Lawrence, Kansas Short-Term Rental Market
Lawrence requires a license and limits non-owner-occupied rentals, with September 2026 STRs at $153 ADR, 54.6% occupancy, $2,254 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Lawrence, Kansas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Kansas Area market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Kansas Area market area is $2,254. average daily rate in the Kansas Area market area is $153. the top operator in the Kansas Area market area is Evolve with 60 listings. market score is 86/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Kansas Area regional market, which includes Lawrence. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lawrence.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Performance figures on this page describe the northeast Kansas STR market, a college-town region that includes Lawrence and Manhattan, rather than Lawrence alone. In September 2026 the average listing in that market earned $2,254 in monthly revenue at an average daily rate of $153 and 54.6% occupancy. Year over year, occupancy rose 5.3%, ADR rose 3.7% and revenue rose 10.4%, so growth came from both more booked nights and higher rates. Entire-place rentals averaged $2,361 per month, houses averaged $2,450 and apartments averaged $1,986. Summing the seasonal monthly averages gives annualized revenue of about $18,800 per listing.
Lawrence itself is home to the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University, with a population of 97,271 in Douglas County, about 40 minutes west of Kansas City. Tourism is a large part of the local economy. Visitors spent $296.3 million in Douglas County in 2023, up 6% from the prior year and fifth among Kansas counties, with lodging accounting for roughly $88.7 million. Demand clusters around Jayhawks games at Allen Fieldhouse and David Booth Memorial Stadium, graduation weekends, and events on Massachusetts Street. Other draws include the Spencer Museum of Art, the Lawrence Arts Center and outdoor recreation at Clinton Lake. The 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Kansas City ran from June 16 to July 11, 2026, and were expected to push overflow lodging demand toward Lawrence. No clean published annual visitor head-count is available for the city.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts, along with top operator names, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lawrence, so this profile omits them. The figures above reflect the data through September 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 40% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 49% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 54% |
| Jul | 56% |
| Aug | 52% |
| Sep | 51% |
| Oct | 49% |
| Nov | 53% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lawrence are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kansas Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Kansas Area market as a whole, which includes Lawrence, so these counts are not Lawrence-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 60 | 2,085 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Stay Awhile | 18 | 2,445 | ★ 4.95 |
| 3 | OwlStays | 11 | 445 | ★ 4.55 |
| 4 | Equi-Venture Farm | 10 | 2,664 | ★ 4.85 |
| 5 | Swin Housing | 8 | 451 | ★ 4.87 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lawrence?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lawrence are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 66.5% |
| vrbo | 4.8% |
| both | 28.8% |
Home Value Trends (Lawrence)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lawrence are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Lawrence — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Lawrence, but they require a license. Any residential property rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days must hold an annual Short-term Rental License from the City of Lawrence Planning and Development Services department, obtained through the EPL Civic Access Portal. The ordinance lists an annual fee of $17, though some third-party guides cite about $35, so confirm the current fee with the city. Units are inspected annually for fire and building-code compliance, and applicants must show that applicable state and local sales tax and transient guest tax were paid for the prior year.
The city distinguishes between owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied rentals. Owner occupancy and primary residence are not required, but non-owner-occupied STRs are prohibited in RS (single-dwelling residential) and PD (planned development) zoning districts, and they were not permitted in R-1 and R-2 low-density districts. Historically a single licensee could hold a maximum of 3 STR licenses citywide.
For the 2026 World Cup, the City Commission voted on January 6, 2026 to temporarily lift the 3-license cap and allow non-owner-occupied rentals in R-1 and R-2 districts, effective around May 25, 2026, with a sunset targeted for July 26, 2026. Investors should confirm with the city which rules apply now.
The transient guest tax rose from 6% to 8% effective January 1, 2026. Combined with state and local sales tax, the total tax on stays is roughly 13.75% or more. Operating without a license can lead to fines, which third-party guides cite at up to about $1,000 per violation day, and to license revocation. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
In September 2026 the northeast Kansas market ran at 54.6% occupancy and a $153 ADR, so revenue per listing is driven by steady occupancy rather than high nightly rates.
The market is gaining ground. Occupancy is up 5.3% year over year, ADR is up 3.7% and revenue is up 10.4%. The ADR has risen from $99 in 2017 to $138 in 2026 so far, while occupancy has moved from 43.0% to 50.2% over the same period. Lawrence also has a relatively low home price for a university town, with a typical home value of $334,684, which keeps the entry cost below that of many coastal and resort markets.
Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Lawrence, so this profile omits them. For investors, the main trade-offs are a lower ADR, a clear winter slowdown, and zoning limits on non-owner-occupied rentals, balanced against steady demand from the university and a rising revenue trend.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lawrence, Kansas
What is the average Airbnb occupancy in Lawrence, Kansas?
How much do short-term rentals earn in Lawrence, KS?
Do I need a license to run an Airbnb in Lawrence?
Where are non-owner-occupied short-term rentals prohibited in Lawrence?
What is the occupancy tax on STR stays in Lawrence?
When is the best time of year for Lawrence STR demand?
How much does a typical home cost in Lawrence?
Analyze Lawrence Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Lawrence.
Free Lawrence STR Calculator →
