Wichita Landlord-Tenant Rules

Retaliatory eviction ordinance: A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant in good standing, meaning current on rent and meeting the tenant's duties under state law, within six months after the tenant joins or organizes a tenants' union, or files a good-faith written complaint about unsafe or unsanitary conditions with the landlord or a government agency. Retaliation includes starting an eviction, raising the rent, or cutting required services. Landlords may still evict for nonpayment, illegal use, lease violations or tenant-caused damage, or on a termination notice given before the complaint. They may also evict for code-required demolition or remodeling, and may raise rent in good faith to cover rising costs. Tenants file a notarized complaint and affidavit on the City's form with the City Clerk (455 N. Main St., 13th Floor) within 180 days of the last retaliatory act. The case may go to City-paid mediation, then investigation, a Law Department probable-cause review, and a hearing before a Municipal Court judge sitting as Administrative Judge. Fines are up to $1,000 for a first violation and up to $2,500 for a fourth or later violation, and each day is a separate offense.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: Wichita applies its Minimum Housing Code (City Code Chapter 20) to occupied and vacant homes, covering standards such as heating, electricity, light, ventilation and space. Report violations to the Neighborhood Inspections division of the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) at (316) 660-9220, or to your Neighborhood Housing Inspector.; State preemption (rent control, source of income, screening, deposits): Kansas cities may not control rents on private residential property, and may not require rent limits as a condition of zoning or permit approvals, except through voluntary incentive agreements. In 2026 the Legislature overrode the Governor's veto of SB 391. As recommended in the Senate, it bars cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers or other voluntary housing assistance, from restricting landlords' use of income tests, credit, eviction, property-damage or criminal history in screening, from limiting security deposits, and from requiring a tenant right of first refusal. Conflicting local ordinances adopted before July 1, 2026 are void.