NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Douglas Jones, City Auditor, (816) 513-3300

The City Auditor's Office is conducting an audit assessing the city's Short Term Rental Program. A short term rental is when a host provides a house, apartment, or other non-traditional hotel residence for rent as overnight lodging to a guest. Common third-party websites listing these properties include companies like Airbnb, VRBO, Turnkey, and Whimstay.

The city began regulating short term rentals in February of 2018. The City Planning and Development Department oversees the city's short term rental regulations. Hosts are required by City Code to register all short term rentals with the city.

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The city receives complaints about the illegal operation of short term rentals and related disturbances. In addition to complaints, residents also suggested we audit this program. Short term rentals may also impact the city's ability to collect certain tourism related taxes and fees.

The objectives of this audit are to determine whether short term rental hosts are complying with city registration requirements and the impact on city convention and tourism taxes and the arena fee.

View the audit Scope Statement online on our Recent Reports page. The scope statement is scheduled to be presented at the Council Business Session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 4, 2022.

Did you know you can submit audit ideas to the city auditor?

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