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Session of 2026
SENATE BILL No. 444
By Senator Sykes
2-2
AN ACT concerning cities and counties; relating to interior inspections
and abatement of nuisances in residential property; allowing cities to
abate nuisances that involve certain interior code violations or delegate
such authority to the county; authorizing inspections without consent of
the occupant pursuant to an administrative warrant or if there is
probable cause of imminent danger related to public health and safety;
amending K.S.A. 12-1617e and 12-16,138 and repealing the existing
sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 12-1617e is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-
1617e. (a) The governing body of any city may have removed or abated
from any lot or parcel of ground within the city any and all nuisances,
including rank grass, weeds or other vegetation. If such lot or parcel of
ground contains a dwelling unit as defined in K.S.A. 58-2543, and
amendments thereto, the governing body of a city may abate nuisances
that involve any violation of building and housing codes materially
affecting health and safety as described in K.S.A. 58-2553, and
amendments thereto. A city may delegate authority to abate such
nuisances to the county in which the the dwelling unit is located if the
county accepts such authority. The governing body may have drained any
pond or ponds of water, at the cost and expense of the owner of the
property on which the nuisance is located, whenever the city, county or
joint board of health or other agency as may be designated by the
governing body of the city files with the clerk of such city its statement in
writing that such nuisance, rank vegetation or pond of water, describing
the same and where located, is a menace and dangerous to the health of the
inhabitants of the city, or of any neighborhood, family or resident of the
city. The governing body of the city, by resolution, also may make such
determination.
(b) Except as provided by subsection (c), the governing body of the
city shall order the owner or agent of the owner of the property to remove
and abate from the property the thing or things therein described as a
nuisance within a time, not exceeding 10 days, to be specified in the order.
The governing body of the city shall grant extensions of such ten-day time
period if the owner or agent of the property demonstrates that due
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diligence is being exercised in abating the nuisance. The order shall state
that before the expiration of the waiting period or any extension thereof,
the recipient thereof may request a hearing before the governing body or
its designated representative. The order shall be served on the owner or
agent of such property by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by
personal service. If the property is unoccupied and the owner is a
nonresident, then by mailing the order by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the last known address of the owner.
(c) If the owner or agent of the owner of the property has failed to
accept delivery or otherwise failed to effectuate receipt of a notice sent
pursuant to this section during the preceding twenty-four month period, the
governing body of a city may provide notice of the issuance of any further
orders to abate or remove a nuisance from such property in the manner
provided by subsection (b) or as provided in this subsection. Except as
specifically provided in this subsection, the governing body may provide
notice of the order by such methods including, but not limited to, door
hangers, conspicuously posting notice of such order on the property,
personal notification, telephone communication or first class mail. If the
property is unoccupied and the owner is a nonresident, notice provided by
this section shall be given by telephone communication or first class mail.
(d) If the owner or agent fails to comply with the requirement of the
order for a period longer than that named in the order, the city shall
proceed to have the things described in the order removed and abated from
the lot or parcel of ground. If the city abates or removes the nuisance, the
city shall give notice to the owner or agent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, of the total cost of such abatement or removal incurred by the
city. Such notice also shall state that payment of such cost is due and
payable within 30 days following receipt of such notice. The city also may
recover the cost of providing notice, including any postage, required by
this section. If the cost of such removal or abatement and notice is not paid
within the thirty-day period, the cost shall be collected in the manner
provided by K.S.A. 12-1,115, and amendments thereto, or shall be
assessed and charged against the lot or parcel of ground on which the
nuisance was located. If the cost is to be assessed, the city clerk, at the
time of certifying other city taxes to the county clerk, shall certify such
costs, and the county clerk shall extend the same on the tax roll of the
county against the lot or parcel of ground, and it shall be collected by the
county treasurer and paid to the city as other city taxes are collected and
paid. The city may pursue collection both by levying a special assessment
and in the manner provided by K.S.A. 12-1,115, and amendments thereto,
but only until the full cost and any applicable interest has been paid in full.
(e) Any city may remove and abate from property other than public
property or property open to use by the public a motor vehicle determined
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to be a nuisance. Disposition of such vehicle shall be in compliance with
the procedures for impoundment, notice and public auction provided by
paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of K.S.A. 8-1102 (a)(2), and amendments
thereto. Following any sale by public auction of a vehicle determined to be
a nuisance, the purchaser may file proof thereof with the division of
vehicles, and the division shall issue a certificate of title to the purchaser
of such motor vehicle. If a public auction is conducted, but no responsible
bid received, the city may file proof thereof with the division of vehicles,
and the division shall issue a certificate of title of such motor vehicle to the
city. Any person whose motor vehicle has been disposed of pursuant to this
subsection shall be eligible for a refund of the tax imposed pursuant to
K.S.A. 79-5101 et seq., and amendments thereto. The amount of such
refund shall be determined in the manner provided by K.S.A. 79-5107, and
amendments thereto.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 12-16,138 is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-
16,138. (a) (1) 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:
(A) The lawful occupant has consented to such interior inspections;
(B) the inspection is conducted pursuant to an administrative
warrant; or
(C) there is probable cause of imminent danger related to health and
safety on the property and notice is provided that is reasonable under the
circumstances.
(2) 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.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 12-1617e and 12-16,138 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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