Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-5402
2026 session law — the Revisor of Statutes has not yet published this section. Source: Session Laws of Kansas 2026, ch. 56 (Secretary of State). K.S.A. number per the Revisor's 2026 composite list of Aug. 13, 2026. Effective 7/1/2026. Bill heading as found: "House Bill No. 2378*" (asterisk meaning not determined).
Operative Text
The legislature finds that the fundamental rights of owning property include the right of the owner to exclude others from entering or remaining unlawfully on the property. The legislature further finds that squatting, or the unauthorized entry into or remaining in a dwelling, is a violation of the rights of property owners and is against the public interest. The intent of this act is to protect the rights of property owners and to provide a timely and effective mechanism for removing squatters while protecting the rights of legitimate occupants.
Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-5401 and 58-5402 establish the Kansas legislature's formal policy position that property owners hold a fundamental right to exclude unauthorized occupants from their property. The provision defines squatting — meaning unauthorized entry into or remaining in a dwelling — as a violation of owner rights and contrary to the public interest. It signals that the broader act is designed to create a faster, more effective process for removing squatters while still protecting people who occupy a dwelling with a legitimate legal basis.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-5401 and 58-5402, Kansas law now expressly recognizes a property owner's right to remove unauthorized occupants through a mechanism intended to be timely and effective. Compliant operators generally document the lawful status of all occupants, maintain records that distinguish authorized tenants or guests from unauthorized entrants, and familiarize themselves with the removal procedures established elsewhere in the act. Understanding the distinction the statute draws between squatters and legitimate occupants is important, because the act's protections for owners apply specifically to the unauthorized-entry scenario.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 58-5401 and 58-5402 explicitly state that the act is intended to protect 'legitimate occupants' alongside property owners, meaning people with a lawful basis for being in a dwelling retain rights under this framework. Tenants who hold a lease, rental agreement, or other recognized occupancy arrangement are not the target of the squatter-removal mechanism the act creates. Tenants who believe they are being mischaracterized as unauthorized occupants may find it useful to gather documentation of their tenancy and to contact a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Kansas housing law for general information about their options.
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 27, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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