New Regulations on Short-term Vacation Rentals Soon to be Enforced in Shawnee

SHAWNEE, Kan. – A new wave of city oversight is hitting the short-term vacation rental market later this month as the City of Shawnee begins enforcing a fresh ordinance. The strengthened regulations which officially take effect on March 26 are designed to resolve noise and crowd size complaints frequently associated with these types of rentals. Key among the new deterrents are penalties – notably a minimum $500 fine and even potential jail time.

A Real Help for Homeowners

For long-standing homeowners like Larry Diehl, this is a real win. With residency of over 45 years, Diehl has seen the negative impact disruptive vacation rental occupants can have on the tranquility of a neighborhood. He recollects that “We’ve been here for 45 years. We didn’t intend to stay here for 45 years, but we’ve had good neighbors.” However, his sentiment isn’t the same for short-term tenants at a neighboring Airbnb, which he found to be a nuisance.

Changes Await Property Owners and Renters

The newly imposed regulations mean for the first time both property owners and the renters themselves face retribution for code violations. As Shawnee’s Director of Communication, Doug Donahoo, clarified, “The biggest thing will be now the ordinances that are in place will apply both to renters and property owners.”

Although specific prohibitions against parties aren’t mentioned in the new ordinance, it emphasizes that all short-term rentals and their occupants will have to comply with existing noise restrictions. The updated city code further restricts capacity at the rentals, capping the limit at 10 occupants.

A Fair Deal

For Airbnb owner Shannon Doser, these changes pose no issues. In fact, Doser views them as a win-win. The proprietors had been complying with all city codes even before these amendments and hadn’t flinched when the price of a business license surged up to $500. “At the end of the day, I think everyone’s happy because they didn’t ban them,” Doser asserted. “I think it’s an equitable situation.”

Enforcement and Reporting

The city’s plan for enforcement of these new regulations is still being formulated, according to officials. Residents witnessing a code violation can report the incident to police or through the community development department. Complaints can also be filed through the city’s website.