Columbia Littering ordinance (§ 16-231)
Chapter 16: Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions · Article II. Code of Offenses
In short: It's a crime, punishable as a class A misdemeanor, to throw or place trash, glass, cans, nails, chemical waste, flammable liquids or other hazardous materials on public roads, state highways, waters, stream banks, city or federal land, or anyone else's private property without their consent.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) A person commits the crime of littering if he throws or places, or causes to be thrown or placed, any glass, glass bottles, wire, nails, tacks, hedge, cans, garbage, trash, refuse or rubbish of any kind, nature or description; any solid or liquid chemical waste or residue, any flammable or explosive liquid; any water or wastes having toxic, poisonous, caustic or corrosive properties; or any waters, wastes or materials or substances which either singly or by interaction with other wastes is capable of creating public nuisance or hazard to humans or wildlife; on the right-of-way of any public road or state highway or on or in any of the waters in this state or on the banks of any stream or on any land or water owned, operated or leased by the city, or any board, department, agency, or commission thereof or on any land or water owned, operated or leased by the federal government or on any private real property owned by another without his consent.
(b) Littering is a class A misdemeanor.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 16-231
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.