Columbia Public liability insurance requirements ordinance (§ 13-297)
Chapter 13: Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations · Article XII. Temporary Business Licenses
In short: Before getting a license under this division, applicants must carry public liability insurance of at least $500,000 for injury or death of one person, $500,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage per accident, and file a certificate of insurance with the business license administrator. If the policy is canceled or ends, the license is automatically revoked.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) Before any license is issued under this division, the applicant must procure public liability insurance with the following coverage:
(1) For bodily injury to or death of any one (1) person in an amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00).
(2) For any one (1) accident in an amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00). (3)
For damage to the property of another person in an amount not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for any one (1) accident.
(b) The applicant shall file with the business license administrator a certificate of insurance issued by the insurance carrier as evidence that the public liability insurance requirements have been met.
(c) Every insurance policy required under this division shall extend through the period covered by the license. The cancellation or termination of such policy shall automatically terminate and revoke the license issued under this division.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 13-297
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.