Quick answer: Wakefield, Kansas allows only four short-term rentals in the whole city, and one owner may hold only one. Each needs Kansas state registration, a city conditional use permit, city registration and a $100 annual fee. Permits do not pass to a buyer. KCLY Radio reported the updated ordinance as adopted October 5, 2026, with 90 days for existing rentals to comply.
Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | City of Wakefield, Kansas |
| Citywide cap | 4 short-term rental locations, with a waiting list |
| Per owner | One STR per person or entity; a married couple or partners count as one |
| Requirements | Kansas state registration, city conditional use permit, city STR registration, signed liability waiver |
| Fee | $100 a year, paid to the City of Wakefield |
| On sale | The buyer has 30 days after closing to apply for a permit, or it goes to the next person on the waiting list |
| Occupancy | 2 people per conforming bedroom, plus 2 |
| Penalties | Class A non-person misdemeanor: up to 1 year and $2,500; minimum fines $50, $100, $500, plus $10 a day |
| Law | Wakefield City Code, Chapter V, Article 4, Sections 5-401 to 5-403 (Ord. 1345, 1345a, 1369) |
What the Ordinance Says
Wakefield defines a short-term rental as a home, or part of one, rented for less than 30 consecutive days, or less than 28 in February. The rules are in Chapter V, Article 4 of the city code.
Only four are allowed. The code sets "a limit of four (4) STR locations within the City," and one person or entity may own no more than one. The city keeps a waiting list for permits.
Four steps to operate. Every short-term rental must be registered with the State of Kansas, with proof shown to the city's Code Enforcement Officer. The owner needs a conditional use permit from the city, must register the property with the city as an STR, and pays a $100 registration fee each year. The owner also signs a waiver of liability to register.
Permits do not transfer. When a short-term rental is sold, the new owner has 30 days from closing to apply for a conditional use permit in their own name. If they miss that window, the city awards the permit to the next person on the waiting list.
Other limits. Mobile homes, RVs, travel trailers, tents and vehicles cannot be short-term rentals. A multi-unit or mixed-use building may hold only one. Occupancy is two people per conforming bedroom plus two, and a rental may not generate more traffic than a home with a permanent resident.
Enforcement
Violations are a Class A non-person misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,500. Minimum fines are $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second and $500 for a third, plus $10 for each day out of compliance, up to $2,500.
KCLY Radio reported that the city plans to step up enforcement, with the Wakefield Police Department or City Code Enforcement contacting owners and giving warnings first.
What Hosts and Buyers Should Do Now
- If you already operate: register with the State of Kansas, apply for the conditional use permit, register with the city and pay the $100 fee within the 90-day window.
- If you want to start one: ask the city whether any of the four places is open, and get on the waiting list if not.
- If you are buying a property that is a short-term rental: the permit does not come with the house. Apply within 30 days of closing, and confirm with the city before you buy that you can qualify, since you may own only one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are short-term rentals allowed in Wakefield, Kansas?
Yes, but only four in the whole city. Each needs a conditional use permit, city and state registration and a $100 annual fee, and one owner may hold only one.
Can I buy a house in Wakefield that is already a short-term rental and keep renting it?
Only if you apply for your own conditional use permit within 30 days of closing. If you do not, the permit goes to the next person on the city's waiting list.
How much does it cost to register a short-term rental in Wakefield?
The city registration fee is $100 a year. The code does not state the conditional use permit fee; ask the city.
What counts as a short-term rental in Wakefield?
A home, or part of one, rented for less than 30 consecutive days, or less than 28 in February. Portions of a day count as full days.
What are the penalties?
A Class A non-person misdemeanor: up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,500, with minimum fines of $50, $100 and $500 for the first three offenses plus $10 a day.
Sources
- Code of the City of Wakefield, Kansas, Chapter V, Article 4: Short-Term Rental Operations, wakefieldks.citycode.net
- Wakefield Updates Short-Term Rental Ordinance, KCLY Radio
Updated October 28, 2026: added the citywide cap, the one-per-owner rule and the rule on sales from the city code, which the first version of this post left out.
Check the current rules for your area in the LawfulStay directory.