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Kansas Amusement Ride Act

Please note permits from the Amusement Ride Permitting Program must be renewed every year. To learn more about the program, review this fact sheet. To learn how to apply for a permit, watch this video.

As defined in K.S.A. 44-1601 et seq., an amusement ride is any mechanical or electrical device that carries or conveys passengers along, around or over a fixed or restricted route or course or within a defined area for the purpose of giving its passengers amusement, pleasure, thrills or excitement including:

  • Ferris Wheels;
  • Water slides that are at least 35 feet in height and that use water to propel the patron through the ride;
  • Carousels;
  • Inflatable Devices;
  • Parachute Towers;
  • Trampoline Courts;
  • Bungee Jumping;
  • Go-Karts;
  • Reverse Bungee Jumping;
  • Equipment generally associated with winter activities, such as ski lifts, ski tows, j-bars, t-bars, chair lifts and aerial tramways; and
  • Commercial Zip Line;
  • Equipment not originally designed to be used as an amusement ride, such as cranes or other lifting devices, when used as part of an amusement ride.
  • Tunnels of Love;
  • Roller Coasters;
  • Boat Rides;

The term amusement ride does not mean:

  • Games, concessions and associated structures;
  • Any single passenger coin-operated ride that: (i) Is manually, mechanically or electrically operated; (ii) is customarily placed in a public location; and (iii) does not normally require the supervision or services of an operator;
  • Non-mechanized playground equipment, including, but not limited to, swings, seesaws, stationary spring-mounted animal features, rider-propelled merry-go-rounds, climbers, slides and physical fitness devices;
  • Antique amusement rides;
  • Limited-use amusement rides;
  • Registered agri-tourism activities;
  • Any ride commonly known as a hay-rack ride in which patrons sit in a wagon or cart that is then pulled by horses or a tractor or other motor vehicle;
  • Any ride commonly known as a barrel train, which has a series of handmade cars fashioned from barrels that are connected and pulled by a tractor or other motor vehicle; or
  • A home-owned amusement ride, owned by an individual and operated solely within a single county for strictly private use.
Note: Please be advised that even though antique amusement rides, limited-use amusement rides, and registered agri-tourism activities do not fall under the definition of an amusement ride, all antique amusement rides, limited-use amusement rides, and registered agri-tourism activities that otherwise meet the definition of an amusement ride must permitted by the Kansas Department of Labor before they can be operated in Kansas. Hayrack rides and barrel trains are not required to be permitted by the Kansas Department of Labor.

Statutes

A qualified amusement ride inspector is a person who:

  • Is a licensed professional engineer, as defined in K.S.A. 74-7003, and amendments thereto, and has completed at least two years of experience in the amusement ride field, consisting of at least one year of actual inspection of amusement rides under a qualified inspector for a manufacturer, governmental agency, amusement park, carnival or insurance underwriter, and an additional year of practicing any combination of amusement ride inspection, design, fabrication, installation, maintenance, testing, repair or operation;
  • Provides satisfactory evidence of completing a minimum of five years of experience in the amusement ride field, at least two years of which consisted of actual inspection of amusement rides under a qualified inspector for a manufacturer, governmental agency, amusement park, carnival or insurance underwriter, and the remaining experience consisting of any combination of amusement ride inspection, design, fabrication, installation, maintenance, testing, repair or operation;
  • Has received qualified training from a third party, such as attainment of level I certification from the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO), Attainment of Level I Certification from the Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers International (AIMS), Attainment of a Qualified Inspector Certification from the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), when applicable, or other similar qualification from another nationally recognized organization; or
  • For purposes of inspecting inflatable devices that are rented on a regular basis and erected at temporary locations, provides satisfactory evidence of completing a minimum of five years of experience working with inflatable devices and has received qualified training from a third party, such as attainment of an advanced inflatable safety operations certification from the safe inflatable operators training organization or other nationally recognized organization.

An on-site audit may be conducted throughout the year to verify compliance with the Kansas Amusement Ride Act. The following is required for each ride at the time of the on-site audit:

  • The current certification of an inspector’s qualifications to inspect amusement rides;
  • The current certificate of inspection for each ride signed by a qualified inspector;
  • Daily maintenance and inspection records;
  • The amusement ride manufacturer’s operational manual;
  • The amusement ride manufacturer’s nondestructive testing recommendations;
  • The amusement ride manufacturer’s inspection guidelines;
  • Operator training records for each operator trained;
  • Report of Itinerary;
  • Written certification that the ride meets the applicable ASTM international F24 committee standards;
  • Insurance policy in effect at the time of operation of the amusement ride with certain coverage in place required by K.S.A. 40-4802;
  • Results of nondestructive testing for each ride

Additionally, the following must be posted at the time of the on-site audit:

  • Valid permit and inspection decal affixed to each ride;
  • Signage must be posted at the point of admission or ticket sale and at least two other locations in close proximity to the amusement ride explaining a patron’s duty to report injuries;
  • All safety instructions for the ride must be posted in plain view on or near the ride in a location where they can be easily read
Note: All amusement ride records shall be grouped according to the ride. Records shall be maintained by the owner for three years and kept at the location of the ride’s operation. 

Kansas Department of Labor
Industrial Safety and Health Division
KDOL.Amusements@ks.gov

417 SW Jackson St
Topeka, KS 66603-3327

(785) 296-4386