The mission of the Office of Neighborhood Services is to improve the quality of life for Columbia’s residents through fairly and swiftly enforcing city codes related to residential life and build a sense of community by offering valuable volunteer opportunities, providing resources for neighborhood leaders to solve issues independently and managing donations to support our community.

City of Columbia seeks public input on rental fees and occupancy disclosures

The report to City Council on occupancy disclosures will be included on their September 4 meeting agenda.

Comments on the rental fee increases have already been sent to City Council.

An increase in the fees charged as part of the Rental Unit Conservation Law is being proposed to cover a larger percent of the cost to conduct the program.

Rental fees were last increased in 2000. The City is currently recovering approximately 75% of the cost to carry out the Rental Unit Conservation Law; these changes will allow the City to recover a greater amount of the expense of the program.

Also on the agenda is review of the idea of an occupancy disclosure system.  City Council received a report on over-occupancy at their June 18 meeting that included the idea of an occupancy disclosure form that all rental property owners would be required to complete with information on their tenants.  A disclosure would assist the City in investigating zoning over-occupancy cases and nuisance violations where the tenant is responsible. The form would be maintained by the property owner or manager and be available to City staff upon request.  View disclosures from Ft. Collins, Colorado and West Lafayette, Indiana as examples. 

Public comment will be accepted throughout the month of July.  For additional information on the changes, please contact the Office of Neighborhood Services at 817-5050.