Columbia Abatement by city ordinance (§ 11-241)
Chapter 11: Health and Sanitation · Article VII. Nuisances
In short: If a property owner ignores a nuisance abatement order (or doesn't request a hearing and ignores the notice), the director may have city employees or contractors clean it up. They may enter private property only with the owner's or occupant's consent or a municipal judge's warrant.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
If the order of abatement is not complied with or if no hearing is requested and the abatement notice is not complied with, the director may have the nuisance abated by city employees or by persons under contract with the city. No person shall enter private property to abate a nuisance unless the owner or occupant has consented to the entry or unless the municipal judge has issued a warrant for the entry.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 11-241
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.