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Johnson County directs staff to draft short‑term rental rules ahead of major events
Summary
County staff proposed STR regulations — registration/permit, occupancy limits (2 persons per bedroom + 2), a 24/7 local responsible party, quiet hours and restrictions on renting single bedrooms — and the board directed staff to develop rules for early 2026, citing World Cup hosting as a timetable consideration.
Johnson County officials told the Board on Nov. 20 that short‑term rentals (STRs) are currently unregulated in the county code and staff recommends adding registration, permitting and enforceable standards.
Planning staff reported roughly 13 short‑term rental listings in the unincorporated county and recommended commonly used standards: registration and a permit, maximum occupancy of two people per bedroom plus two additional guests, prohibition of renting single bedrooms separately from the rest of the dwelling, designation of a local responsible party available 24/7 to respond to complaints, quiet hours and parking restrictions.
"There are approximately 13 short term rentals in the unincorporated area," staff told the board, and the county should address STRs because the 2004 code did not anticipate online platforms. Staff recommended either a standalone STR ordinance in early 2026 or inclusion of STRs in the full zoning regulations scheduled for possible adoption in June 2026; Chairman Mike Kelly said bringing STR rules forward sooner could help the county prepare for World Cup demand.
Commissioners raised clarity questions about fees (staff said a fee range of about $150–$300 is under consideration and that annual renewal or one‑time permit options will be studied), distinctions for bed‑and‑breakfast operations or accessory dwelling units, and enforcement. Commissioner Brewer suggested staff also explore a hospitality/bed tax for parity with hotels, and several commissioners emphasized that the standards should protect neighboring properties from nuisance impacts.
Staff will draft STR regulations and bring them back to the board for further direction; the board directed staff to begin that work and to consider presenting a standalone STR package in January or February 2026 if feasible.
