Columbia council amends zoning to allow short-term rentals in core commercial districts, grandfathers some existing operators

The City Council of the City of Columbia on April 10 approved an amended zoning ordinance that will permit short-term rental (STR) units without an owner-occupancy requirement in central commercial districts and establish a process to permit certain existing operators in other residential districts.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment and council debate. The final ordinance (amended ordinance 45-41) allows STRs in Character Districts CD-4, CD-4C and CD-5 without an owner-occupancy condition and adds a grandfathering path for properties outside those districts that can document recent occupancy-tax remittance.

Council members and city staff said the change was intended to balance the city’s interest in protecting residential neighborhoods with preserving downtown tourism and the incomes of existing operators.

City Attorney (name not specified) told council members that state law already protects some preexisting uses and explained the legal limits the city faces. “If you currently have a license, [you are] legal,” the City Attorney said during the discussion, adding that state law protects properties that were operating and remitting occupancy tax for six of the 12 months immediately before July 2022.

Zoning administrator Mr. Keltner…