Columbia Same—Investigation of application ordinance (§ 4-6)
Chapter 4: Alcoholic Beverages · Article I. In General
In short: City staff check every license application: the business services administrator investigates the applicant's statements, character and premises, and police review it. For new licenses, fire, community development and health inspect safety and sanitation. After a license is issued, the premises can be investigated at any reasonable time.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
The business services administrator, upon receipt of an application, shall cause an investigation to be made of the statements in the application, the character of the applicant, and the location and condition of the premises to be licensed. Copies of all applications shall be forwarded to the police department for review and comment. On each application for an original license, the fire department, the community development department and the health department shall investigate the safety and sanitation of the premises of the applicant, and the equipment and furnishings contained in the applicant's premises. The departments shall report the findings of the investigation to the business services administrator. After the original license has been issued, the business services administrator may, at any reasonable time, have the premises of the licensee investigated.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 4-6
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.