The SOLAR Project - Sex Offender Legal Advocacy & Reform
📍 STATE GUIDE

Kansas — Registry Rules

Official-source summary for Kansas.

10/15/2025

Key Highlights

  • Residency Restrictions: Kansas has no statewide residency restrictions for registered offenders, and local governments are prohibited from creating their own distance or zoning rules under K.S.A. 22-4913.
  • Presence / Proximity Rules: KORA imposes no statewide loitering or presence limits near schools, parks, or child-care sites; any such restrictions arise only from court supervision or parole conditions (K.S.A. 22-4905).
  • Duration of Registration: Registration lasts 15 years, 25 years, or life depending on the conviction type and prior history, as defined in K.S.A. 22-4906; a second conviction or specified lifetime offense extends the duty permanently.
  • Tiering / Level System: Kansas uses offense categories instead of numeric tiers: • Sex offenders must report in person four times per year, have no relief mechanism, and appear on the public KBI website. • Violent offenders report quarterly but may use one certified-letter update per year, with no removal process. • Drug offenders report quarterly, may petition for relief after five years under K.S.A. 22-4908, and are also listed on the KBI registry (KBI Registry Portal).

At a Glance

  • Who: People convicted of registerable sex offenses (plus violent and drug offenses under KORA) must register; see the Kansas Offender Registration Act, K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq..
  • Initial deadline: Deadline: Register in person within 3 business days of entering any Kansas county where you live, work, or attend school; see K.S.A. 22-4905(a).
  • Verification: Verification: Report quarterly in person (during birth month and every 3rd, 6th, 9th month); see K.S.A. 22-4905(b).
  • Primary method: Method: Register and report in person with the local registering agency; info collected per K.S.A. 22-4907.
  • ⚠️ Transient status requires every 30 days in-person registration; see K.S.A. 22-4905(f).
  • ⚠️ International travel requires 21 days’ prior notice in person with itinerary; see K.S.A. 22-4905(p).
  • ⚠️ Quarterly report fee is $20 per county (nonpayment can be a separate offense); see K.S.A. 22-4905(l).

Official Links

What this means in practice

  • Kansas uses KORA to require in-person registration and quarterly reporting.
  • Deadlines are fast (3 business days) for initial and changes.

Watch-outs

  • International trips need 21 days notice.
  • Missing payments or reports can create separate charges.

Summarized from K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq., with specific duties in K.S.A. 22-4905, info elements in K.S.A. 22-4907, and public posting rules in K.S.A. 22-4909.

Reviewed 10/15/2025

Who Must Register & Duration

Scope: Sex offenders (as defined in K.S.A. 22-4902), violent offenders, drug offenders, and sexually violent predators must register under KORA; see K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq..

Duration: Registration lasts 15 years, 25 years, or life depending on the conviction type and prior history, as defined in K.S.A. 22-4906; a second conviction or specified lifetime offense extends the duty permanently.

What this means in practice

  • Register if your conviction fits KORA’s definitions for sex, violent, drug offenders, or SVP.

Watch-outs

  • Juvenile adjudications can trigger registration.
  • Out-of-state convictions can require Kansas registration if you live/work/school here.

See definitions in K.S.A. 22-4902 and scope at K.S.A. 22-4901.

Deadlines & Reporting Triggers

  • Initial: Register within 3 business days of entering any county where you live, work, or attend school; see K.S.A. 22-4905(a).
  • Quarterly: Report 4×/year in person on the birthday month and every 3rd, 6th, 9th month; see K.S.A. 22-4905(b).
  • Changes: Report within 3 business days any change to residence, employment, school, vehicles, or other required data; see K.S.A. 22-4905(h).
  • Name change: Report in person within 3 business days; see K.S.A. 22-4905(i).
  • International travel: Provide 21 days’ advance notice and itinerary in person (or within 3 business days for emergencies); see K.S.A. 22-4905(p).
  • Custody/hospitalization/SVP: Special timing while in custody or civil commitment; see K.S.A. 22-4905(d)-(e).
  • Transient: Report every 30 days in person, with additional location info; see K.S.A. 22-4905(f).

What this means in practice

  • Initial and change reports are due within 3 business days.
  • Plan for quarterly in-person check-ins; transients report every 30 days.

Watch-outs

  • Name changes also due in 3 business days.
  • Foreign travel requires early notice and an itinerary.

Deadlines appear in K.S.A. 22-4905(a),(h),(i) and transient cycle in K.S.A. 22-4905(f).

Verification & In-Person Requirements

  • Quarterly in-person reporting for all offenders; see K.S.A. 22-4905(b).
  • Certified-letter option may be used once per year for non–sex offenders at agency discretion; see K.S.A. 22-4905(b).
  • Photograph and updates required at each report; see K.S.A. 22-4905(k).

What this means in practice

  • Most people must report in person four times a year at agency-set dates.
  • A photo is taken each time; info is verified and updated.

Watch-outs

  • Only some non–sex offenders may use one certified-letter check-in if the agency allows it.

See cadence and certified-letter detail in K.S.A. 22-4905(b) and photo requirement at K.S.A. 22-4905(k).

Residency, Presence, & Loitering Restrictions

Residency: No statewide residency-distance restriction appears in KORA; confirm local ordinances. Proposed restrictions (e.g., 2025 HB 2404) had not been enacted as of this review; see existing duties in K.S.A. 22-4905.

What this means in practice

  • No statewide residency-distance rule is in KORA.
  • Local ordinances may exist; KORA still controls registration.

Watch-outs

  • Bills proposing distance limits have circulated; verify current law before moving.

KORA’s operative duties are codified in K.S.A. 22-4905; no distance rule appears in Title 22, Art. 49 as of this review. A 2025 proposal (HB 2404) is viewable here.

Employment, Education, & Internet Use

  • Employment/school ties trigger county registration within 3 business days; see K.S.A. 22-4905(a).
  • Internet identifiers (emails, online identities) must be provided/updated per K.S.A. 22-4907.
  • DL/ID: Annual renewal required under K.S.A. 22-4905(m).

What this means in practice

  • Starting or ending a job or school triggers a 3-business-day update.
  • Emails and online IDs are required registration info.

Watch-outs

  • Working or schooling in a different county can add another registering agency.

Employment/school triggers in K.S.A. 22-4905(a),(h) and info elements in K.S.A. 22-4907.

Public Website Exposure

What this means in practice

  • Most registrant data is public under the Kansas Open Records Act and posted by KBI.

Watch-outs

  • Some info is excluded (e.g., certain victim details).
  • The KBI site warns it is not a formal background check.

See public-posting provisions in K.S.A. 22-4909 and KBI’s portal/disclaimer at the public website and disclaimer page.

Travel & Relocation (Interstate Moves)

  • Out-of-state duties: If required by another state’s law, you must also register there; see K.S.A. 22-4905(g).
  • International travel: Give 21 days’ notice with itinerary under K.S.A. 22-4905(p).

What this means in practice

  • Kansas requires 21-day prior notice for international travel.
  • Other states may require you to register if you live/work/school there.

Watch-outs

  • Emergencies allow 3-business-day post-booking notice.

International travel notice in K.S.A. 22-4905(p); out-of-state obligations in K.S.A. 22-4905(g).

Visiting or Traveling in the State

  • Short visits: KORA’s triggers are residence, employment, or school; simple travel without those ties is not a listed trigger; see K.S.A. 22-4905(a).
  • Transient status: If without a fixed residence in a county, report every 30 days; see K.S.A. 22-4905(f).

What this means in practice

  • Short visits without living, working, or schooling in the county are not listed triggers.
  • If you are transient in a county, 30-day reporting applies.

Watch-outs

  • If a visit turns into work/school/residence, the 3-business-day clock starts.

Triggers and transient rules in K.S.A. 22-4905(a),(f).

Compliance & Enforcement

Penalties: Violations are felonies with escalating severity; aggravated violations and nonpayment rules are defined in K.S.A. 22-4903. Each 30-day continuation can be charged as a new offense; see K.S.A. 22-4903.

What this means in practice

  • Failing to meet KORA duties is criminal with escalating felonies.
  • Each 30 days of noncompliance can be charged again; extended periods can be aggravated violations.

Watch-outs

  • Nonpayment of the $20 fee has special penalty brackets.
  • Venue flexibility allows prosecution in multiple counties tied to your ties.

Penalty tiers and continuing-offense language in K.S.A. 22-4903; fee rule in K.S.A. 22-4905(l).

Relief Paths

  • Drug offenders only: Since May 12, 2022, certain drug offenders may petition for relief after 5 years; see K.S.A. 22-4908 and SB 366 (2022).
  • Sex/violent offenders: No statutory removal mechanism; durations set by K.S.A. 22-4906.
  • Expungement limit: No expungement while registration is required; see K.S.A. 21-6614(f).

What this means in practice

  • Drug offenders can petition for relief after 5 years.
  • Sex and violent offenders have no removal mechanism; duration is by statute.

Watch-outs

  • Expungement is generally unavailable while required to register.
  • Out-of-state convictions can control relief eligibility.

See petition process at K.S.A. 22-4908 (as amended by SB 366 (2022)) and expungement bar at K.S.A. 21-6614(f).

Special Populations

  • Juveniles: Certain adjudications can require lifetime registration; Kansas courts have upheld KORA’s juvenile lifetime requirement; see State v. N.R. and K.S.A. 22-4906.
  • SVP commitment: Registration duties during and after commitment outlined at K.S.A. 22-4905(e).
  • Tribal lands: Separate tribal rules may apply on reservations; check local requirements alongside KORA; see county guidance (e.g., Atchison Sheriff).

What this means in practice

  • Juvenile adjudications can carry long or lifetime terms in Kansas.
  • SVP commitments and transients have special reporting cycles.

Watch-outs

  • Courts have upheld Kansas juvenile lifetime registration as nonpunitive.

Juvenile/SVP rules appear in K.S.A. 22-4905(e) and duration in K.S.A. 22-4906; see State v. N.R..

Costs & Payments

Recent Changes & Litigation

  • Statute: SB 366 — 2022 (effective May 12, 2022); effective 2022-05-12. Created a petition process for certain drug offenders to seek relief from KORA after 5 years; did not create removal for sex/violent offenders. link
  • Case: State v. N.R. — Kansas Supreme Court (2019-09-27) — KORA’s lifetime registration for certain juvenile sex offenders is civil and not punitive. link

Compliance Checklists & Scripts

New Arrival: First 30 Days

Moving Out / Traveling

  • File change details within 3 business days per K.S.A. 22-4905(h).
  • Check the destination state’s requirements; K.S.A. 22-4905(g) may require registering there.
  • Keep proof of last Kansas report/receipt and copies of forms under K.S.A. 22-4907.

Records Request Template

I request copies of my KORA registration records under the Kansas Open Records Act and K.S.A. 22-4909. Please include my registration forms, updates, and photographs maintained by your agency.

Relief Petition Outline

For drug offenders eligible under K.S.A. 22-4908: caption; verified petition stating eligibility (5-year mark, offense class), filings per venue in subsection (d), service, proposed order; reference K.S.A. 21-6614(f) on expungement pairing.

Tips for using these checklists

  • Use the checklists to hit 3-day deadlines, quarterly dates, and travel notices.
  • Drug-offender relief petitions follow the 5-year rule and can be paired with expungement if eligible.

Checklist steps reference K.S.A. 22-4905, K.S.A. 22-4907, K.S.A. 22-4908, and K.S.A. 21-6614(f).

Citations

🤝 This guide was created from official legal sources and checked with the help of AI-assisted research. We strive for accuracy and clarity — if you spot something that seems off or out of date, please let us know so we can correct it for everyone.

Informational only; not legal advice.