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Columbia Same—Maintenance; duration; location ordinance (§ 13-119)

Chapter 13: Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations · Article V. Precious Metals Dealers

In short: Dealers must keep their required records at their principal place of business in the city for 18 months, though the text also refers to a three-year period for transient dealers, who must leave records with the police chief or another city location when they have no business there. Police or license officials may inspect them during business hours (transient dealers' repositories: at least 40 hours a week). Failing to keep records in the city is a Class A misdemeanor.

Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.

(a) All records required to be made and kept under the provisions of this article shall be maintained at the principal place of business of the dealer within the city for a period of eighteen (18) months from the date a record is made; provided, however, that a transient dealer shall deposit all records kept with the police chief or at some other location within the city during such times within the three-year recordkeeping period as the dealer is not maintaining a place of business within the city.

(b) All records kept in compliance with the provisions of this article shall be the property of the dealer and shall in no respects be considered public records subject to the provisions of Chapter 610 RSMo. 1969, or the provisions of section 2-23 of this Code.

(c) All records kept in compliance with the provisions of this article shall be available for inspection by the chief of police, his designee, or the business license administrator during all regular business hours of the dealer at his principal place of business, or, in the case of a transient dealer, at a repository designated by the dealer where such records are open for inspection at least forty (40) hours each week.

(d) Failure to maintain such records within the city shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable under the penalties established in section 16-66 of this Code for such Class A misdemeanors.

Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 13-119

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.