check spacing.
The rules come from Ordinance 19412, passed in February 2023, which added Section 14-424 to the city's development code (ordinance PDF). The steps:
- Check the 500-foot rule. No short-term rental can be within 500 feet of an existing one, except in the ARTS District. In residential areas there's also a limit of one per eight homes on a block face.
- Apply online. You upload an evacuation plan, a floor plan and a parking plan and pay the fee through the city's application portal.
- Go to the hearing. The Planning Commission reviews each permit in public. If owners of 25% of the land within 185 feet file a protest, the application moves to City Council and needs five favorable votes.
- Get the occupation license. Its number has to appear on every ad and listing.
- Pass the Rental Ready inspection before each annual business license renewal. The city's rental housing page lists the fee at $100 per unit, with $60 for a reinspection.
The city notes that its online code isn't the official version and may lag behind amendments, so confirm the current rules before you apply.
Where short-term rentals fit
Section 14-424 makes short-term rentals a conditional use in residential districts and in C-1 and C-2 commercial districts. In residential areas, they're only allowed in single-family homes and duplexes, not apartments. Commercial districts have no spacing or density limits.
Other rules in the ordinance:
- No more than two guests per bedroom, not counting children five and under, with ten guests at most and four or fewer guest bedrooms.
- Stays from one night to 30 consecutive nights, with the whole home rented to one booking party at a time.
- A responsible agent within an hour's drive who can respond within an hour.
- No events or parties, and no food service.
- $1,000,000 in liability insurance, unless the booking platform provides equal coverage.
- One operator can run no more than five short-term rentals, and the permit doesn't transfer when the home sells.
Taxes
Independence charges a 6.5% transient guest tax, per the city's remittance form. A March 2026 city letter says Airbnb now remits the tax, but owners still file a monthly return by the 20th and deduct what the platforms paid. Late payments carry a 10% penalty plus interest.
Who visits Independence
People come to Independence for history and for events. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is on U.S. Highway 24, the National Park Service runs the Harry S Truman National Historic Site in Truman's adopted hometown, and the National Frontier Trails Museum covers the city's history as a starting point for pioneers heading west. Community of Christ has its international headquarters on West Walnut Street. On the east side are Cable Dahmer Arena and Centerpoint Medical Center, a 285-bed hospital.
Homes near the historic sites suit leisure groups. Homes near Centerpoint and the I-70 corridor can also work as furnished monthly rentals; see our mid-term rental page.
How we help Independence owners
We check spacing before you spend money, prepare the floor, parking and evacuation plans with you, and get the home ready for the Rental Ready inspection. Once the permit is approved, we run the listing, pricing, guest messages, screening, cleaning and repairs, and send you a monthly statement. Our standard fee is 15% of booking revenue.
We've hosted 8,000+ stays over 5 years with a 4.8 star average rating, and we carry $1M in liability coverage. Our Kansas City owner's guide compares Independence with the rest of the metro, and our fees guide explains what management costs.