Frequently Asked Questions

The City does not allow converting ditches to piped conveyances in most situations as the ditch needs to remain open to take on water from the surrounding yard and roadway system.

The Zoning Ordinance allows short-term rentals with a permit in the following zones: CD-4, CD-4C, and CD-5. Short-term rentals are not permitted in some residential districts. Before listing your property or applying for a permit, please verify your zoning. You can use the City’s online zoning map (zoom in on the map to reveal all map layers in the legend) to look up your property’s zoning. You can also call Planning & Zoning at 931-560-1560.  

All submitted requests for development and construction related projects are public records that can be viewed at City Hall. The Building Permit Portal can also be used to search through building permit data and information. We also publish an Online GIS Map of approved developments and their estimate current build-out.

There is no permit required for a temporary banner in front of your business as long as the advertisement is no more than 16 square feet in total size; represents the business in which it is displayed in front of, and it is displayed for no more than 14 days.

Accessory structures under 200 sq. ft. require a small accessory permit. Accessory structures 200 sq. ft. or greater require an accessory structure building permit.

Fences do not require permits, but please visit our webpage about fences to learn more about the requirements.

Retaining walls supporting over 4 feet of earth do require a building permit. Please visit our webpage about retaining walls to learn more about the requirements.

Development Services works to safeguard public health, safety, and property through the plan check, permit, and inspection processes. To find out if a permit is needed for your building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical project, go to the Building Codes page or contact us at 931-560-1560.

A permit is valid as long as work towards completion is continuing. Permits shall expire when the City’s Building Official determines the work authorized by any permit has been suspended, discontinued or abandoned for a continuous period of 180 days.

Yes, permit statuses are displayed and updated on our Online Permitting System. You will be notified by email if the status of the permit changes.

Your property lines may have pins from when the property was last surveyed. These pins can be located with a metal detector and are usually capped with a bright plastic cap identifying the surveyor. The lines located on our mapping software are not accurate for determining property boundaries and should only be used as a reference.  The best way to determine the location of your property lines is to hire a Tennessee licensed professional surveyor.

The City has five historic districts that have specific guidelines and processes which can be found on the Historic Zoning Commission webpage. The Historic Zoning Commission (HZC) reviews any exterior modifications or replacement of components to a structure. In certain instances, city staff has the authority to review maintenance related work and issue a Certificate of Appropriateness on the HZC's behalf.

Day to day maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner. Repair or maintenance activities that require special or heavy equipment are typically handled by City of Columbia Public Works.

The building permit may be downloaded from our Online Permitting System