Short answer: Shawnee allows short-term rentals, but each one needs a city license that costs $500 per property a year and runs October 1 to September 30. Owners also need an agent within 40 miles, the license number on every listing, and a cap of two adults per bedroom plus one, up to ten guests. We manage short-term rentals in Shawnee and can act as that local agent.
Shawnee's short-term rental license
Shawnee has regulated short-term rentals since March 26, 2024, under Chapter 5.71 of the city code. A short-term rental is any stay of less than 30 consecutive days, and the code says no owner may operate one "without first having obtained a license."
According to the city's business licensing page, the annual fee is $500 per property. You apply through the CitizenServe portal or in person at the Community Development Department, 11110 Johnson Drive. Every license runs October 1 to September 30.
To keep the license, the code requires you to:
- Put the license number on every public listing.
- Post the city's rules in the listing and display them inside the home.
- Name an agent located within 40 miles who can accept legal notices.
- Keep the license with the owner. Licenses are not transferable, so a buyer has to apply fresh.
Rules for guests
Chapter 5.71 also sets how the home can be used:
- Occupancy: two adults per bedroom plus one more adult, with a maximum of ten people. A three-bedroom house can host seven adults.
- Parking: if the property has onsite parking, guests have to use it.
- No events: the home can't be used as party, reception or meeting space.
- Exit sign: the egress door has to be marked with an exit sign.
Violations carry fines of $500 to $1,000 or up to six months in jail, and each day counts as a separate offense. A revoked license means the owner can't get a new one for 24 months. That makes guest screening and quick responses to neighbor complaints worth taking seriously.
Taxes
The Kansas Department of Revenue's guest tax table, current as of October 1, 2026, lists Shawnee's transient guest tax at 9%, effective April 1, 2026. Some older city tables still show 8%, so check the KDOR list if you see a conflict. Kansas sales tax applies as well. We confirm during setup which taxes Airbnb collects for your listing and which you still file.
Stays of 30 days or more
The license only covers stays under 30 days. Shawnee's licensing page says single-family homes rented for 30 days or more don't need a business license. If the $500 fee or the occupancy cap doesn't work for your house, furnished monthly rentals are a real option. Our mid-term rental page explains how we run them.
What we handle in Shawnee
We help you file the license, add the number and the posted rules to the listing, and serve as your local agent. After that we price the home night by night, answer guests at any hour, screen bookings against the occupancy and event rules, schedule cleaning after each checkout, and arrange repairs with your approval. Our standard fee is 15% of booking revenue; see our services page.
We have hosted 8,000+ stays with a 4.8 star average rating over 5 years, and we carry $1M in liability and $100K in damage coverage.
Next door, Lenexa uses a general rental license instead of a short-term rental license; our Lenexa page covers it. The Kansas City owner's guide compares every city in the metro.