Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning proposes five-year permits and two approval tracks for short-term rentals in unincorporated county
Summary
County planning staff proposed draft short-term rental (STR) rules that would allow STRs by administrative permit or conditional use, require operator contact information and a 30‑mile operator proximity, set a five‑year approval cycle, and rely on complaint-based enforcement; commissioners asked about taxation, assessment thresholds, fees and whether to let existing operators continue pending rulemaking.
Scott Wedel of the planning department presented draft amendments to county zoning to address short-term rentals, saying unincorporated county residential zoning generally does not currently allow STRs and that the city of Wichita recently changed its rules. "They're simply not allowed in Sedgwick County per the zoning code in most instances," Wedel said, framing the proposal as a way to establish a clear permitting path.
The draft would add an STR land‑use definition, offer two approval routes (a streamlined administrative permit or a conditional-use review), and make approvals valid for five years. Proposed operational rules include posting an owner/operator contact who lives within 30 miles and is reachable 24/7, compliance with codes and trash service, complaint-driven enforcement and a default cap on gatherings: "no gatherings of more than 20 adults at the property," with conditional-use waivers possible.
Commissioners asked how many listings exist: Wedel said about 550 in Wichita and roughly 100 in the county (including small cities). They also raised tax and assessment issues: county staff referenced Charter Resolution No. 59 for the transient-guest tax and said assessment rules tied to bedroom counts (guidance from PVD) determine whether a property is treated residentially or commercially. Commissioners discussed potential fee levels, whether operators must register as businesses, and whether enforcement could be withheld for previously operating properties while the county finalizes rules. Planning staff said they will take the draft to MAPC advanced plans and suggested outreach to stakeholders including Visit Wichita and local hosts.
