🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Riley County, KS

A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates—Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.

Riley County Eyes Local Oversight for Vacation Rentals in New Draft Rules

The gears are turning on short-term rental reform in Riley County, and the latest proposal puts local accountability front and center.

At a recent county commission meeting, officials discussed a new draft of regulations aimed at tightening oversight of vacation rentals listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

The big change? All STRs must designate a “responsible agent” who lives—and is physically present—in Riley County whenever guests are staying. The agent must be able to respond to issues, such as noise complaints or property concerns, within an hour.

Planning Director Amanda Webb explained that the move is designed to ensure there’s always someone nearby to handle problems quickly. Legal concerns were also addressed—County Counselor Bryant Parker advised using clear wording to eliminate loopholes. The latest language requires the agent to “reside and be present” locally while guests are in residence.

The draft also introduces a conversation around density and distance requirements between STRs. But applying those in Riley County is tricky, Webb admitted, due to the area’s rural nature and uneven population clusters. Rules used in other counties—such as limiting STRs by zip code—just don’t fit.

 Proposed changes include:

• Setback Requirement: A new provision would require a minimum 500-foot separation between STR properties.
• Tax and Fee Compliance: Property owners would be required to be current on all property taxes and fees associated with the short-term rental.
• Responsible Agent Requirement: The existing requirement to designate a Responsible Agent would be expanded to require that the agent reside in Riley County and be present while the unit is rented.

Webb pulled examples from nearby jurisdictions and out-of-state models to help tailor an approach that works for Riley. And while Kansas counties haven’t set many precedents, she believes Riley could become a model for other s as more regions address the STR boom.

Next steps? The planning board will review the proposed changes and return an updated draft to the county commission in the coming weeks.