In an effort to keep West Columbia clean, healthy and attractive to all its residents and visitors, Code Enforcement is responsible for the enforcement of the city’s ordinances relating to high weeds and grass, debris, junk vehicles, dangerous structures, signage violations, and other code violations.  The City’s Code of Ordinances details these enforcement issues.  A simple word search may be conducted to find the specific documents needed.  The most common violations include overgrown lots, excessive trash, junk vehicles, open storage and illegal signs.  There are other violations that code enforcement does address so if you have any questions about your particular concern, please contact us by phone or email.

Code Enforcement Citations

 Citations (tickets) are issued when an individual fails to comply with a city ordinance.  Code violations are Class C misdemeanors that can result in fines only.  Most ordinances carry a fine of $100 to $2000.

 Code Enforcement’s objective is to obtain voluntary compliance through community education and a certain time frame for bringing subject properties into compliance.  Citations are easily avoided through responsible action.  In almost all circumstances, an inspector’s first course of action is to give some type of written notice to the owner or person in control of the property.

 If you have a concern about the conditions existing on a piece of property, contact Code Enforcement at 979-345-5121 or simply fill out and submit an online concern form .  You may submit your name on the form, or submit it anonymously; however, if you submit an anonymous complaint, and then later call to find out status of your complaint, it may not be available.   All full-time officers at the department are considered "Code Enforcement Officers", and will be able to address the problem.   An officer will investigate the complaint and begin our casework on it when necessary.

The normal timeline for a property to be inspected is within 2 days from the time a complaint is received.   If warranted, a written citation is then given to the property owners or tenants.   For all violations, the violator is given ten days to correct the violation, then notify the court clerk at 979-345-4832, and inform the court that the violation has been corrected.   The officer that issued the citation will verify that it has been corrected, notify the court, and RECOMMEND dismissal of the citation.     Since a violation of city ordinance did occur, the department can only inform the court that the situation was corrected, and recommend dismissal.     We cannot guarantee the charge(s) will be dismissed.   After the time has elapsed, if the violation has not been corrected, the City can mow high grass and weeds and send the owner an invoice.  Junk vehicles still not removed will be towed by the city at the owner’s expense.

Thank you for helping to keep historic West Columbia beautiful!

Code Violations

 Here are some examples of Code Violations:

Code of Ordinances, Chapter 13, Article II

A permit is required to hold a garage sale.  Permits
are issued at City Hall at no charge, forty-eight hours
prior to the sale and must include locations of any
signs that will be posted.  Garage sales are allowed
once every three months, cannot be held for more
than three consecutive days and cannot begin
before 7 a.m. nor last longer than 8p.m.  No
more than five signs are allowed and must not
be any larger than two feet by two feet.  Signs
cannot be posted on any utility easements or
telephone poles and must be removed within
twenty-four hours after the sale has ended. 
Code of Ordinances Chapter 10 Article VII

                                                                          All swimming pools, in-ground or above
                                                                          ground, with a depth greater than
                                                                          eighteen inches must be fenced in.
                                                                         

                                                                          Swimming Pool Code, Section 315

Code of Ordinances, Chapter 13 Article VI

                                                              No fireworks are allowed inside the City
                                                              Limits.  It shall be unlawful for any person to
                                                              store, to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at
                                                              retail, use or explode any fireworks or blasting
                                                              agents within the city.

                                                             Code of Ordinances, Chapter 7 Article 3

                                                              Residents are allowed a maximum of four pets
                                                              over three months old with a multiple pet
                                                              permit.  All dogs and cats are to have their
                                                              rabies vaccination and city license.  Horses
                                                              are allowed within the City Limits but must be
                                                              kept a minimum of 150 feet from any
                                                              residential dwelling.   Violations of this
                                                              ordinance carry a maximum fine of $500 each
                                                              day the violation exists. 
                                                              City Ordinance No. 535 (1/26/06)

It shall be unlawful for any person to go from house-to-house
or from place-to-place in the city soliciting, selling or
taking orders for or offering to sell or take orders for any
goods, wares, merchandise, services, photographs,
newspapers, magazines or subscriptions to newspapers
or magazines, without having first applied for and
obtained a license so to do from the city secretary.
It shall also be unlawful to sell or solicit in the city
without carrying such license while engaged in such
soliciting or selling.  Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10-83

                                            The City enforces a juvenile curfew for those 15 years of
                                            age and younger unless accompanied by a parent.  It
                                            starts at 10:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 A.M. for juveniles
                                           14 years of age or less; at 11:00 P.M. to 6:00 a.m. for
                                            juveniles 15-16 years of age or more on Sunday through
                                           Thursdays at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.  Under
                                           certain circumstances, permits may be issued by the
                                           Chief of Police.


                                           Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Article II.

                                             Parade Permits are required for any number of persons,
                                             vehicles or animals upon any public street, alley,
                                             highway or right-of-way two days prior to the parade or
                                             procession. 

                                             Chapter 18, Article V

Code of Ordinances, Chapter 7,
Article III & Chapter 13, Article I

                                                         No discharge of firearms is allowed within the
                                                         City Limits. 


                                                         Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12, Article 1

In loving memory of .....
Sgt. James Meyer
Shirley Lilley
Officer Cheryl Stewart

I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.

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