Ellinwood, Kansas Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

1. Overview – Are Short‑Term Rentals Allowed?

Short‑term rentals are permitted in Ellinwood, but only under specific use classifications and only after receiving a conditional use permit (CUP).

The City’s Zoning Ordinance (2019) treats STR‑type uses as either a Bed & Breakfast Inn, a Rooming/Lodging House, or a Tourist Home.
In the R‑1 (Single‑Family) and R‑2/R‑3 (Multi‑Family) residential districts these uses are allowed only as Conditional Uses (CUP).
No blanket “STR‑as‑a‑principal‑use” permission exists; a property must be rezoned or a CUP must be obtained.

Bottom line: You can operate an STR in Ellinwood, but you must first secure a Conditional Use Permit, meet the occupancy and operational limits imposed by the Zoning Ordinance, and comply with all city, county, and state licensing and tax requirements.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Ellinwood?

Ellinwood hosts earn a median $16,646/year with $82 ADR and 71% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $17,356+ per year.

See the full Ellinwood market breakdown

2. Zoning & Use Classification

| Use (as defined in the Ordinance) | Zoning District(s) where it may be allowed | Permit Required | Key Limits | |-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------|------------| | Bed & Breakfast Inn (max 5 sleeping rooms, meals may be served) | R‑1 (Conditional Use) | CUP + Building Permit | <ul><li>Maximum 5 sleeping rooms in a residential district.</li><li>Signage ≤ 3 sq ft, affixed to the structure.</li><li>Off‑street parking: 1 space per sleeping room + 1 per employee (see Art. XVII).</li></ul> | | Rooming / Lodging House (3+ guests, meals optional) | R‑1, R‑2, R‑3 (Conditional Use) | CUP + Business License | <ul><li>Maximum 6 adults + 4 children (10 persons total) per definition.</li><li>No more than 3 customers/non‑employees on‑site at any time (home‑occupation rule).</li><li>Hours of operation limited to 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (if any on‑site staff/customers).</li></ul> | | Tourist Home (dwelling offering overnight accommodations for compensation) | Not expressly listed as a permitted use; typically treated as a Rooming House or Bed & Breakfast for CUP purposes. | CUP (if sought under “Rooming/Lodging House” category) | Same limits as Room‑ing House. | | Hotel / Motel (commercial lodging) | C‑1/C‑2 (Commercial) | Standard commercial use; no CUP needed in commercial zones. | Must meet commercial parking, signage, and fire‑code standards. |

Only the residential‑district options (Bed & Breakfast, Rooming/Lodging House) require a CUP. If you locate the property in a commercial zone (C‑1 or C‑2) you may operate a full‑service hotel‑type STR without a CUP, but you must still meet all commercial zoning, building, and tax requirements.

3. How to Start a Short‑Term Rental Business in Ellinwood

| Step | Action | Authority / Agency | Key Requirements | |------|--------|--------------------|-------------------| | 1. Verify Zoning Eligibility | Confirm the parcel’s zoning district (R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, or C‑1/C‑2). | City Planning Department (Zoning Map) | Property must be in a district that permits the intended STR use (Residential → CUP; Commercial → no CUP). | | 2. Prepare a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Application | File CUP request for “Bed & Breakfast” or “Rooming/Lodging House” with the Planning Commission. | Planning Commission → Governing Body (City Council) | <ul><li>Completed CUP application form.</li><li>Site plan showing building footprint, parking, setbacks, and entrances.</li><li>Floor‑plan indicating number of sleeping rooms and common areas.</li><li>Statement of operation (occupancy limits, hours, signage, parking plan).</li><li>Proof of ownership or lease.</li></ul> | | 3. Obtain Building Permits (if alterations are required) | Apply for any remodeling, structural, or fire‑life‑safety work. | City Building Department / Building Official | Must comply with the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC) as adopted by the City. | | 4. Secure a Business License | Register the STR as a lodging business. | City Clerk’s Office (Business License Division) | License fee, proof of CUP approval, proof of insurance, and compliance with health codes (if meals are served). | | 5. Register for Kansas State Taxes | <ul><li>Obtain a Kansas Sales Tax Permit (Form ST‑1).</li><li>Register for Transient Guest Tax (Form RG‑5).</li></ul> | Kansas Department of Revenue (DOR) | Collect & remit state sales tax (6.5 % + any local add‑ons) and the transient guest tax (8 % of room rate). | | 6. Health & Safety Compliance (if meals are provided) | Obtain a food service permit if breakfast or other meals are offered. | Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) | Must meet all food‑service regulations and pass health inspections. | | 7. Signage, Parking, and Operational Restrictions | Install signage (≤ 3 sq ft, attached to structure). Provide required off‑street parking. | Enforced by Building Official & City Code Enforcement | Off‑street parking = 1

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Ellinwood is a small city of roughly 2,000 residents in Barton County, in the heart of central Kansas. Set along U.S. Route 56, the community has a quiet, traditional small-town character rooted in its 19th-century origins as a stop along the Santa Fe Trail. Today it is best known for its unusual underground tunnels, a hidden network that draws curious visitors from across the region. Ellinwood lies about 100 miles northwest of Wichita, the nearest major metropolitan area, and just a short drive east of Great Bend, the county seat and the largest town in the surrounding area.

The Ellinwood Underground Tunnels form the centerpiece of the town's identity. This network of brick-lined passages lies beneath the historic main-street buildings and dates to the late 1800s, when the tunnels served a variety of purposes tied to the businesses operating above. Guided tours, organized locally, lead visitors below street level to learn about the town's past and see the spaces that have been opened up for public viewing. The tunnels are within walking distance of the small downtown core.

Roughly 30 to 40 miles east of Ellinwood, Fort Larned National Historic Site preserves one of the best surviving examples of a frontier military post from the era of the Santa Fe Trail. The sandstone fort, with its parade ground, barracks, and officers' quarters, served as a base of operations for the U.S. Army from 1860 to 1878. Visitors can tour the restored buildings and walk the grounds where soldiers once guarded westward-bound wagon trains, offering a vivid window into 19th-century life on the plains.

Just west of Ellinwood, the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area near Great Bend is one of the most important migratory bird habitats in the central United States. This large, shallow wetland attracts tens of thousands of shorebirds, waterfowl, and cranes each spring and fall, making it a major destination for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers passing through the region. The area's visitor center and observation points provide easy ways to experience the migration.

Ellinwood offers short-term rental operators a base that combines genuine small-town atmosphere with surprisingly convenient access to a range of regional attractions. Visitors staying in the area can step into a piece of Victorian-era Kansas history below ground, tour a well-preserved frontier fort, and explore one of the country's premier birding sites, all within an easy drive of a peaceful, walkable community in the middle of the Sunflower State.