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Columbia, MO Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 24-12, Code of Ordinances
Who must clear it
Adjacent owner, tenant, or occupant
Maximum fine
$500 under § 1-8 general penalty
Possible jail time
Up to 90 days confinement
Deadline in ordinance text
None stated: duty is continuous

Summary

Columbia, Missouri property owners and occupants must keep the sidewalk fronting their property clear of snow, ice, and debris at all times, or face a misdemeanor citation.

All persons are hereby required to keep the sidewalks in front of, or adjacent to, the property or premises owned or occupied by them or under their control, within the city, clear and free from rubbish, filth, refuse, fat, oil, grease, dirt, snow, ice and from any and all obstructions and dangerous agencies of every kind and description whatsoever; and any person failing to observe the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

Source: Columbia Municipal CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 138).

Full Breakdown

Columbia Code of Ordinances § 24-12 requires every owner, tenant, or occupant in the city to keep the sidewalk fronting their property in Boone County clear of snow, ice, rubbish, filth, grease, and obstructions. The ordinance imposes a standing duty with no seasonal exception and sets no fixed hours-after-snowfall deadline: the sidewalk must simply stay clear. Because § 24-12 itself sets no penalty, the citywide general penalty in § 1-8 controls: violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, confinement up to 90 days, or both, and each day of noncompliance is a separate offense.

Violations & Fines

Violating § 24-12 is a misdemeanor; under the citywide general penalty (§ 1-8) it carries a fine up to $500, confinement up to 90 days, or both, with each day counted as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Columbia, Missouri set a deadline to shovel snow off my sidewalk?
No. City Code § 24-12 requires sidewalks in Boone County's Columbia to stay clear of snow and ice at all times; it does not name a specific number of hours after snowfall.
What happens if I don't clear snow from my Columbia sidewalk?
You can be cited for a misdemeanor under § 24-12. Since that section sets no separate fine, the citywide general penalty in § 1-8 applies: up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Columbia

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsLight RestrictionsProperty BlightSignificant RestrictionsVacant Lot MaintenanceSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions

All Columbia rules

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