Columbia Climbing trees, monuments, etc ordinance (§ 17-53)
Chapter 17: Parks and Recreation · Article IV. Conduct Regulations
In short: In city parks, you may not climb trees or walk, stand or sit on monuments, vases, fountains, railings, fences or other property not meant for that. You also may not tie anything, including hammocks and slacklines, to trees or park fixtures, except posts signed for hammocks and slacklines.
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 climb any tree or walk, stand or sit upon monuments, vases, fountains, railings, fences or upon any other property not designated or customarily used for such purposes. It shall be unlawful to tie or tether any object, including but not limited to hammocks and slacklines, to a tree, monument, vases, fountains, railings, fences, goal posts or any other park fixture or natural feature. This section shall not prohibit the attachments of hammocks and slacklines to installed posts upon which signage indicates that the posts are for the placement of hammocks and slacklines.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 17-53
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.