Kanas City, Missouri – Kansas City has started taking applications for a special short-term rental registration for homeowners who want to welcome guests during the city’s biggest event season. The initiative is only available for a short time, but it will help people participate in the expected influx of guests in a way that is easier and less expensive while maintaining following city standards.
Under the Major Event Short-Term Rental Registration, hosts who meet certain criteria can apply for a permit for $50, which is a big drop from the usual $200 annual charge. Rentals can only happen throughout a set time period, from May 3 to July 31, 2026. This time range is the longest allowed by city rules, which is 90 days, and it only applies during the officially declared Major Event time frame.
According to city authorities, the temporary option is supposed to provide citizens some freedom while still making sure that there is enough oversight during a busy time of year. Kansas City wants to add more places to stay without permanently expanding the number of short-term rentals that are open year-round by limiting the permission to a certain amount of time.
You can apply online through CompassKC. The city suggests that applicants read the Short-Term Rental Checklist on kcmo.gov to help them be ready. This checklist lists the actions needed to register and run a business in accordance with local laws.
Local partners are also offering training for new and prospective hosts, in addition to the chance to register. The Kansas City Short-Term Rental Alliance, in partnership with Brandson Family Retreats and with help from Airbnb and Booking.com, will hold a two-day crash course on how to start and run short-term rentals that follow the rules. The seminars will take place on February 6 and 7, 2026, at the Mohart Multi-Purpose Center. If you can’t make it in person, you can still attend virtually.
Hosts are also being reminded of their tax duties. A 7.5% transient visitor tax on rental rates and a $3 occupancy fee each rental night apply to short-term rentals in Kansas City. Guests must pay these amounts and send them to the city every three months via the Quick Tax system. Also, operators must declare a 1% earnings tax on their net profits by the time they file their federal taxes. The city wants to make it clear that booking sites do not collect these local taxes, therefore property owners are responsible for collecting and paying them.
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Before they may start working, new operators must also register with the Kansas City Business License Office. City staff tell hosts who have questions to get in touch with the right departments to make sure that all the rules are followed before the big event.
