VEHICLE PERMIT

Kansas City Code ch. 76, art. II, div. 2

in effect

Kansas City Code § 76-70 Required.

Sec. 76-70. - Required. No person shall operate any taxicab without a valid city taxicab vehicle permit issued for the vehicle and displayed in a manner prescribed by the director, in every taxicab being operated on the streets of the city pursuant to the authority of this code. Such vehicle permit shall be required for the operation of any taxicab for which passengers are solicited within the city limits by any means, including but not limited to direct solicitation of passengers by words or actions, occupying taxicab stands or zones, and for every taxicab providing transportation within the city for hire. At the option of the permit holder, a taxicab for which a taxicab permit has been issued can be operated as a livery vehicle if, during such operation, a sign is displayed on both the front and back of the right-hand sun visor stating in characters at least two inches high: "NOT IN TAXICAB SERVICE." A taxicab used as a livery vehicle shall be for hire at a charge fixed by written agreement at a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the trip which shall entitle the party to the exclusive use of the vehicle for the individual or group during the agreed term of the hiring or for transportation to the specified destination, whichever the case may be. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15)

Kansas City Code § 76-71 Cabs from other cities.

Sec. 76-71. - Cabs from other cities. Any taxicab licensed to operate in another city or by another political subdivision or public corporation of this or any other state may carry passengers from another city or state where so licensed to any place or point within the city, but neither the owner nor operator of such vehicle shall be permitted to pick-up any passenger for hire from anywhere within the city, or to otherwise operate within the city without being licensed under the provisions of this article. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15)

Kansas City Code § 76-72 City ownership of vehicle permits.

Sec. 76-72. - City ownership of vehicle permits. Vehicle permits shall be issued for a period of one calendar year and are subject to the annual renewal provision contained in section 76-74. Such vehicle permits shall remain the title and property of the city. Vehicle permits may only be transferred from person to person if an application is filed and approved by the director and all other provisions of this code are satisfied. Vehicle permit holders in good standing shall have leave to operate during the annual vehicle permit period in compliance with the provisions of this article. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15)

Kansas City Code § 76-73 Number of taxicab vehicle permits.

Sec. 76-73. - Number of taxicab vehicle permits. (a) The total number of vehicle permits for the operation of taxicabs shall be 500 and no person may directly or indirectly control more than 60 percent of the total number of taxicab vehicle permits. If the total number of taxicab vehicle permits drops below 500, no taxicab permit holder will be required to surrender any of their permits if they are found to directly control more than 60 percent of the total number of taxicab vehicle permits. In order to reduce the number of taxicab vehicle permits, any vehicle permit surrendered or forfeited shall not be reissued by the director until the total number of vehicle permits does not exceed 500 vehicle permits. Each vehicle permit holder must have at least 70 percent of the permitted vehicles in operational condition and in use at all times. (b) All new applicants to operate taxicabs must permit at least ten vehicles. (c) If the total number of vehicle permits issued at the time this chapter becomes effective exceeds the number authorized, those vehicle permits, if they meet all other requirements, shall be entitled to renewal on an annual basis. If a vehicle permit is not renewed or ceases to fulfill all other requirements of this chapter and is thereafter terminated or canceled or expires, then an application for a new vehicle permit shall be required and the provisions herein limiting the number of vehicle permits shall apply. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15; Ord. No. 160938, § 1, 2-16-17)

Kansas City Code § 76-74 Duration; renewal.

Sec. 76-74. - Duration; renewal. Vehicle permits for the operation of taxicabs shall be annual permits which expire on October 31 of each year. Vehicle permits in good standing on the date of their expiration shall be eligible for renewal. All vehicles for which new or renewed vehicle permits are sought must be inspected within the preceding 90 days and found to be in compliance with the requirements of this code before the issuance or renewal of such vehicle permits. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15; Ord. No. 160938, § 1, 2-16-17)

Kansas City Code § 76-75 Fees.

Sec. 76-75. - Fees. No person or permit holder shall operate a vehicle in any manner as to provide taxicab, livery, or sightseeing vehicle service upon the streets of the city until all fees have been paid as follows: (1) Any person that operates a taxicab company, livery company, and sightseeing vehicle company shall have the option of paying an annual fee which will allow the company to receive an unlimited number of vehicle permits, other than taxicab permits as restricted in section 76-73, per annum. The annual fee will be assessed as follows: a. If only one company applies to receive an unlimited number of vehicle permits, an annual fee of $150,000.00 will be charged. b. If the number of companies that have an unlimited number of vehicle permits equal two, an annual fee of $75,000.00 will be charged. c. If the number of companies that have an unlimited number of vehicle permits equal three, an annual fee of $50,000.00 will be charged. d. If the number of companies that have an unlimited number of vehicle permits equal four, an annual fee of $37,500.00 will be charged. e. If the number of companies that have an unlimited number of vehicle permits equal five, and, the number of vehicle permits issued at the rate of $250.00 is above 300, an annual fee of $30,000.00 will be charged. If the number of vehicle permits issued at the rate of $250.00 is below 300, an annual fee of $40,000.00 will be charged. f. If the number of companies that have an unlimited number of vehicle permits equal five or more and the number of vehicle permits issued at the rate of $250.00 falls below 100, an annual fee of $45,000.00 will be charged. Any person that operates a taxicab company, livery company, or sightseeing vehicle company that chooses not to pay an annual fee for an unlimited number of permits shall pay $250.00 for every vehicle permit issued on an annual basis. (2) The occupation license fee in the amount set forth in section 40-156 shall also be paid. (3) A vehicle permit replacement fee of $8.00 shall be paid for each replacement vehicle permit. (4) For any person that chooses to purchase vehicle permits within a current permitting year, vehicle permit fees shall be prorated for the remainder of the vehicle permit year and shall be based on a monthly rate. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15; Ord. No. 150314, § 1, 4-23-15; Ord. No. 150506, § 1, 8-27-15; Ord. No. 160938, § 1, 2-16-17; Ord. No. 170460, § 1, 7-13-17)

Kansas City Code § 76-76 Contents of application.

Sec. 76-76. - Contents of application. Any person desiring to operate a taxicab, livery vehicle, sightseeing vehicle or pedicab in the city shall make written application for such vehicle permit or the renewal thereof to the director and shall set forth the following: (1) A full identification of the applicant and all persons interested in the vehicle permit, if granted, including the residence, business and email address of the applicant, and of all members of any firm, association or partnership, and of all principal shareholders, officers, directors and managers of any corporation applying; (2) Whether or not the applicant, or any person listed in subsection (1) of this section, has been convicted of the violation of any federal or state felony or, within the previous 12 months, has been convicted of violating any provision of this code or has ever had a driver's certificate or vehicle permit issued under this article revoked or suspended; (3) Whether or not the applicant, or any person listed in subsection (1) of this section, has unpaid claims or unsatisfied judgments against him or it for damages resulting from the negligent operation of a vehicle; (4) The past experience, if any, that the applicant has had in rendering such licensed service in the city, and the period of time that the applicant has rendered such service; (5) Whether or not any such permit issued to the applicant by any other city has been revoked, and, if so, the circumstances of such revocation; (6) The number of vehicles proposed to be operated and a complete identification of each, and a description of the proposed operations, including a schedule of proposed fares for livery, sightseeing or pedicab operation; (7) If the application is for a taxicab vehicle permit, the arrangements to comply with the requirements of section 76-191(b) whereby the public will be able to secure transportation in the applicant's taxicabs and whereby such taxicabs will be dispatched; (8) If the application is for a taxicab vehicle permit, the color scheme, name and characteristic insignia to be used to designate the taxicabs of the applicant as approved by the director; (9) Such evidence and information of any kind tending to demonstrate that the vehicle permit being sought will be utilized in the applicant's business conducted in accordance with the provisions of this code; and (10) Such further information as the director may reasonably require. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15; Ord. No. 170460, § 1, 7-13-17)

Kansas City Code § 76-77 Hearing on application.

Sec. 76-77. - Hearing on application. (a) The application for a new vehicle permit or renewal of a vehicle permit under this article shall be approved or disapproved within 50 days from the date of the director's determination that the application is complete, unless the applicant agrees in writing to an extension of that time period. If a vehicle permit application is disapproved, the director shall notify the applicant in person, or by registered or certified mail to the address provided by the applicant. (b) If within ten days after the director mails notice to the applicant that the application has been disapproved, the applicant files with the director a written request for a hearing before the director, then the director shall within ten days of receipt of a timely request, mail a notice of a hearing to the applicant, which shall include the date, time and place for the hearing before the director. The date for the hearing shall not be less than 30 days nor more than 40 days following the filing of the request for a hearing under this section, unless the aggrieved party requesting the hearing agrees to extend the time for the hearing. (c) The applicant shall have full right to be represented by counsel, to produce witnesses, and to cross examine all witnesses who may appear against him. A record shall be made of the proceedings at such hearing, which shall be transcribed at the expense of the party requesting the transcription. In the grant or denial of an application, the director is authorized to determine whether the applicant will conduct the business in accordance with the provisions of this code. This determination shall be based on information provided by the applicant; sworn testimony of witnesses, and official records of any municipal state or federal government or court. Such determination can result in the denial of the vehicle permit or renewal or the unrestricted or restricted grant thereof. If a vehicle permit application is disapproved, the director shall notify the applicant in person or by registered or certified mail to the address provided by the applicant and shall state the basis for the disapproval. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15)

Kansas City Code § 76-78 Judicial review of grant or denial of application.

Sec. 76-78. - Judicial review of grant or denial of application. An applicant affected by the action of the director in granting or denying an application for a vehicle permit under this article may seek judicial review in the manner provided by law. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15)

Kansas City Code § 76-79 Duty of vehicle permit holder to enforce compliance by drivers.

Sec. 76-79. - Duty of vehicle permit holder to enforce compliance by drivers. (a) Each vehicle permit holder who provides service under this article shall establish policies and take action to discourage, prevent or correct violations of this code by taxicab, livery vehicle, sightseeing vehicle and pedicab owners and drivers who are employed by or contracting with such vehicle permit holders. (b) No vehicle permit holder who provides service under this article will allow a driver who is employed by or contracting with such a vehicle permit holder to drive a taxicab, livery vehicle, sightseeing vehicle or pedicab if the vehicle permit holder knows or has reasonable cause to know that the driver has failed to comply with this code or the rules, regulations, and policies and procedures established by the director or other applicable laws. (c) Each taxicab vehicle permit holder shall ensure that all trip sheets received from each taxicab driver are maintained in accordance with section 76-208. (d) Each vehicle permit holder who provides service under this article shall ensure that no taxicab, livery vehicle, sightseeing vehicle, or pedicab vehicle is operated in an unsafe mechanical condition, or with major body damage, or after being ordered out of service by an investigator. (e) Each taxicab vehicle permit holder will be responsible to provide overall taxicab service to the public. (f) Each taxicab vehicle permit holder will institute policies and procedures requiring all drivers to respond to radio dispatch calls. (g) If a request for service has not been answered within 15 minutes, the taxicab vehicle permit holder dispatcher shall order a taxicab to respond to the request immediately, except when weather or other causes outside the control of the vehicle permit holder prevents the 15-minute response. (h) Each vehicle permit holder who provides service under this article will promptly respond to all complaints by passengers and other members of the public. (i) Each vehicle permit holder will promptly respond to all requests for information from the director. (j) Before a vehicle permit holder shall employ or contract with a person to operate a vehicle for hire regulated under this code, the vehicle permit holder shall require that person to furnish to the permit holder information as needed to ensure all requirements in section 76-103 have been met. Information that a vehicle permit holder may ask from a person to ensure all requirements to receive a driver's certificate under this chapter have been met includes: (1) Date of application; full name and all previous names; all addresses where the applicant has permanently or temporarily resided for the previous five years; social security number; telephone number; gender; age; weight; height; hair color; eye color; date of birth; place of birth; whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States; date of last physical examination; the names of all other employers; whether the applicant has previously applied for a driver's certificate; whether the applicant has ever had a driver's certificate issued by the city, any state, county or other local government suspended or revoked and the reasons therefore; a Missouri chauffeur's license number or a Kansas A, B or C driver's license number, whether the applicant has ever been a member of a military organization of the United States or any state military, the name of the branch of military service, the date and type of discharge. (2) A list of all traffic violations in any state for the previous five years; whether the applicant has ever been sentenced to a penal institution; whether the applicant is currently under probation or parole and if so the expiration date; whether the applicant has ever been found guilty of, pleaded guilty to or been convicted of any violation (federal, any state or any city) that involves any alcohol or drug offense; whether the applicant has ever been found guilty of, pleaded guilty to or been convicted of any violation (federal, any state or any city) while driving any vehicle, including a taxicab or any other vehicle defined under the vehicles for hire code. (3) Whether the applicant has ever been found guilty of, pleaded guilty to or been convicted of any violation (federal, any state or any city) murder, arson, assault, forcible rape, forcible sodomy, kidnapping, robbery, voluntary manslaughter, assault of a law enforcement officer, sexual offenses (including child molestation, sexual misconduct, and sexual abuse), possession of controlled substances or illegal drugs or narcotics, burglary, stealing, extortion, bribery, prostitution, weapons offense, crime of violence, indecent exposure, violations of state or city traffic laws and regulations involving injury or death, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and operating a motor vehicle with defective equipment. (4) Whether the applicant is now or has ever been registered as a sexual offender with any state, county or local government. (Ord. No. 150203, § 2, 4-9-15; Ord. No. 150314, § 1, 4-23-15; Ord. No. 170460, § 1, 7-13-17)

Source: City of Kansas City, Missouri, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Zoning and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/kansas_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORKAMIVOII_CH76VEHI_ARTIIVEHICO_DIV2VEPEFetched: 10/28/2026