City of Columbia Ordinances

Pet Waste

The City of Columbia requires pet owners living within the Columbia city limits to clean up any waste left by their pets when on public or private property not their own.  

Section 5-67 of Chapter 5 of the City of Columbia Code of Ordinances (Ord. No. 14881 § 1, 6-17-96; Ord. No. 14903, § 1, 7-15-96) states

  1. No person owning or responsible for a dog shall permit the dog to defecate on any public property or right of way or on any private property other than property owned or leased by the person owning or responsible for the dog.
  2. It is a specific defense to a charge of violating this section that the person charged immediately removed the excrement and properly disposed of it in a sanitary manner.
  3. It is a specific defense to a charge of violating this section that the dog involved is a certified working dog trained to assist disabled individuals and that the person charged has a disability which prevents the individual from removing the excrement and properly disposing of it in a sanitary manner.

Pet owners may be issued a fine for violating this ordinance if:

  • Observed doing so by an Animal Control officer
  • If someone else observes the violation taking place and is willing to testify about the matter in Municipal Court. 

Pet waste is a threat to the health of our community

  • Pet waste left on the ground washes into local waterways
  • Pet waste is a major source of E.coli pollution in local streams.

Always use a bag or scooper to clean up your pet’s waste and dispose of it in a nearby trash receptacle. Please do not place dog waste bags in the porta potty in the common area at the lake. They are not conducive to these types of toilets and result in additional costs to the Association.

Fireworks

Sec. 17-112. - Fireworks and explosives.

Chapter 17 - PARKS AND RECREATION | Code of Ordinances | Columbia, MO | Municode Library

It shall be unlawful for any person in a park to bring, or have in his possession, or set off, or otherwise cause to explode or discharge or burn, any firecrackers, torpedo, rocket, or other fireworks or explosives of inflammable material, or discharge them or throw them into any park area from land or a highway adjacent thereto. This prohibition includes any substance, compound, mixture or article that, in conjunction with any substance or compound, would be dangerous from any of the foregoing standpoints, except under the sponsorship of organized groups and with the permission of the director and/or the city council.

Loud Noise

Sec. 16-256. - Loud noises prohibited.

ARTICLE III. - NOISE | Code of Ordinances | Columbia, MO | Municode Library

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within the limits of the city. This subsection shall not apply to sounds from any radio, phonograph, tape player, compact disc player, musical instrument or any similar device for producing or amplifying sound. This subsection shall not apply to shouting, singing, whistling or verbal utterances.(b)

The acts described in this division, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this article, but such enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive.