Short answer: Nightly Airbnb stays are legal in Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee and Mission, but the paperwork differs a lot. Olathe has no short-term rental permit. Overland Park and Lenexa use their regular rental license. Shawnee and Mission charge $500 a year for a separate short-term rental license. Leawood and Prairie Village ban stays under 30 days, so homes there work as furnished monthly rentals.
The seven cities side by side
| City | Nightly stays (under 30 days) | What you need | Guest tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overland Park | Allowed | City rental license | 9% |
| Olathe | Allowed | No short-term rental permit | 9% |
| Lenexa | Allowed | City rental license, from $75 a year | 8% |
| Shawnee | Allowed | Short-term rental license, $500 a year | 9% |
| Mission | Allowed, 2-night minimum | Short-term rental license, $500 a year | 9% |
| Leawood | Not allowed | Rental license for 30+ day stays | None on 30+ day stays |
| Prairie Village | Not allowed since Nov 1, 2025 | Rental license, $87, for 30+ day stays | None on 30+ day stays |
Guest tax rates come from the Kansas Department of Revenue's transient guest tax table, updated to October 1, 2026. Olathe's rate went from 8% to 9% on January 1, 2026, and Shawnee's went to 9% on April 1, 2026. Prairie Village isn't on the table at all. The Mid-America Regional Council's 2025 survey of city rules lines up with the table above.
Where nightly stays are allowed
Olathe is the simplest. The city's short-term rental page says owners "may choose to rent their homes on a short-term basis" and lists good-neighbor advice on parking, HOA rules and parties, with no permit. Normal noise, trash and property codes still apply. Details on our Olathe page.
Overland Park has no ordinance written for short-term rentals. MARC's survey records that the city requires its regular rental license, and the city's rental licensing page lists the exterior items an inspector checks, including roofs, decks and tall grass. See our Overland Park page.
Lenexa puts short stays under its general rental property license. Fees start at $75 per property, the license runs January 1 to December 31, and a short-term rental can hold one person, a related household or up to four unrelated adults. Parties, receptions and meetings for people who aren't staying there are not allowed. More on our Lenexa page.
Where you need a separate license
Shawnee classifies renting the entire home for under 30 days as a short-term rental. Its business licensing page lists a $500 annual fee per property, licenses that don't transfer to a new owner, and applications through CitizenServe or at City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive. The rules took effect March 26, 2024. Our Shawnee page covers the rest of the ordinance.
Mission has had its own rules since January 1, 2025. Per the city's short-term rental page, they cover stays of 28 consecutive days or less: $500 per property, no more than two licenses per owner, a two-night minimum, two adults per bedroom and ten people total. Owners who live more than 40 miles away must name a local management agent. Our Mission page explains the agent role.
Where only monthly stays work
Leawood City Code 8-536, quoted on the city's Neighborhood Services page, bars renting a home for less than 30 days and bars renting only part of a home. We wrote up what Leawood owners can still do.
Prairie Village voted in October 2024 to set a 30-day minimum for rentals, and the city's FAQ says it took effect November 1, 2025. Rentals still need a license. The city's business license page lists residential rental properties at $87.
In both cities a furnished home rented by the month to traveling nurses, relocating families or insurance placements is allowed. Our mid-term rental page covers how we run those stays.
How to read the table for your house
Start with the city your home actually sits in, which you can confirm on your property tax bill. A mailing address can name a different city, and the rules follow the city limits. Then check your HOA covenants, which can be stricter than the city.
If you are choosing where to buy, Mission's two-license cap and Shawnee's $500 fee matter more if you plan to own several rentals. In Leawood and Prairie Village, plan on monthly pricing from day one.
We manage homes across Johnson County for a 15% standard fee, and we reply to owners within one day. Across the homes we've managed we've hosted 8,000+ stays over 5 years with a 4.8 star average rating. For the Missouri side of the metro, see our Kansas City owner's guide.
Nothing here is legal advice. City codes change, so confirm the rule for your address with the city before you list.