Olathe, Kansas

Olathe is the Johnson County seat and the fourth-largest city in Kansas, with 43 neighborhood parks, 57 miles of trails, Lake Olathe and major employers including Garmin. Most homes are in Olathe USD 233, with some in Spring Hill and Blue Valley districts. See what’s for sale in Olathe.

Olathe is in Johnson County, Kansas, and is the county seat. It became the county seat in 1859. Compare Johnson County cities.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Olathe’s population at 150,025 as of July 1, 2025. That is up from 141,290 in the 2020 Census.

The median single-family sale price was $450,000 for homes sold from January 2024 through October 2026 (4,738 sales), about $197 per finished square foot. Prices run from the low $300s in established neighborhoods to $800,000+ in newer estate communities. Compare subdivisions.

Homes that sold from 2024 to 2026 paid a median of $5,072 a year in property tax, an effective rate of about 1.16% of the sale price. The city levy is 23.317 mills for 2026 and is held flat for 2027; county, school and state levies are added on top. See 10 years of tax bills.

Most of Olathe is in Olathe Public Schools (USD 233), which has 35 elementary, 10 middle and 5 high schools; parts of the city are in Spring Hill USD 230 and Blue Valley USD 229. The district will close six schools after 2026–27, so confirm the assignment for any address. See USD 233 schools.

Olathe is about 19 miles southwest of downtown Kansas City and about 35 miles from Kansas City International Airport. Johnson County Executive Airport, a general-aviation airport, is in Olathe, and New Century AirCenter is about a mile away.

Olathe is known for Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, Garmin’s headquarters (here since 1996), the Kansas State School for the Deaf (founded 1866) and MidAmerica Nazarene University. Soon it will add the Kansas City Chiefs’ headquarters and training facility.

Olathe is pronounced oh-LAY-thuh, and the name comes from a Shawnee word understood to mean “beautiful.” Locals will gently correct you if you say oh-LATH.

The combined sales tax rate in Olathe is 9.475% for 2026: 6.5% state, 1.475% Johnson County and 1.5% city. A 0.25% county public-safety tax is set to expire in March 2027. Confirm current rates with the Kansas Department of Revenue. Groceries are taxed at 2.975% (local tax only; Kansas dropped its state sales tax on food on Jan. 1, 2025). Rates can differ by address. Look up any address with the Kansas Department of Revenue rate locator. Source: Kansas Department of Revenue, October 2026.

Yes. On lots under 3 acres you need a special animal permit, with a limit of 10 animals and no roosters. Coops must sit at least 6 feet from lot lines, and permits last five years. HOA covenants can be stricter. Check HOA and city rules.

Olathe caps residential fences at 6 feet (4 feet and at least 50% open in front and corner side yards), and sheds at 210 to 400 square feet depending on lot size, with 5-foot setbacks. Call the city’s building permits office before you build, and check your HOA. Check HOA and city rules.

The city’s business and license pages list no long-term rental license, and Olathe does not require a general business license. Rental homes must meet the Olathe Property Maintenance Code (Municipal Code Chapter 15.22). Short-term rentals have separate rules, so check the city’s Short Term Rentals page. For a property-specific answer, call Building Codes at 913-971-6200.

No. The City Clerk’s office states that Olathe does not require a general business license. Some specific businesses need a license, including cereal malt beverage and liquor sellers, massage businesses, pawnbrokers, taxis and tow companies, and building or occupancy permits may apply.

Yes. In early October 2026 the Olathe Board of Education voted 7-0 to close Black Bob, Heritage, Scarborough, Tomahawk and Walnut Grove elementary schools and Indian Trail Middle School at the end of the 2026-27 school year. New attendance boundaries are still being drawn, with committee recommendations expected in December 2026 and a board vote expected in January 2027.

The City of Olathe’s mill levy for the 2027 budget is 23.3 mills, unchanged from the prior year. On the city’s average home value of $457,425, the city portion of the property tax bill is about $1,225.67. County, school district and other levies are billed on top of that.

The new roundabout at 119th Street and Northgate opened to traffic on Oct. 28, 2026, but the 800-foot, four-lane 119th Street bridge over the BNSF railroad tracks, Mill Creek and the Gary L. Haller Trail stayed closed while the city waited for railing materials to be delivered. As of early November 2026, the City of Olathe expects to open the bridge by the end of November 2026; no exact opening day had been announced. The bridge is the final piece of the $55.7 million 119th Street “missing link” extension between Northgate and Woodland Road, which is finishing well ahead of its original early-2027 target.

Yes. The former Chemical Commodities facility at 320 S. Blake St. is an EPA cleanup site with trichloroethylene (TCE) in the groundwater. EPA maintains ventilation systems in some nearby homes and plans to finish a study of more cleanup options by October 2028. Buyers near the site can ask the seller whether the home has an EPA ventilation system and request the EPA’s testing records.

The Kansas City Chiefs plan a $300 million headquarters and training facility on a 165-acre site at College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road in northwest Olathe, with an entertainment district around it. It is expected to open in 2030. Two-Point Development, a joint venture of the Chiefs and Hunt Midwest, is master developer of the surrounding mixed-use district.

Yes. Dillons broke ground in October 2026 on a store of almost 100,000 square feet at College Boulevard and Sunnybrook. Developers have said it could open by fall 2027.

Yes. On Oct. 6, 2026, the Olathe City Council approved a roughly 109-acre expansion of the Johnson County Aggregates quarry southeast of 151st Street and Old 56 Highway. Quarrying will come within about 700 feet of the nearest homes. Surface blasting is limited to once a day, on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and other conditions cover dust control and daily street sweeping on 159th Street.

Yes. EPA’s September 2026 review of the former Chemical Commodities site at 320 S. Blake St. found that the cleanup is not currently protective of human health and the environment, because TCE in groundwater has moved beneath nearby homes and has affected indoor air in 22 homes since 2021. EPA plans to keep testing and to finish a study of other cleanup options by October 2028. Until then, residents with home ventilation systems are told to keep them running.

Yes. Rodrock Developers has proposed Residences at Heritage Park, 476 rental apartments in seven four-story buildings at the northwest corner of 159th Street and Pflumm Road. The planning commission recommended approval 4-3 on Oct. 12, 2026. As of late October 2026 the city council had not voted, and the project also needs county airport review because it is near Johnson County Executive Airport.

It has been proposed. City staff recommend making Kansas City Road a no-truck route between the Santa Fe and Ridgeview roundabouts, about 1.7 miles. Staff planned a council vote for Nov. 3, 2026, but the ordinance was not on that agenda, and as of Nov. 3 no new vote date had been posted.

A new shelter was planned at Santa Fe Street and Ridgeview Road with a $25 million budget, but in October 2026 the city paused the project to reevaluate its size, cost and location. The 2027 city budget indicates the cost could be cut to about $14 million, and no restart date has been set.

Yes. In October 2026 the City Council approved a new section of Brougham Drive between 167th Street and 171st Terrace, about 2,585 feet long with sidewalks, streetlights and storm sewer. The estimated cost is about $2.74 million. On Nov. 3, 2026, the council passed Ordinance 26-56 levying special assessments so that the property owners in the improvement district pay 100% of the cost. No construction dates have been announced.

Not for now. The replacement of Fire Station 1 at Old 56 Highway and Harrison Street, built in 1983, is on indefinite hold. The council approved a $20 million replacement budget in 2023, but the project never got past schematic design because of budget constraints, and it is tied to the city’s animal shelter project, which is being redesigned with a smaller budget. Instead, in late October 2026 the Olathe City Council unanimously approved about $2.2 million in critical repairs to the existing station, including foundation settling, shifting block walls and HVAC problems. The fire chief said the repairs are not a long-term fix, and council members said a replacement still needs to find room in a future Capital Improvement Plan; no new rebuild timeline has been set.

The city kept its 2027 tax rate flat, but because appraised values rose about 4.3%, the average city property tax bill is expected to rise about 4.3%. The council voted 6-1 in September 2026 to exceed the revenue-neutral rate.

Yes. On Nov. 3, 2026, the Olathe City Council approved an agreement with VarietyKC and a $750,000 park sales tax transfer for an inclusive playground at Two Trails Park. VarietyKC’s Ten Parks Project pays up to $3 million of the $3.75 million cost. The plans include accessible routes, rubberized surfacing, sensory play areas, restrooms and parking improvements, and the city expects it to open in spring 2028.

Possibly. The city wants to relocate and rebuild the post office at 110 N. Chestnut in a roughly $10.3 million project, but it depends on $4 million in federal funding that Congress has not yet approved and on a final agreement with the U.S. Postal Service. As of late October 2026, no decision had been announced.

Olathe receives federal Community Development Block Grant funds through Johnson County. In October 2026 the City Council approved agreements for about $503,000 in grants that pay for home rehabilitation projects such as roof replacement and mechanical system upgrades, along with rent and utility assistance offered through local nonprofits. Eligibility is set by federal income rules, so contact the city’s housing and community development staff to apply.

Yes, on streets with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less. The driver needs a valid driver’s license, and the cart needs insurance that covers public roads. Golf carts are not allowed on state or federal highways, sidewalks or trails. They may be driven from sunrise to sunset, or after dark only with proper lights and a slow-moving vehicle emblem (Olathe Municipal Code 10.01.135.7).

Olathe’s transient guest (hotel) tax is 9 percent, up from 6 percent. It collected about $1.2 million during the 2026 World Cup period.

Olathe’s noise code sets quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. During that window, construction, demolition, loading and unloading, and power lawn and garden equipment can’t create a noise disturbance in residential areas. Daytime construction noise is capped at 65 dBA at the property line, and lawn equipment is exempt for 24 hours after a snowfall or weather emergency (Municipal Code 6.18.040).

Olathe allows e-scooters and e-bikes on sidewalks at up to 15 mph and generally allows them on city trails. Scooters can use a street only where there is no sidewalk and the speed limit is 30 mph or less; e-bikes can ride on roads posted up to 40 mph. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.

Faith Technologies (FTI Manufacturing) plans three single-story factory buildings totaling about 1.47 million square feet on about 125 acres southwest of W. 167th Street and S. Lone Elm Road, making electrical and power distribution products. The City Council accepted the plat’s right-of-way in October 2026; no construction schedule has been published.

Yes. Johnson County is building a 140,000-square-foot Health Services Building on its Sunset Drive campus near 119th Street and Ridgeview Road, authorized at up to about $116.5 million. The first programs are scheduled to move in in February 2027, with the rest following later in 2027.

Yes. On Nov. 3, 2026, the Olathe City Council voted 6-1 to ratify a land-swap contract that gives USD 233 about 10.57 city-owned acres at the northwest corner of Lone Elm Road and College Boulevard. The district plans to build the new $32 million Meadow Lane Elementary there with funds from the $389 million bond approved in March 2026. The school board is set to act on the contract Nov. 12, 2026, and the district’s closing on the land is due by Jan. 1, 2027.

Work is happening in phases. Buildings along E. Santa Fe Street between N. Claiborne Road and N. Lindenwood Drive were demolished in March 2026, and utility relocation is underway and expected to run through 2027. New I-35 auxiliary lanes between Santa Fe and 119th Street are tentatively set to start in late 2026 or early 2027, and the Santa Fe corridor and interchange rebuild is tentatively set to start in late 2027. The project is estimated at about $199.3 million, with about $159.3 million from KDOT and $40 million in city bonds.

Olathe issued permits for more than 2,000 residential units in 2026 through late October, the most in city history. More than 400 of those permits were for single-family homes, and the rest were mostly apartments and townhomes.

Yes. The city is studying nine at-grade railroad crossings along a 2.5-mile stretch between Woodland and Dennis with BNSF Railway and federal partners. The study, which started in early 2026 and is expected to take one to two years, will collect traffic data and public input and look at designs to reduce delays and improve safety.

Only in limited cases. Olathe requires RVs to be parked in a garage or in a side or rear yard if there is reasonable access. If a lot has no reasonable side or rear yard access, one RV may be parked on the driveway (Olathe Code 6.06.047). HOA covenants can be stricter, so check them too.

The city plans to rebuild this stretch as a two-lane arterial with new pavement, turn lanes, streetlights, storm sewers, and sidewalks or bike and pedestrian routes on both sides. The four-way stop at Harold Street will become a roundabout, and the 124th Street and 123rd Terrace intersections will become a connected dual roundabout. The city’s project page does not list a construction schedule or cost.

A new roof or new siding on a house, duplex or townhome does not need a city permit or inspection in Olathe, but the work must still meet code, contractors must hold the required licenses, and a remodel permit is required if the structural sheathing is replaced. Decks, pergolas, gazebos, carports, detached garages, additions, remodels, pools and solar panels do need a permit.

The next regular City Council meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe St. Agendas are posted on the city’s Legistar site (olatheks.legistar.com) ahead of each meeting.

Halo Ridge is a $320 million entertainment and sports district at 119th Street and Renner Boulevard. Construction is underway, as Mayor John Bacon noted in his Oct. 30, 2026 State of the City address.

Yes. Faith Technologies, which makes parts for data centers, is expanding in Olathe. The City Council approved $239 million in industrial revenue bonds for the project in August 2026.

Scannell Properties has asked the city for industrial revenue bonds and a tax phase-in totaling $80,465,680 for a 1,006,880-square-foot industrial building on 70.49 acres at the northwest corner of 169 Highway and 175th Street. The City Council received a staff report on the request Nov. 3, 2026; as of Nov. 5 no council vote on the bonds had been held.

TSSOL Real Estate plans an 8,500-square-foot restaurant plus about 3,000 square feet of other restaurant, retail or commercial space at the northwest corner of Kansas Avenue and Loula Street. On Nov. 3, 2026, the City Council voted 7-0 to pass Ordinance 26-57, authorizing up to $5 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds for the project.

Yes. The city plans to rebuild 159th Street from Brougham Drive to Black Bob Road as a two-lane arterial with turn lanes, curb and gutter, sidewalks, streetlights, storm sewers and a new traffic signal at 159th and Brougham. On Nov. 3, 2026, the City Council authorized right-of-way acquisition, and the city has said construction is planned for 2027.

Under the permit renewal Martin Marietta requested in 2026 for its quarry at 1600 W. 151st Street, rock quarrying and crushing must stop by Dec. 31, 2030. A construction and demolition landfill would keep filling the quarry pit for up to 20 years after approval, with the site to be reclaimed as open space; the operator expects that work to be done around 2046. The request still needs City Council approval.

Cooper Ridge, a proposed neighborhood of 157 single-family lots on about 80 acres north of W. 143rd Street and S. Saint Andrews Avenue. Lots would range from 7,500 to 14,380 square feet (about 1.95 homes per acre), St. Andrews Avenue would extend north and west to connect at 141st Street, an 8-foot path would run along 143rd Street, and about 12.5 acres would stay with the Olathe school district (USD 233). The rezoning went to the Planning Commission on Oct. 26, 2026, and then goes to the City Council.

About $199.3 million for the Santa Fe Street, Ridgeview Road to Mur-Len Road project, according to the city. Funding is $40 million in city general obligation bonds, about $65.2 million in state KDOT funds and about $94.1 million in federal funds through KDOT. The work includes a rebuilt I-35 interchange, new bridges, a wider Santa Fe Street, and I-35 auxiliary lanes from Santa Fe to 119th Street.

Yes, a plan is under review. Rodrock Development has proposed seven four-story buildings with 476 apartments at the northwest corner of 159th and Pflumm. The site would need rezoning to multifamily, and because it is near Johnson County Executive Airport, county review is also required. The Planning Commission reviewed it Oct. 12, 2026, and the City Council has not voted yet. The developer is aiming to start construction in spring 2027.

Yes. Olathe’s Unified Development Ordinance (Section 18.50.225.F) allows up to two portable storage containers on a driveway or personal parking area for up to 60 days per calendar year, on no more than two occasions. Containers may not block the street right-of-way or sidewalk, and the Planning Official may grant extra time in hardship cases.

On R-1 and R-2 single-family lots, Olathe allows up to three real estate signs per lot, each up to 6 square feet per face with two faces and no taller than 6 feet (UDO 18.50.190.O.6.a). Signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way and must be removed within five days after the sale.

The Olathe Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Olathe City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe St. Some dates move for holidays; in December 2026 the meetings are set for Dec. 7 and Dec. 21. The city says all development review dates are tentative until a staff planner confirms them (913-971-8750).