Columbia Peace disturbance—Generally ordinance (§ 16-176.1)
Chapter 16: Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions · Article II. Code of Offenses
In short: It's a class B misdemeanor to knowingly and unreasonably disturb or alarm others with loud noise, a foul odor, violent-provoking indecent language or a credible felony threat, to obstruct traffic or entrances in public or on another's property without consent, or to fight or act violently or tumultuously to cause public alarm.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) A person commits the crime of peace disturbance if:
(1) That person unreasonably and knowingly disturbs or alarms another person or persons by:
a. Loud noise; or
b. Offensive and indecent language which is likely to produce an immediate violent response from a reasonable recipient; or
c. Threatening to commit a felonious act against any person under circumstances which is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear that such threat may be carried out; or
d. Creating a noxious and offensive odor.
(2) That person is in a public place or on private property of another without consent and purposely causes inconvenience to another person or persons by unreasonably and physically obstructing:
a. Vehicular or pedestrian traffic; or
b. The free ingress or egress to or from a public or private place.
(3) With the purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, that person engages in fighting or in violent or tumultuous behavior.
(b) Peace disturbance is a class B misdemeanor.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 16-176.1
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.