How these Jackson County cities are setting limits on businesses pre-World Cup
With about eight months to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, some cities in eastern Jackson County are taking steps to either limit or clarify how local businesses can interact with an expected influx of tourists.
The World Cup is expected to draw upwards of 600,000 visitors to the Kansas City metro between June 11 and July 17. Though the state of Missouri has passed some bills expanding hours and permissions for businesses and vendors, some cities are also passing their own guardrails on bars, food trucks and other tourist-friendly spaces.
This week, the cities of Lee’s Summit and Independence passed ordinances setting limits on how and where city vendors and events can operate during the World Cup. Lee’s Summit is limiting any other big events that could cause additional traffic downtown, while Independence has pushed back on a state bill extending legal liquor license hours.
Lee’s Summit restricts events
While World Cup events are going on at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, certain public events will be banned within Lee’s Summit.
All sporting events outside of the World Cup will be canceled in Lee’s Summit from June 1 to July 30, though council members reserved the right to host a “city-sponsored athletic event” if desired.
Fireworks will also be banned in the city throughout June and July unless they are happening at a World Cup-associated event. The only exception is two “legacy” firework displays planned in the Raintree Lake and Lakewood neighborhoods.
The ordinance also bans food trucks from operating in commercial business districts within Lee’s Summit unless they are vending at a World Cup event or a city-sponsored event. The ordinance states that food trucks will have to stay on private property if they are parking in the business district from June 1 to July 30, avoiding sidewalks and public parking lots.
Under the ordinance, council members reserve the right to further restrict food truck hours as the World Cup approaches. Meanwhile, the ordinance protects new and temporary signage in the city, lifting the need for temporary sign permits along with limits on signs per property.
Councilmember’s stated intent was to “protect existing residents, businesses, and property owners while also welcoming the significant increase in visitor and economic activity,” according to the ordinance.
The series of bans passed unanimously through the city council without discussion, though the proposed bans are still contingent on mayoral approval. It was first introduced to the body on Oct. 7.
Independence dries up
Meanwhile in Independence, council members are hoping that local businesses will be able to woo fans downtown without extending liquor license hours.
The Missouri legislature passed a bill in August allowing any business with a liquor license to operate 24 hours a day and serve alcohol 23 hours a day between June 11 and July 19, 2026. The bill allows cities to pass their own ordinances opting out of extended drink service, and the Independence City Council did so this week.
“This simply lets us stay at our current hours through the duration of the World Cup event,” Interim City Manager Lisa Reynolds said at a Monday night meeting of the Independence City Council.
Most bars, restaurants, taverns and other establishments with liquor licenses in Independence open by 8:00 a.m. and close by 1:30 a.m. Monday’s ordinance allows them to stay open 24 hours a day during the World Cup, but requires drink service to end by 1:30 a.m. as usual.
The liquor license limit passed unanimously Monday night.
Financial planning continues
Both ordinances are the latest in a series of decisions by governments across Jackson County to make local infrastructure more conducive to a large-scale, multi-week event.
Earlier this month, Kansas City announced a pilot program to fill empty storefronts before the World Cup. Private property owners with open storefronts can apply for tenants, creatives and small businesses can apply for spaces, and both can apply for funding in the form of grants and subsidies.
And this summer, Jackson County passed an ordinance giving tax breaks to short-term rental operators by temporarily reclassifying short-term rentals as residential properties. The ordinance incentivizes people to potentially rent out their homes during the World Cup through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo without having to pay taxes associated with the use of commercial spaces.
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 5:47 AM.
