Kansas City Landlord-Tenant Rules

State preemption: Missouri bars cities from regulating rent. Since August 28, 2025 it also bars them from enacting, maintaining or enforcing ordinances that: stop landlords from refusing tenants whose rent includes federal or other housing assistance; restrict landlords' use of income tests, credit, eviction, property-damage or criminal history; cap security deposits; or require a tenant right of first refusal. Cities may still protect tenants who receive veterans' benefits.; Tenants' Bill of Rights (Healthy Rental Homes): The 2019 Tenants' Bill of Rights amended the Healthy Rental Homes article (rental permits, inspections and enforcement by the Health Department director). Owners may not evict, refuse to renew or change lease terms because a tenant reported violations, organized a tenants' association or bargained collectively. They may not shut off required utilities or services in retaliation, or pass permit or re-inspection fees on to tenants. Leases may not waive these rights. Owners may not discriminate under § 38-105, refuse to accept rent, or harass tenants. They may enter only with written consent, or with at least 24 hours' notice at reasonable times, except in emergencies. Before renting, owners must give each tenant utility-history contact information, a list of code deficiencies and citations from the prior 24 months, and a copy of the city's Tenants' Bill of Rights.; Rental permits (Healthy Rental Homes inspection program): Rental property needs a rental permit issued by the Health Department director. Duplexes where the owner lives in one unit, and rentals inside an owner-occupied single-family home, are not 'rental property' under this article. Operating without a permit, or letting it lapse, is a violation.; Source-of-income discrimination: In 2024 the city made source of income a protected trait in housing (Ch. 38) and required standard rental-application language. Since August 28, 2025, state law voids any local rule that stops landlords from refusing tenants because rent comes from federal or other housing assistance. Local protection for veterans' benefits is still allowed.