Rental Housing Certificate Fee Change

Consultation has concluded

Do you own a rental property in Columbia? We welcome your feedback on some proposed changes to our policies and fees. Please review the following information and share your comments and questions at the bottom of the page. Our staff will respond as soon as possible.

The City of Columbia Housing & Neighborhood Services Department is proposing policy changes and an increase in fees for the Rental Unit Conservation Law found in Chapter 22 of City Code. Fees are charged to rental property owners or operators to defray the cost of City inspection and administration of the program. Fees were last increased 10 years ago in FY2015.

Proposed policy changes:

Rental Certificates of Compliance would be issued and valid for five years. All licenses would renew with a City inspection every five years.
- This would eliminate three year certificates that renew without a City inspection resulting in a simpler compliance program and less administrative work for City staff and rental property owners and managers.
Inspections on fuel burning appliances would also be required every five years, a change from the current three-year requirement.
If a rental property is sold, the existing rental license will transfer to the new owner if application is made within 90 days of the sale. The license will remain valid until expiration, regardless of the last City inspection.

Proposed fee changes:

The current building/unit fee structure would be eliminated and replaced with a simplified fee structure with four options for registration.
- Single family homes - $130
- Two family structures/duplexes - $195
- Complex up to and including 30 units - $70 per unit
- Complex that is more than 30 units - $50 per unit
Other fees associated with the Rental Unit Conservation Law will also be adjusted in order to recover staff and administrative costs:
- Reinspection fee - $70 per unit
- Fail to meet inspector fee - $40
- Transfer fee - $15
If approved by City Council, the new fee structure will take effect January 1, 2025.

Other notes:

“Single family attached” units will be treated as a complex assuming the units are adjacent to each other and have a common owner.

Proposed policy changes:

Rental Certificates of Compliance would be issued and valid for five years. All licenses would renew with a City inspection every five years.
- This would eliminate three year certificates that renew without a City inspection resulting in a simpler compliance program and less administrative work for City staff and rental property owners and managers.
Inspections on fuel burning appliances would also be required every five years, a change from the current three-year requirement.
If a rental property is sold, the existing rental license will transfer to the new owner if application is made within 90 days of the sale. The license will remain valid until expiration, regardless of the last City inspection.

Proposed fee changes:

The current building/unit fee structure would be eliminated and replaced with a simplified fee structure with four options for registration.
- Single family homes - $130
- Two family structures/duplexes - $195
- Complex up to and including 30 units - $70 per unit
- Complex that is more than 30 units - $50 per unit
Other fees associated with the Rental Unit Conservation Law will also be adjusted in order to recover staff and administrative costs:
- Reinspection fee - $70 per unit
- Fail to meet inspector fee - $40
- Transfer fee - $15
If approved by City Council, the new fee structure will take effect January 1, 2025.

Other notes:

“Single family attached” units will be treated as a complex assuming the units are adjacent to each other and have a common owner.

Consultation has concluded

What questions do you have about Rental Housing inspections and/or licensing? We will answer as soon as possible.

Share Will there be options for partial inspection or will every 5 years every unit will be inspected? The re-inspection fee seem punitive, would there be some things that require re-inspection and some that would not. I would hate to get a re-inspection fee for a drywall mud area that may have occurred during move in that we did not know about. Then have to pay the initial inspection fee plus the re-inspection. on Facebook Share Will there be options for partial inspection or will every 5 years every unit will be inspected? The re-inspection fee seem punitive, would there be some things that require re-inspection and some that would not. I would hate to get a re-inspection fee for a drywall mud area that may have occurred during move in that we did not know about. Then have to pay the initial inspection fee plus the re-inspection. on Twitter Share Will there be options for partial inspection or will every 5 years every unit will be inspected? The re-inspection fee seem punitive, would there be some things that require re-inspection and some that would not. I would hate to get a re-inspection fee for a drywall mud area that may have occurred during move in that we did not know about. Then have to pay the initial inspection fee plus the re-inspection. on Linkedin Email Will there be options for partial inspection or will every 5 years every unit will be inspected? The re-inspection fee seem punitive, would there be some things that require re-inspection and some that would not. I would hate to get a re-inspection fee for a drywall mud area that may have occurred during move in that we did not know about. Then have to pay the initial inspection fee plus the re-inspection. link

Will there be options for partial inspection or will every 5 years every unit will be inspected? The re-inspection fee seem punitive, would there be some things that require re-inspection and some that would not. I would hate to get a re-inspection fee for a drywall mud area that may have occurred during move in that we did not know about. Then have to pay the initial inspection fee plus the re-inspection.

asked 7 months ago

The current ordinance in Chapter 22 allows for an inspection of a sampling of 30% of the units in an "apartment house or rooming house containing more than 30 dwelling or rooming units." Staff are not suggesting a change to this ordinance. Thanks for the question and input!
Share To be clear, these proposed fees are not to be taken as fees for Short-Term Rental properties covered under another section of the Uniform Cade. Correct? on Facebook Share To be clear, these proposed fees are not to be taken as fees for Short-Term Rental properties covered under another section of the Uniform Cade. Correct? on Twitter Share To be clear, these proposed fees are not to be taken as fees for Short-Term Rental properties covered under another section of the Uniform Cade. Correct? on Linkedin Email To be clear, these proposed fees are not to be taken as fees for Short-Term Rental properties covered under another section of the Uniform Cade. Correct? link

To be clear, these proposed fees are not to be taken as fees for Short-Term Rental properties covered under another section of the Uniform Cade. Correct?

Randall Kilgore asked 6 months ago

Hi Randall! The fees outlined currently in Chapter 22 are the same a short term rental as for a traditional long term rental. Since the inspection process is essentially the same for both types of rentals staff would ask Council for any fee change to be the same for both types of rental licenses.
Share Leigh - I don't have any issues with this change. I assume current certificates would still be good until their expiration date and then the 5 year inspections would start? on Facebook Share Leigh - I don't have any issues with this change. I assume current certificates would still be good until their expiration date and then the 5 year inspections would start? on Twitter Share Leigh - I don't have any issues with this change. I assume current certificates would still be good until their expiration date and then the 5 year inspections would start? on Linkedin Email Leigh - I don't have any issues with this change. I assume current certificates would still be good until their expiration date and then the 5 year inspections would start? link

Leigh - I don't have any issues with this change. I assume current certificates would still be good until their expiration date and then the 5 year inspections would start?

CAL94 asked 7 months ago

The proposed five year certificate cycle would go in effect as current certificates expire. So yes... any existing rental licenses will be valid until expiration. Great question!

Rental Housing Certificate Fee Change

To be clear, these proposed fees are not to be taken as fees for Short-Term Rental properties covered under another section of the Uniform Cade. Correct?

Leigh - I don't have any issues with this change. I assume current certificates would still be good until their expiration date and then the 5 year inspections would start?

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