Columbia News

The City of Columbia’s new short-term rental (STR) ordinance will take effect on June 1, 2024. All dwellings used as an STR must comply with the ordinance requirements by June 1, 2025.

Under the ordinance, short-term rental owners are required to apply for a business license and a rental certificate of compliance. Additionally, some short-term rental owners may need to apply for a conditional use permit. Owners will also be required to pay applicable nightly accommodation taxes to the City of Columbia.

Key points from the ordinance include:

- The ordinance defines three tiers of short-term rentals with maximum rental night limitations.

- A dwelling unit occupied by the same individual for more than 30 consecutive days under a signed lease is considered a long-term rental and is not subject to the short-term rental ordinance.

- Short-term rentals will have a maximum occupancy of eight people.

- The ordinance sets a limit of one short-term rental license per owner.

- Short-term rentals will require registration and inspection.

- A designated agent located within Boone County must be available to respond to complaints 24 hours a day, seven days a week when the operator is unavailable.

Short-term rentals must display certain information in the unit, including:

- Certificate of compliance

- Contact information for the registrant, owner, and designated agent representing the dwelling unit in absence of the registrant

- Contact information for emergency services and the City’s Community Development department

- Occupancy limit as stated on certificate of short-term rental compliance

- An emergency evacuation route map

If a property has an accessory dwelling unit, only one dwelling can be used for a short-term rental.

For full details, refer to City’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance No. 025562.

The City has prepared an application form to assist in reviewing and licensing dwellings used for short-term rental purposes. This form will be available on June 1, 2024, on the City’s Annexation, Subdivision & Zoning Application Forms page.

Questions can be directed via email at [email protected] or by calling 573.874.7239.