Columbia Waste hauling vehicles—Sanitary specifications; markings ordinance (§ 13-189)
Chapter 13: Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations · Article VII. Waste Haulers
In short: Vehicles hauling privy or septic contents, manure or food waste must be watertight with sanitary metal compartments and close-fitting covers kept closed except when loading or unloading, and be washed every 24 hours. Septic and manure trucks must also be flytight and fully enclosed. Trucks must show the owner's name and address in contrasting letters at least 2 inches high on both front doors.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) All vehicles used for the transportation of the contents of privies, contents of septic tanks or manure, shall be watertight and flytight, equipped with sanitary metal compartments and fully enclosed bodies and shall be so maintained as to prevent the escape of any of their contents. All waste hauling vehicles shall be equipped with close-fitting covers so as to prevent the escape of offensive odors, and the covers shall be kept closed except when refuse is actually being loaded or unloaded. The vehicle compartments shall be thoroughly washed and cleaned once every twenty-four (24) hours. The size of waste hauling vehicles shall meet with the approval of the director. Waste hauling vehicles shall be kept in good running order and in a clean, sanitary condition at all times.
(b)
All vehicles used for the transportation of food waste shall be watertight, equipped with sanitary metal compartments, and shall be maintained so as to prevent the escape of any contents within such compartments. All waste hauling vehicles shall be equipped with close-fitting covers so as to prevent the escape of offensive odors, and the covers shall be kept closed except when refuse is being loaded or unloaded. The vehicle compartments shall be thoroughly washed and cleaned once every twenty-four (24) hours. The size of waste hauling vehicles shall meet with the approval of the director. Waste hauling vehicles shall be kept in good running order and in a clean, sanitary condition at all times.
(c) Waste hauling vehicles must bear the name and business address of the owner on both front door panels in clear and legible letters at least two (2) inches high and such letters shall be in a contrasting color to the vehicle.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 13-189
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.