Overview of Allowability

• Short‑term rentals (defined operationally as accommodations rented for fewer than 30 days to transient guests) appear to be allowable in Coffeyville under existing lodging-related use categories in the city zoning ordinance.
• The Model Zoning Ordinance defines “Bed and breakfast” and “Hotel or motel” as lodging uses, and provides dedicated parking standards for “Bed and Breakfasts/Lodging houses” and hotels/motels. This indicates a municipal framework for transient lodging, within which short‑term rentals can be operated (subject to zoning, permits, and parking).
• No standalone STR licensing scheme is presented in the provided documents; operation must comply with zoning, building, occupancy, and administrative provisions.

How to Start a Short‑Term Rental Business in This Market

• Confirm zoning feasibility
  • Identify the zoning district of your property from the official zoning map.
  • Map the property to the appropriate lodging use category in the zoning ordinance (likely “Hotel or motel” if operating as a hosted or non‑hosted property that rents entire units to transients; “Bed and breakfast” if you live on‑site and serve breakfast).
• Prepare permit applications and documents
  • Building permit (for any interior/exterior construction or change of use).
  • Certificate of occupancy or Temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) if needed for partial occupancy or completion stage.
  • Nonconforming use certificate (if applicable).
  • Conditional/Special Use Permit (if your selected lodging use is listed as a conditional or special use in the district, or if you propose any deviations from base standards).
• Design to code and zoning
  • Confirm structural, life safety, and accessibility standards per city codes referenced in the zoning ordinance.
  • Meet off‑street parking standards specific to lodging uses (see tables below).
  • Comply with landscaping and screening requirements for commercial uses (if applicable).
• Submit to the Engineering Department
  • Apply for building permits; request occupancy certificates; file for any required conditional/special use approvals.
  • Pay the established fees and deposits (listed below).
• Operate
  • Maintain compliance with all city ordinances, health and building codes, and any floodplain provisions if applicable.
  • Note that the city’s violation enforcement includes fines up to $500 and/or up to six months imprisonment per offense; each day of violation is a separate offense.
• If you cannot meet strict dimensional or use standards
  • Consider applying to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance or exception. Variances can be granted only if unnecessary hardship is shown, public interest is preserved, and the spirit of the ordinance is observed.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

• Permits and certificates
  • Building permit (for construction/alterations or change of use).
  • Certificate of occupancy (for new buildings or changes in use).
  • Temporary certificate of occupancy (valid up to 6 months; for partial occupancy or during completion).
  • Nonconforming use certificate (to document lawful continuation of a pre‑existing use).
  • Conditional Use Permit or Special Use Permit (if required in the zoning district).
  • Home Occupation Permit (only if your STR operation meets the “home occupation” definition—conducted by residents, no non‑resident employees, and maintaining a strictly residential character; most STRs will not qualify).
• Fees and cost deposits (selected examples)
  • Rezonings: $100
  • Conditional Use Permits: $50
  • Special Use Permits: $50
  • Home Occupation Permits: $50
  • Variances: $50
  • Mobile Home Court: $50
  • Temporary uses: $10
  • Ownership list fee: minimum $75 for certified ownership list within 200 feet (extend to 1,000 feet outside city limits).
• Zoning and administrative procedures
  • Public hearing and notice requirements: at least 20 days’ publication notice, plus mailed notice to property owners within 200 feet (1,000 feet outside city limits).
  • Appeals and rehearings: initial applications cannot be refiled within 90 days; rehearings may be accepted within 90 days with an affidavit demonstrating substantial change; certain fee waivers apply if rehearing is requested within 90 days.
  • Reclassification completion requirement: if reclassification is approved but construction does not substantially progress within two years, the zoning reverts.
• Code references to use
  • Definitions: Bed and breakfast; Hotel/motel; Lodging (Boardinghouse, Room house); Home occupation.
  • Administration: Amendments and deposits; Occupancy permits; Violations and penalties.
  • Special Uses: Conditional uses; Special use permits.
  • Parking: Specific off‑street parking standards for lodging uses (see tables below).
  • Floodplain: Development permits; variance procedures; floodway/fringe standards if site is in a mapped flood hazard area.

Specific Regulations: City of Coffeyville (Montgomery County) and the State of Kansas

• City zoning framework
  • Zoning is administered under the Coffeyville Model Zoning Ordinance (Title 29), adopted May 13, 2014 (Ordinance No. G‑14‑02).
  • The ordinance contains comprehensive definitions of lodging uses, establishes special use and conditional use pathways, and details parking requirements.
  • The Engineering Department issues building permits and certificates of occupancy; the Planning Commission holds public hearings and makes recommendations; the City Commission makes final decisions; the Board of Zoning Appeals hears appeals and grants variances/exceptions where authorized.
• Permitted lodging uses (as defined)
  • Bed and breakfast: structure (other than hotel/motel) providing accommodations and usually breakfast for overnight guests.
  • Hotel or motel: building or group of buildings providing sleeping accommodations for transients on a daily/weekly basis.
  • Boardinghouse/Rooming house: lodging for two or more persons for compensation, often longer‑term (may be relevant when comparing hosted vs. unhosted offerings).
• Parking standards for lodging uses
  • Hotels and motels:
    • Minimum two spaces, plus one per rental unit.
    • Additional spaces as required for restaurants, assembly rooms, and affiliated facilities.
  • Bed and Breakfasts/Lodging houses:
    • One parking space per lodging room.
• Conditional use process and findings
  • If a lodging use is a conditional use in the subject district, you must obtain a Conditional Use Permit.
  • Required findings include:
    • The use is permitted in the district and complies with all applicable regulations.
    • The use will not substantially injure neighboring property values.
    • The location, size, and operation will not dominate the neighborhood (consider building heights, screening, landscaping).
    • Off‑street parking and loading will meet standards.
    • Adequate utilities and drainage are or will be provided.
• Appeals and variances
  • Variances may be granted only if unnecessary hardship is demonstrated due to special conditions; use cannot be expanded beyond what is permitted by the district; the spirit of the ordinance must be observed, and public safety and welfare must be secured.
  • Appeals are heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals with published notice and mailed notice to parties.
• Violations and penalties
  • Zoning violations are misdemeanors, punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment up to six months per offense; each day is a separate offense.
  • The city may bring suits to enforce zoning and abate nuisances; injunctions, mandamus, or other actions may be used.
• Floodplain management
  • If the property lies within flood hazard areas, a Development Permit is required; floodway/fringe standards, variance procedures, and building code requirements for reconstruction apply.
• State‑level considerations
  • The ordinance is adopted under Kansas statutes (K.S.A. 12‑745 to 12‑771) and references state notice and hearing requirements.
  • State‑level topics such as sales and transient guest taxes, health licensing, or HOA/municipal covenants are not addressed in the provided documents; consult state and county resources directly for those topics.
• Neighborhood protections
  • Landscaping and screening requirements apply to commercial properties; parking lots with more than six spaces must be screened from adjacent residential districts by a wall, fence, or dense evergreen hedge (5–6 feet in height).
  • Visibility at intersections: no fences, walls, hedges, or structures over 3 feet in height in the specified sight triangles; lighting must be directed away from residential properties.

Contact Information (City)

• City Engineering Department (building permits, certificates of occupancy)
  • Address: 102 W. 7th St., Coffeyville, KS 67337
  • Phone: 620‑251‑2000
• City Planning Commission / Zoning Administration
  • Address: City Hall, 102 W. 7th St., Coffeyville, KS 67337
  • Phone: 620‑251‑2000
• City Clerk’s Office (for fee deposits, zoning applications, and public notices)
  • Address: City Hall, 102 W. 7th St., Coffeyville, KS 67337
  • Phone: 620‑251‑2000

Links to Source Pages

• City of Coffeyville Model Zoning Ordinance (Title 29; adopted May 13, 2014; Ordinance No. G‑14‑02)
  • www.coffeyville.com/DocumentCenter/View/878/Model-Zoning-Ordinance-G-14-02?bidId=

Notes and Practical Tips

• Before investing, verify with the Engineering Department that your intended lodging use is a permitted, conditional, or special use in the subject district, and confirm any district‑specific standards.
• If your STR will include structural changes, a change of use, or partial occupancy during construction, plan for both building permits and occupancy certificates (including a temporary certificate where appropriate).
• Where strict compliance with parking, yard, or intensity standards is infeasible, evaluate early whether a variance or exception is appropriate and winnable under the ordinance’s criteria.