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Columbia Claim of right ordinance (§ 16-155)

Chapter 16: Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions · Article II. Code of Offenses

(a) A person does not commit an offense of damaging, tampering with, operating, riding in or upon, or making connection with property of another if he does so under a claim of right and has reasonable grounds to believe he has such right.

(b) The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of claim of right; provided, however, that this defense shall not be available to a tenant in any prosecution involving property damage to a premises leased or rented by that tenant from another.

Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 16-155

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.