Columbia Peace disturbance in a park ordinance (§ 17-108)
Chapter 17: Parks and Recreation · Article IV. Conduct Regulations
In short: In city parks, you may not knowingly and unreasonably disturb or alarm others with loud noise, face-to-face offensive language likely to provoke an immediate violent response, felony threats, fighting, or noxious odors, or purposely obstruct traffic or entrances and exits.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
It shall be unlawful for any person in a park to:
(1) Unreasonably and knowingly disturb or alarm another person or persons by:
a. Loud noise; or b.
Offensive language addressed in a face-to-face manner to a specific individual and uttered under circumstances which are 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 are likely to cause a reasonable person to fear that such threat may be carried out; or
d. Fighting; or
e. Creating a noxious and offensive odor.
(2) Purposely cause 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 the park.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 17-108
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.