Columbia Penalty for delinquent payment of license fees ordinance (§ 13-30)
Chapter 13: Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations · Article II. Occupation Licenses
In short: Businesses listed in section 13-27 that don't get a license and pay the fee before starting, or don't renew when it's due, must pay an added fee of 15 percent of the license fee for each month it stays unpaid, once they receive written or electronic notice.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
Every person who shall fail to obtain a license and pay the license fee therefor, as provided by this article, before beginning or becoming engaged in any of the businesses set out in section 13-27 of this chapter; and every person who shall fail to renew such license for any such business and pay the license fee therefor when such license fee is due, as provided by this article, shall, after written or electronic notice, pay, for each month that such license fee remains unpaid, a fee of fifteen (15) percent of the business license fee provided in this article for such business.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 13-30
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.