Kansas renters are covered by the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRLTA, K.S.A. 58-2540 and following) and served by one statewide housing finance agency, the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). The biggest 2026 development is source-of-income policy: in April 2026 the Legislature overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto to enact Senate Bill 391, which bars cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers and invalidates local ordinances like the one in Lawrence. This page lays out which public housing authority covers you and its current waitlist status, the statewide and regional programs that pay rent and utilities, your rights under Kansas law, the eviction timeline, and where to get free legal help.

Quick numbers to write down:

Major Kansas Public Housing Authorities — Current Status

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are administered locally by public housing authorities (PHAs), not by the state. These are the largest Kansas PHAs and their status as of September 9, 2026. If your nearest PHA is closed, apply to several others — you are not limited to your home city, and smaller authorities often move faster.

Wichita Housing Authority (PHA code KS004)

Topeka Housing Authority (PHA code KS002)

Other Kansas PHAs to apply to

To find the PHA serving your ZIP code, use HUD’s PHA contact directory or our how to find your PHA guide. For the application itself, see how to apply for Section 8.

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) — State Programs

KHRC is the state housing finance agency the Governor designated to administer most state-level rental and housing programs. It is the right starting point for help that is not tied to a single city PHA:

Emergency Rental Assistance in Kansas (Named Programs)

If you are behind on rent or cannot cover this month, these statewide and regional nonprofits provide emergency financial help. Funding shifts month to month, so always call first to confirm capacity:

For the national picture, see our emergency rental assistance guide.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Kansas is administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). To qualify you generally must live at the address, be personally responsible for the heating costs, show recent payment history toward your primary heat source, and have household income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. Lowering your utility burden frees up cash for rent, so apply even if you are not facing imminent shutoff. See utility assistance programs for how to apply.

Kansas Tenant Law: Key Protections at a Glance

Quick Reference: Kansas (KS)

Source-of-Income Protection in 2026: Senate Bill 391

Kansas has no statewide source-of-income protection — landlords across the state can legally refuse to rent to you because you would pay with a Section 8 voucher, SSI, SSDI, VA benefits, or other lawful assistance.

The city of Lawrence had passed a local ordinance barring source-of-income discrimination. In April 2026 the Kansas Legislature overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 391 (Senate 31–8, House 85–38 on April 10, 2026). SB 391 prohibits any city or county from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that requires landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers or otherwise restricts a landlord’s ability to consider a tenant’s income source. Local ordinances that conflict with the law — including Lawrence’s — are invalidated as of July 1, 2026. (SB 391 is the bill that became law; its House companion, HB 2504, did not.)

What this means in practice: in 2026, part of the work of using a voucher in Kansas is finding landlords who already participate in Section 8. Ask your PHA for its list of participating landlords. For what is still enforceable nationally and how to document a refusal, see our source-of-income protections guide.

Rental registration requirements

If your landlord is unregistered, that is leverage for habitability complaints — contact your city’s code enforcement office.

Security deposits

Under K.S.A. 58-2550, the maximum deposit is one month’s rent for an unfurnished unit and 1.5 months for a furnished unit, plus a separate pet deposit where allowed. The landlord must return the deposit within 30 days after move-out with an itemized list of any deductions, which can only cover actual damage beyond normal wear and tear. If the landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit or fails to provide the itemized statement, you may recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus damages of 1.5 times that amount. See how to recover your security deposit; Kansas Legal Services can help you file in small claims court.

Eviction process

Kansas landlords must go through the courts. Self-help eviction — changing locks, shutting off utilities, or removing your belongings — is illegal no matter the reason. The standard sequence under K.S.A. 58-2564 is:

See understanding landlord notices and how to avoid eviction if you have received one.

How long does a Kansas eviction take?

Timelines vary by county court calendar, but a typical uncontested case runs about three to six weeks from the first notice to a sheriff-enforced lockout: roughly 3 days for the pay-or-vacate notice to expire, a few days to a couple of weeks for the court to set a first hearing after the petition is filed, a short period after judgment for any appeal window, and then issuance and execution of a writ of restitution by the sheriff. Contesting the case, requesting a continuance, or raising a habitability or improper-notice defense can extend it. The most important step is to appear at the hearing and bring your documents.

Where to Get Help in Kansas

Free legal aid: Kansas Legal Services (1-800-723-6953) represents low-income Kansans in eviction defense, habitability complaints, and discrimination cases.

State housing finance agency: Kansas Housing Resources Corporation administers state housing programs, LIHTC, rental assistance, and homebuyer help.

Find your local PHA: use HUD’s PHA contact directory or our how to find your PHA guide.

211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for shelters, utility help, and social services across Kansas.

HUD fair housing: file a discrimination complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing or call 1-800-669-9777.

Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness: if you are in the KC metro on either side of the state line, call 211 or 1-816-924-7997.

Next Steps

Not sure which program fits your situation? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions — emergency versus long-term, family versus individual, employed versus on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of Kansas programs in about two minutes.

If you have an eviction notice in hand, call Kansas Legal Services the same day, and read eviction prevention for what to do before your court date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Wichita Housing Authority Section 8 waiting list open in 2026?

Waitlist status changes often, so check the Wichita Housing Authority portal at wichita.myhousing.com (or wichita.gov) for the current status before applying. Wichita also accepts Project-Based Voucher (PBV) and Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) applications. Income limits are set by HUD and updated every year, so look up the current figure for your household size and area on HUD's income-limit tool. Call (316) 462-3700 to apply or verify your status.

Is the Topeka Housing Authority waitlist open?

Topeka Housing Authority publishes no status for its public housing waiting list, so we will not print one. Its Section 8 banner reads "Section 8 Waiting List is now open and will close on May 4, 2026" — a date that has already passed, so the page is stale and cannot be relied on in either direction. Call (785) 357-8842 or email info@tha.gov to ask what is actually accepting applications today (checked September 9, 2026). You should also apply to the Lawrence Housing Authority and to statewide programs through KHRC.

Does Kansas have source-of-income protection for Section 8 vouchers?

No statewide protection. Landlords in Kansas can legally refuse a Section 8 voucher. The city of Lawrence had a local ordinance, but in April 2026 the Legislature overrode Governor Kelly's veto of Senate Bill 391, which bars cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept vouchers and invalidates local ordinances like Lawrence's as of July 1, 2026. In practice, ask your PHA for its list of participating landlords.

Where can I get emergency rental help in Kansas?

Start with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (kshousingcorp.org) for state programs. Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas, Southwest Kansas, and Northeast Kansas / Kansas City-St. Joseph provide emergency financial assistance across most of the state. Dial 211 to be routed to whichever local program currently has openings, and apply for LIHEAP through the Kansas Department for Children and Families to lower your utility bills.

What is the eviction notice period in Kansas?

Kansas requires a 3-day notice to pay or vacate for nonpayment of rent (plus 2 days if mailed). For other lease violations, the landlord gives a notice that terminates the lease in 30 days unless you cure within the first 14 days. Ending a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days' notice. Self-help eviction - changing locks, shutting off utilities, or removing belongings - is illegal. An uncontested eviction typically takes three to six weeks from notice to lockout.

Related Resources

Your Rights as a Tenant

Habitability, privacy, retaliation, and eviction defense.

How to Avoid Eviction

Practical steps if you are behind on rent.

Source-of-Income Protections

Where voucher holders are protected from refusal.

Apply for Section 8

Step-by-step voucher application.

File a Discrimination Complaint

How to file a fair housing complaint with HUD.

Request a Reasonable Accommodation

For a disability or medical condition.