ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) applauded city officials in Kansas City, Kansas, for passing a slew of reforms to make it cheaper, faster and simpler to start a business in the city. Through its Cities Work initiative, IJ worked with city officials to pass the reforms.
“These reforms are a model for other cities that want to unleash entrepreneurs and encourage businesses to open,” said IJ City Policy Coordinator Ava Mouton-Johnston. “We applaud city officials for working diligently to help improve the business environment in Kansas City.”
Last night, the Kansas City Board of Commissioners approved two more reforms that city officials and IJ’s Cities Work team collaborated on: one, expanding the number and types of signs a business can have and, another, allowing “by-right” home businesses. These changes are in addition to a moratorium on minimum parking requirements that passed in July and an August resolution that creates a plan for city officials to review and eliminate confusing, inefficient and costly requirements that hamper small businesses.
Since the Cities Work report was released in December 2024, the Unified Government has taken action of many of the recommendations in the report. These include administrative actions that make it easier to navigate city processes as well as ordinance changes that reduce regulatory barriers. Action on other recommendations is underway and expected in 2026. For a full copy of the report click here.
“Our city thrives when entrepreneurs succeed. The Unified Government is committed to reducing the barriers for new businesses and eliminating unnecessary and outdated regulations. Too often these regulatory roadblocks shut small businesses down before they can even open their doors,” said Assistant County Administrator Alan Howze. “We appreciate the hard work of the Mayor’s Business Development Task Force and staff from our Economic Development, Planning and Legal Departments who reviewed our code and recommended the changes. In approving these changes, the Board of Commissioners has made it easier for entrepreneurs and small business owners across KCK to start and grow their business and their dreams.”
Cities Work is a national initiative, through which IJ has partnered with leaders in local governments across the country to make it cheaper, faster, and simpler to start businesses by identifying and rectifying regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. In addition to working in Kansas City, Kansas, Cities Work has also partnered with officials in Kansas City, Missouri on reforms.