Columbia Maintenance of fire suppression equipment; tampering prohibited ordinance (§ 9-5)
Chapter 9: Fire Prevention and Protection · Article I. In General
In short: You may not block, remove, tamper with or otherwise disturb a fire hydrant or required fire appliance, except to fight a fire, train, test, recharge, make repairs, or when the fire official permits. Removed equipment must be put back as soon as the purpose is done, and defective equipment must be fixed or replaced as the fire official directs.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
It shall be unlawful to obstruct, remove, tamper with or otherwise disturb any fire hydrant or fire appliance required to be installed or maintained under the provisions of the fire prevention code except for the purpose of extinguishing fire, training or testing purposes, recharging, or making necessary repairs, or when permitted by the fire official. Whenever a fire appliance is removed as herein permitted, it shall be replaced or re-installed as soon as the purpose for which it was removed has been accomplished. Defective and nonapproved fire appliances or equipment shall be replaced or repaired as directed by the fire official.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 9-5
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.