Business Licensing & Operations in Columbia, SC (2026)
7 verified business licensing & operations rules for Columbia, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Columbia keeps sexually oriented businesses on a tight leash: no such business may open within 1,000 feet of another one, or within 700 feet of a church, school, day care, park, or any residential property. Every operator and employee also needs a separate city license, issued or denied within 20 days of a complete application.
Columbia's Sexually Oriented Business Spacing Rule
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 11-750(b)-(c)
(b)It shall be unlawful to establish, operate, or cause to be operated a sexually oriented business in the City of Columbia, within 1,000 feet of any parcel occupied by another sexually oriented business; and(c)It shall be unlawful to establish, operate, or cause to be operated a sexually oriented business in the city within 700 feet of:(1)A place of worship or any religious institution;(2)Any ...
Massage Establishments
Columbia requires anyone operating a health club, massage parlor, spa, or physical culture club to obtain a city business license before opening, and that license can only issue after the health department certifies compliance with Article IV of Chapter 11 and the operator meets zoning, fire, and building code requirements.
Columbia Requires Massage Establishments to Get Licensed
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 11-102
Any person desiring to engage in the operation of a health club, massage parlor, spa, physical culture club or similar establishment shall, before engaging in such business, obtain a city business license, which may be issued only upon presentation of a certificate of compliance with this article issued by the health department and compliance with the city zoning ordinance, fire prevention code...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Columbia zones tattoo and body piercing establishments as a Personal Services Use with mandatory spacing. Sec. 17-4.2(c)(3)d.1 requires a body piercing or tattoo establishment to sit at least 100 feet from any Residential zoning district and at least 1,000 feet from any other body piercing or tattoo establishment, on top of the standard business license every operator must obtain under Chapter 11.
Columbia Tattoo Shop Zoning Spacing Rule
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Unified Development Ordinance § 17-4.2(c)(3)d.1
1. Body Piercing or Tattoo Establishment A body piercing or tattoo establishment shall be located at least 100 feet from Residential zoning districts, and at least 1,000 feet from any other body piercing or tattoo establishment.
Tobacco Retail License
Columbia does not license vape shops separately, but it does regulate what they must tell customers. Any retailer selling cannabis products, defined broadly enough to include vape shops, health stores, and grocers, must post a disclosure sign next to the product display warning that using the product may cause a person to fail a workplace drug test.
Columbia's Vape Product Disclosure Rule
Light RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 11-802
Purveyors of cannabis products shall post clear and conspicuous signage on or near displays of cannabis products stating that consumption or use of cannabis products may cause a person to fail a workplace drug screening test. These signs must be equal to 50 percent of the size of the purveyor's product signage.
Secondhand Dealers
Columbia requires every junk and secondhand dealer to log each purchase in a permanent record book, report all purchases to the police chief by 11:00 a.m. daily, and hold every item at least 48 hours before resale. Dealers may only buy between sunrise and sunset, and city council can revoke the license for any violation.
Columbia Junk and Secondhand Dealer Rules
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances §§ 11-133, 11-134, 11-136, 11-138
Every person licensed as a junk or secondhand dealer shall keep a book in which shall be written, at the time of every purchase or barter at his place of business, the name and residence of the person from whom an article was purchased by him and the hour and date of purchase. ... Every person licensed as a junk or secondhand dealer shall make a report to the chief of police by 11:00 a.m. every...
Pawnbrokers
No one may operate as a pawnbroker in Columbia without a city license. Licensed pawnbrokers must record every pledge in a book, report all pawned or purchased articles to the police chief each morning, and fingerprint the right index finger of every person pawning an item.
Columbia Pawnbroker License Requirements
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances §§ 11-161, 11-162, 11-164, 11-181
It shall be unlawful for any person to do business as a pawnbroker within the city without first obtaining a license so to do from the city. ... Every pawnbroker doing business within the city shall keep a book in which shall be plainly written, at the time of every pledge, the name of the person and a description of the articles pledged... ... Each pawnbroker shall furnish to the chief of poli...
Towing Companies
Columbia caps non-consent tow fees, requires wrecker firms to hold a city business license and zone contract, and bars solicitation at accident scenes. Police direct all non-consent tows through a rotation list; the chief of police can suspend a towing license for up to 60 days for violations.
Columbia Non-Consent Towing Rules
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 24-215
In all cases in which a vehicle is towed at the direction of city personnel or without the prior authorization or consent of the owner or operator of the vehicle, the following shall apply: (1)Towing. A maximum charge of $195.00... for one year and then $225.00 beginning on the 366th day following the effective date shall be made for the use of a wrecker when a vehicle is disabled as the result...
Looking for Richland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Columbia city rules.
Business Licensing & Operations in Richland County →