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Columbia Liquor license review board—Review of license denial ordinance (§ 4-10)

Chapter 4: Alcoholic Beverages · Article I. In General

In short: An applicant denied a liquor license, or a neighbor objecting to a renewal, can appeal to the liquor license review board, which can affirm or reverse and may grant a license for less than the period ending June 30, with a prorated fee. The board explains its decision by letter, presumed received three days after mailing.

Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.

(a) The director of finance, after receiving an appeal from a license denial, shall schedule a meeting of the liquor license review board. Before the meeting, the board members shall be provided with copies of the letter of denial, the notice of appeal and any documentation and position statements provided by the business services administrator and the applicant pertaining to the license denial. The board may allow the business services administrator and the applicant or the applicant's representative to explain their positions to the board at the meeting. The board may either affirm the denial of the license or direct the business services administrator to grant the license. The license, in the board's discretion, may be for less than the full period of time ending on June 30. In that case, the licensee shall pay only a prorated license fee. If the board affirms the denial, it shall set forth the grounds for denial in a letter to the applicant. The letter shall be hand delivered or sent by first class mail. A mailed letter shall be presumed received three (3) days after it was mailed.

(b) The director of finance, after receiving an appeal from the renewal of a license, shall schedule a meeting of the liquor license review board. Before the meeting, the board members shall be provided with copies of the letter of objection, the notice of appeal and any documentation and position statements provided by the objecting neighbor, the business services administrator and the licensee. The board may allow the objecting neighbor, the business services administrator and the licensee or the licensee's representative to explain their positions to the board at the meeting. The board may either affirm the renewal of the license or deny the license. The license, in the board's discretion, may be for less than the full period of time ending on June 30. In that case, the licensee shall pay only a prorated license fee. The board shall set forth the grounds for its decision in a letter to the objecting neighbor and the licensee. The letter shall be hand delivered or sent by first class mail. A mailed letter shall be presumed received three (3) days after it was mailed.

Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 4-10

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.