Columbia Liability of city for district and joint district sewers ordinance (§ 22-213)
Chapter 22: Public Works and Improvements · Article VI. Sewers and Sewage Disposal
In short: The city isn't liable for building district or joint sewers except as sections 22-243 and 22-253 provide, but it pays like any other owner for land it owns in the district. It also pays the share that would have been assessed on outside-city territory the sewer drains if that land were in the district.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
The city shall incur no liability for building district sewers or joint sewers other than in the manner provided in section 22-243 or section 22-253 hereof, except when the city is the owner of a plot of ground within the district or joint sewer district, and in that case the city shall be liable for the cost of such sewer in the same manner as other property owners within the district. If any district or joint sewer shall drain territory lying outside the city limits and not included in the district or joint district, the city shall pay that part of the cost of such sewer as would have been assessed against such territory if it were included in the district or joint district.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 22-213
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.