Columbia Exceptions to article provisions ordinance (§ 12-41)

Nothing in this article shall be construed:

(1) To prohibit a religious organization, association or society or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of any dwelling which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to individuals of the same religion or from giving preferences to such individuals, unless individuals are excluded from membership therein because of inclusion in a protected category other than religion.

(2) To prohibit a private club not in fact open to the public which, as an incident to its primary purpose or purposes, provides a residential housing which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose, from limiting the rental or occupancy of such housing to its members, or from giving preference to its members, unless individuals are excluded from membership therein because of inclusion in a protected category other than religion.

(3) To apply to any dwelling occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than four (4) families living in units independent of each other, if the owner thereof occupies one (1) of such units as a residence.

(4) To prevent a person engaged in a business, defined as a place of public accommodation, from establishing a dress or appearance code.

(5) To limit the applicability of any reasonable local or state restriction regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling.