Columbia Definitions ordinance (§ 22-183)

Unless otherwise expressly stated, for the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Agent of the owner. A person who is authorized to act on behalf of the owner, as herein defined, with regard to repairs and maintenance of a dwelling or rooming unit.

Apartment house. Any dwelling or combination of related dwellings having the same owner, located in a contiguous area, and operated as a single business entity, in which the operator provides for lease three (3) or more dwelling units.

Census tracts. Those areas established as census tracts for the 1970 Census of Population and Housing in the City of Columbia by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Contiguous area. Any lots, plots or parcels of land which actually touch each other or which are a part of the same city block and abut upon a common public street or alleyway.

Director. The director of the department of housing and neighborhood services of the city, or the director's authorized representative.

Dwelling. Any building, mobile home, or other structure which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for residential occupancy, but this word shall not include temporary housing.

Dwelling unit. One or more rooms arranged for the use of one or more individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit, with cooking, living, sanitary and sleeping facilities.

Existing apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit. A dwelling or dwellings operated as an apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling, or single rental unit on the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived.

Long-term resident. The owner, or a tenant under a signed lease greater than thirty (30) days who is authorized by the owner to conduct a short-term rental within the dwelling unit ("authorized tenant"), that maintains their principal residence on the parcel where the dwelling unit that is the subject of the short-term rental registration is located.

New apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit. A dwelling constructed or operated as an apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit after the effective date of this article which was not operated as an apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling, or single rental unit on the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived.

Occupant. Any person over one year of age (including owner or operator) living in a dwelling or rooming unit or having actual possession of such dwelling or rooming unit.

Office of the manager. An office located on the premises for which a certificate of compliance is issued or sought, where an agent of the owner may be contacted on a regular basis.

Operate, operating and operation. Owning or acting as lessor or manager of any apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit which is leased or rented in the city. Proof of any of the following acts shall be prima facie evidence of "operation":

(1) Being owner of an apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit leased or rented for residential purposes; or

(2) Acting as agent for the owner of an apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit as herein defined; or

(3) Making application for a business license or certificate of compliance under the provisions of this article for an apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit; or

(4) Signing of a lease or document to lease a dwelling or rooming unit in an apartment house, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit on behalf of or as lessor or landlord, provided that the act of subleasing of a dwelling or rooming unit shall not constitute operation, absent proof of other acts constituting operating within the meaning of this article; except on a showing by the person with respect to subparagraph (2), (3) or (4):

a. That he is not authorized to act on behalf of the owner with regard to repairs and maintenance of a dwelling or rooming unit; and

b. Of the identity or name of the person who is authorized to act on behalf of the owner with regard to repairs and maintenance of a dwelling or rooming unit.

Operate, operating and operation also includes rent to own, lease purchase and contract for deed arrangements.

Operator. The owner and any person operating an apartment, rooming house, two-family dwelling or single rental unit in the city.

Owner. Any person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, trust, real estate investment trust, or any other legal entity who has legal interest in a property as shown in the land records of Boone County, Missouri.

Premises. A lot, plot or parcel of land, including the buildings or structures thereon.

Principal residence. The one (1) dwelling unit in which a long-term resident resides that, whenever absent, is the dwelling to which they return until a new principal residence is established. A person can have only one (1) principal residence.

Registrant. The natural person who has:

(1) Identified themselves as the short-term rental registrant in the registration application submitted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

(2) Either owns the dwelling unit, or is a long-term resident who has a documented right to possess and conduct a short-term rental within the dwelling unit; and

(3) Has complied with all registration requirements for such dwelling unit in the City Code.

Rooming house. A dwelling consisting of three (3) or more rooming units leased separately, none of which include cooking facilities, but which may include a common kitchen to be shared by three (3) or more occupants. This definition shall also include the housing provided by fraternities and sororities organized for students of any college or university; however, a hotel, motor hotel or motel licensed under Missouri statute shall not, be deemed a rooming house for purposes of this article.

Rooming unit. Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes.

Short-term rental. A residential dwelling unit, or portion of a residential dwelling unit, advertised or held out to the public as a place where sleeping accommodations are offered for pay or compensation to transient guests.

Short-term rental designated agent. An individual or management company with a physical location within the County of Boone that is available twenty-four (24) hours per day to address any matter arising with the operation or use of the short-term rental. Such designated agent must possess full responsibility and authority to act on behalf of the registrant in the absence of such registrant. The designated agent is not required to be on-site in the absence of the registrant, but must be able to respond from a location in Boone County to address any health, safety or welfare concerns.

Short-term rental intermediary. A marketplace or network that facilitates the listing, marketing, or rental of a short-term rental on a site, also referred to as a platform.

Single rental unit. Any dwelling unit existing in a dwelling in which the operator thereof provides, for lease, up to but not to exceed one dwelling unit.

Temporary housing. Any tent, trailer or other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to the ground, to another structure, or to any utilities system on the same premises for more than thirty (30) consecutive days.

Transient guest. A person who occupies a room in a hotel, motel, tourist court, bed and breakfast, or short-term rental for less than thirty-one (31) consecutive days.

Two-family dwelling. Any dwelling or combination of related dwellings having the same owner, located in a contiguous area, and operated as a single business entity, in which the operator provides for lease two (2) dwelling units.