Columbia Cleanliness of privies or water closets ordinance (§ 11-3)
Chapter 11: Health and Sanitation · Article I. In General
In short: Owners and lessees must keep any privy or closet on their property clean, and clean it within the time the health officer sets. If they don't, the city will do it and bill them. Each owner or lessee can be held liable for the cost, and the city may collect by suit.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
It is hereby made the duty of each owner or lessee to keep clean any privy or closet on premises owned, leased or controlled by him and to clean such closet within such time as shall be fixed by the health officer or his subordinates, and if the same shall not be cleaned within such time limit, the health officer or his subordinates shall cause the same to be cleaned and the expense incurred in cleaning such closet shall be paid by the owner, or lessee owning, leasing or controlling the property, and all disputes between lessees or owners shall be adjusted among themselves, but each, all or any of them shall be liable to the city for any expenses incurred by reason of such cleaning, which may be collected by suit or otherwise.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 11-3
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.