Columbia Parking adjacent to schools ordinance (§ 14-284)
Chapter 14: Motor Vehicles and Traffic · Article V. Stopping, Standing and Parking
In short: Where the city traffic engineer posts "no parking" signs on streets next to schools, you can't park there. Where signs allow parking only to pick up or drop off children (not Saturdays, Sundays or holidays), you can stop only as long as that takes, and moving within the same block counts as one continuous parking period.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to erect signs indicating no parking or special parking restrictions upon either or both sides of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in city traffic engineer's opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.
(b) When official signs are erected indicating no parking upon either side of a street adjacent to any school property, as authorized herein, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.
(c) When official signs are erected indicating no parking except to receive and discharge children, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excepted, upon either side of a street adjacent to any school property, as authorized herein, no person shall park a vehicle for a longer period than that required to promptly receive or discharge children and it shall be deemed one (1) continuous parking period to change the position of a vehicle within the same block.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 14-284
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.