Columbia Short-term rental insurance requirements ordinance (§ 13-260.7)
Chapter 13: Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations · Article IX. Miscellaneous Business Regulations
In short: Short-term rental license holders must keep business liability insurance, or a short-term rental endorsement or rider on a homeowner policy, covering bodily injury (including accidental death) and property damage. To get a license, applicants must give the city a certificate of insurance requiring the city be notified within 10 days of cancellation.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
Every person licensed to engage in the activities of a short-term rental shall maintain during the time the license is in effect business liability insurance or a short term rental insurance as an endorsement or a rider to homeowner policy covering both bodily injury, including accidental death, and property damage, to cover all claims arising from short-term rental activities. No license to engage in the activities of a short-term rental shall be issued unless the applicant provides the business license administrator a certificate of insurance prepared by the insurance company which includes a provision requiring the city to be notified within ten (10) days of cancellation of the policy.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 13-260.7
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.