Rental Housing Certificate Fee Change

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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.

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.