Kan. Stat. Ann. § 12-16,138
Cities; counties; prohibiting periodic interior inspections of residential property; exceptions.
Operative Text
(a) No city or county shall adopt, enforce or maintain a residential property licensing ordinance or resolution which includes a requirement for periodic interior inspections of privately owned residential property for city or county code violations unless the lawful occupant has consented to such interior inspections. This subsection shall not apply to inspections of mixed-use residential and commercial property. This subsection shall not prohibit a city or county from conducting plan reviews, periodic construction inspections or final occupancy inspections as required by building permits. (b) Any lawful occupant residing in privately owned residential housing located within the corporate limits of a city may request an inspection at any time by the city or, if the property is located in the unincorporated area of the county, by the county to determine code violations.
Under Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 12-16,120; 12-16,123; 12-16,138; 12-16,219; 12-2723, Kansas cities and counties are barred from requiring periodic interior inspections of privately owned residential property as part of a licensing program unless the lawful occupant has given consent. At the same time, the law preserves the right of any lawful occupant to proactively request an inspection by the relevant city or county authority to check for code violations. Exceptions exist for mixed-use residential-commercial properties and for inspections tied to building permits, such as construction or final occupancy reviews.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 12-16,120; 12-16,123; 12-16,138; 12-16,219; 12-2723 means that compliant operators in Kansas generally do not face mandatory periodic interior inspections under a residential licensing program without occupant consent. Landlords administering properties subject to building permits should be aware that plan reviews, construction inspections, and final occupancy inspections remain permissible under this statute. Mixed-use residential and commercial properties fall outside the consent-based protection, so different rules may apply to those units.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 12-16,120; 12-16,123; 12-16,138; 12-16,219; 12-2723, tenants in Kansas have the right to withhold consent to periodic interior inspections conducted as part of a city or county residential licensing program. Separately, any lawful occupant can affirmatively request that the city—or county, if the property is in an unincorporated area—conduct an inspection to identify code violations. Tenants who believe their rights under this provision have been disregarded may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or consulting with an attorney familiar with Kansas housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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