Frequently Asked Questions

The City Council includes seven members: the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and five Ward Council Members. The Mayor and Vice Mayor are elected city-wide; each Ward Council Member is elected by voters in their ward.

Each elected City Council Member serves a four-year term.

City Council holds a study session on the first Thursday and a voting session on the second Thursday of each month, both at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (700 N. Garden Street). Agendas and minutes are posted online prior to meetings. In the event of official holidays or inclement weather, meetings may be rescheduled.

Council meetings are livestreamed on the City’s official YouTube channel, and past meetings are archived for public viewing.

Access past City Council Meetings via this link.

Please find the contact information for the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Members here. For general inquiries, you may call City Hall (931-560-1500)

The City website includes resources (such as an interactive map) to help you determine your ward; you can also contact City Hall for assistance.

Property taxes are paid through the City Recorder’s Office, which accepts payments and handles tax collection.

The City Recorder’s Office issues various permits (such as alarm, beer, fireworks, vending, and yard sale) and manages business licensing.

The City provides access to public records in compliance with Tennessee Public Records laws. Requests should be submitted through the City Recorder’s Office.

The City Manager prepares a proposed budget in coordination with all City departments, which is reviewed, amended, and adopted by the City Council before the fiscal year begins. Financial reports and budgets are available to view here.

City Hall is located at:

700 N Garden Street
Columbia, TN 38401
Main Phone: 931-560-1500

Regular Business Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Holiday closures are listed on the City's Main Calendar of Events.

A full City of Columbia Department Directory is available here.

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

You may contact the Administrative Office at 931-560-1734 to request a copy of the report. Office hours are 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. You will need the following to obtain a fire report:

• Address of incident
• Date of incident
• Valid photo ID

There is no fee for copying reports, unless they are 10 pages or more. 

Yes. A burn permit is required for permitted open burning within the Columbia city limits.

Residents may obtain a burn permit by contacting the Columbia Fire & Rescue Administrative Office at 931-560-1734 or by visiting the nearest fire station between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

There is no charge to obtain a burn permit.

For additional information about burn permits, please click here.

Per Ordinance Number 3402, certain services provided by Columbia Fire & Rescue are subject to cost recovery.

When applicable, billing is calculated as follows:

• $45 per hour (one-hour minimum) per apparatus

• $15 per hour (one-hour minimum) per personnel assigned to the call

• Any materials used, billed at cost

These fees are established by City ordinance and are intended to help offset the operational expenses associated with specific incidents.

If you have questions about a bill you received, please contact Columbia Fire & Rescue for additional information or clarification.

Contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry for a Debris Burn Permit Application. Call 877-350-2876 or visit the website.

No. City ordinance prohibits the outdoor burning of leaves within the Columbia city limits.

Residents are encouraged to utilize approved yard waste disposal or collection services in place of burning.

For questions about permitted outdoor burning or yard waste disposal options, please contact Columbia Fire & Rescue.

Yes. All personnel with Columbia Fire & Rescue are able to check your blood pressure.

Residents may stop by a fire station to request a blood pressure check. Firefighters are happy to assist when they are available and not responding to an emergency call.

Columbia Fire & Rescue recommends changing the batteries in your smoke alarms every six months.

An easy way to remember is to replace the batteries when you adjust your clocks for daylight saving time.

In addition to regular battery changes, residents are encouraged to test smoke alarms monthly and replace the entire unit according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Columbia Fire & Rescue also offers:

• Free smoke alarm inspections

• Free smoke alarms 

• Free carbon monoxide detectors

To schedule an inspection or request a smoke alarm, please contact Columbia Fire & Rescue at 931-560-1734.

Please contact Columbia Fire & Rescue at 931-560-1734.

To schedule a tour of a fire station, contact Columbia Fire & Rescue at 931-560-1734.

To receive a fire department patch, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Columbia Fire & Rescue
1001 S High Street
Columbia, TN 38401

Attn: Patch Request

Columbia Fire & Rescue does not give away or sell department t-shirts.

Fire engines are typically the first units to arrive at an emergency and officially stop the emergency response clock upon arrival.

Columbia Fire & Rescue engines are fully staffed and equipped to begin patient care immediately. Crews are trained to provide both Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) services, ensuring critical care can begin without delay.

Early intervention improves outcomes, and having highly trained firefighters arrive quickly allows lifesaving treatment to start while additional resources are en route.

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) conducts independent evaluations of fire departments across the United States to measure the quality of a community’s fire protection services.

The ISO review evaluates several key areas, including:

• How fire alarms are received and dispatched

• The location and distribution of fire stations throughout the city

• The equipment carried on fire apparatus

• The training and staffing of fire personnel

• The adequacy and reliability of the community’s water supply for fire suppression

Based on this evaluation, ISO assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) rating on a scale from Class 1 to Class 10.

• Class 1 represents exemplary public fire protection.

• Class 10 indicates that ISO’s minimum criteria are not met.

These classifications are used by many insurance providers to help determine property insurance premiums.

Columbia Fire & Rescue is proud to hold an ISO Class 1 rating, the highest possible classification. This distinction reflects the department’s commitment to training, equipment, response capability, and overall service excellence to the Columbia community.

Crash and incident police reports can be obtained from the Records Division, which is the central repository for all offense and incident reports and other official records.

You can submit a tip to help the department with investigations. Many options are available, including anonymous safe tip reporting.

Please fill out the pothole repair request form.

Please check the Sanitation Garbage Day & A-B Route Collection Street List (PDF). Please call us at (931) 388-8650 with any questions.

Call Public Works Department at (931) 388-8650 to sign up for residential trash service.

Household trash is collected on a weekly basis; recycling is collected bi-weekly.

• Trash and recycling carts at the street by 5:00am on your scheduled pickup day.
• Serial numbers on carts must face the street.
• Leave 4 feet of clearance around your carts and between your carts.
• All trash must be bagged and inside the trashcan. We will not collect trash outside the trashcan.
• Do not bag recycling.
• Any misuse of recycling cart will result in immediate and permanent confiscation.
• Call Public Works at (931) 388-8650 if you have any additional questions.

The City of Columbia provides ONE (1) free trash container for each residence within the city limits of Columbia. Residents may purchase up to TWO (2) additional trashcans at a cost of $60.00 per container. Please call Public Works at (931) 388-8650 to inquire about purchasing an additional trash container.

Please call the City Recorder at (931) 560-1520 for more information, or apply online for the Garbage Fee Exemption. 

Please call Public Works at (931) 388-8650 to inquire about our Special Needs Trash Collection program.

Please call Public Works at (931) 388-8650.

• Residential sanitation is $17/month, and will be charged to your Columbia Power & Water bill.
• Commercial collection is by agreement, and the fee is based on the number of scheduled pick-ups at the business.

Please call Public Works at (931) 388-8650 to set up sanitation service.

Please see the 2026 Holiday Collection Schedule (PDF), or call Public Works at (931) 388-8650.

Please click here for a list of Acceptable Recycling Materials (PDF), or email Tara Thompson with any questions.

Please call Maury County Solid Waste at (931) 375-6401.

Please call Maury County Solid Waste at (931) 375-6401.

Please click here for a list of all Maury County Convenience Centers (PDF).

• The Maury County Household Hazardous Waste Day is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 8:00am to 1:00pm at Maury County Solid Waste, 1233 Lawson White Drive, Columbia, TN 38401.
• Please click here to see the list of Household Hazardous Waste Acceptable & Unacceptable Items.

The Maury County Convenience Centers (PDF) will accept the following recyclable items:

1. Colored Glass (must be clean)
2. Clear Glass (must be clean)
3. Cardboard (must be clean & broken down)
4. Newspaper/White Paper (including shredded paper – must be clean)
5. Metal (metal/tin cans – must be clean, copper wire, etc.)
6. Aluminum (cans/foil/etc. – must be clean)
7. Plastic (only #1 & #2 – must be clean)

Maury County Convenience Centers (PDF) are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 5:00pm, closed for holidays. Please click on the highlighted link for locations and phone numbers.

• Brush cannot be mixed with other material, such as household trash, furniture, or construction material.
• Brush or trees must be cut in lengths of 4 feet or less, and no wider than 3 feet in diameter. Tree stumps must be cut to these lengths or mulched.
• Leaves, grass clippings, and mulch must be bagged.
• Place brush at the curb by 5:00am on your scheduled pickup day.
• Special arrangements must be made for extra loads of brush.
• Special pickups and oversized pickups are available at $100 per pickup.

• Bulk collection is the collection of items that are too large to fit inside the trash receptacle. Items include furniture, mattresses/box springs, and boxes.
• Items for bulk collection must be scheduled. Call Public Works at (931) 388-8650 to schedule a bulk pickup.

• Residents are allotted three free bulk pickups per year.
• After the allotted quota is met, there will be a $100 charge per pickup during that calendar year plus landfill tipping fees.
• Special pickups and oversized pickups are available at $100 per pickup plus landfill tipping fees.

• Demolition debris (rocks, dirt, tree stumps, wall board or plaster, bricks, building scraps, etc.)
• Electronic items (televisions, computers, etc.)
• Tires
• Glass/Mirrors
• Refrigerant items (refrigerators, air conditioners, or anything charged with Freon or other gases)

• Always Call 811 Before You Dig!
• It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s the law!
• Call 811, or (800) 351-1111.

Please call Public Works at (931) 388-8650.

Please call Public Works at (931) 388-8650 between 7:00am - 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.

If after hours, please call Dispatch at (931) 388-2727.

Please call Public Works at (931) 388-8650 between 7:00am - 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.

If after hours, please call Dispatch at (931) 388-2727.

Reservations for all of our amenities can be done online! You can see the costs, dates, and timeslots available for any shelter or center by going to Park Pass and browsing what we have to offer!

City parks open at 7am and remain open until dusk.

Each recreation center has its own schedule. Please check the Recreation Centers page of our website for hours and services available.

No, alcohol is not allowed in any of the City parks, shelters, or centers.

The City of Columbia Parks & Recreation Department has an outdoor pool at the Columbia Aquatics & Recreation Center that is open during the summer. It is monitored by a lifeguard.

There are no reservations allowed. The disc golf course is free for everyone on a first-come, first-served basis.

No there is no RV parking available at Ridley Sports Complex. Here is the website link to Camper's RV Park nearby, located at 1792 Bear Creek Pike, Columbia, TN 38401.

View the Sewer Service Charges (PDF) for a detailed breakdown of sewer rates.

When public sewer becomes available to property, a connection to the sewer is required. The property owner is responsible for making application and acquiring proper permits to connect to public sewer. The property owner is also responsible for the cost and installation of the private sewer service line. (The portion of line between the house and the public sewer is the private sewer service line.) 

Inspection, installation, and connection fees may be applicable at the time of permit issuance.

Customers must provide the property address and the property owner’s name when requesting a sewer connection permit.

If sewer service is available at the property, the applicable permit fees will be calculated, and a permit may then be issued for the connection.

For more information, contact the Wastewater Department.

Wastewater personnel will locate and mark public sewer mains only.

Private service lines (the portion of sewer line between the structure and the public sewer main) will not be located or marked by Wastewater personnel. Information on the location of private service lines is not on file at our office. You may want to contact a plumber for assistance in locating the private service lines on your property.

 Please contact the Wastewater Department with details of the work being done or the affected area.

Contact the Wastewater Department to obtain a sewer repair permit. The repair or installation of a new line is the responsibility of the property owner and must be installed according to code requirements. An inspection is required prior to covering the new or repaired line. Owners hiring plumbers to correct such problems must insure the proper permits have been obtained prior to beginning any line repairs or replacements.

Call the Wastewater Department at 931-560-1001. At the menu prompt, select the option for Sewer Emergencies.

Wastewater maintenance personnel are available 24 hours a day to respond to sewer-related emergencies.

When you call, your message will be forwarded to a voicemail system. Please leave the following information:

• Your name

• Service address

• Phone number

• A brief description of the problem

The phone system will automatically notify the on-call maintenance employee, who will receive your recorded message and respond as quickly as possible.

City crews will inspect the public sewer main at no charge to the resident. If a problem is found with the main line, maintenance personnel will make the necessary repairs.

If the public sewer main is functioning properly and the issue persists, the problem may be within the private service line. In that case, the property owner may need to contact a licensed plumber at their own expense.

FOG stands for fats, oils, and grease. These substances create a huge problem for your sewer pipes. 

Visit the FOG Program page to learn more.

You can visit us during normal business hours at the Human Resources Office. We’re located on the 2nd floor of City Hall at 700 N Garden St, Columbia, TN 38401. You can also apply from your smartphone or visit the Public Library.

For assistance with your employment application, call Human Resources at 931-560-1570 or visit us on the 2nd floor of City Hall at 700 N Garden St, Columbia, TN 38401.

Visit our careers page at the link below.

City of Columbia - Jobs

You can sign up for a free email account with Google, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. You must have an email address as most of our communications will come to you via email.

Applications are accepted only during the time of a posted vacancy. Check back regularly on our careers page at the link below to view current vacancies.

 City of Columbia - Jobs

Your application will be visible to the Human Resources Department and the hiring authority of the department to which you apply.

Yes. You can apply for all positions of interest to you.

Applications are accepted only during the time of a posted vacancy. If you miss the deadline to apply, check back regularly for new opportunities.

Yes, to be considered for an open position, you must submit an application through our careers page.

City of Columbia - Jobs

No. You must submit an application for each position for which you want to be considered.

Upon completion of your application, you will receive an email notifying you that your application has been submitted for consideration.

To change your contact information after your application has been submitted, contact the Human Resources Office at 931-560-1570.

Yes. Your information is safe and will only be available to those participating in the hiring process.

The closing date is the last day that the position will be available to accept applications.

"Open until filled" indicates that we are accepting applications on a consistent basis until all spots for the role are no longer vacant.

The selection process normally includes the following:

• A review of your application/resume. Those that do not meet the minimum qualifications for the position, will be notified. 
• An interview with the hiring authority for the department to which you applied. 

For some positions, testing may be required to determine skill level. Interviews may also require demonstration of your knowledge, skills, and abilities. 

If selected, a background check, drug screen, and physical will be required of the candidate.

Unfortunately, there is no way to save your application. To be considered, you must complete and submit your application.

To submit a resume, navigate to the position for which you want to apply. Click "Apply" and choose "Select Resume to Upload". You must then complete and submit the application. We won't receive your resume unless an application is submitted.

Please include information for your last two to five positions and any other relevant experience that you’d like to be considered.

Please share your mailing information with us on the Visitor Guide Request Form and we will mail a free guide to you! You can also access the online guide on the same page.

Columbia Main Street, in partnership with the City of Columbia, has recently become the official First Fridays event manager to promote a safer and more enjoyable event for all. This will include road closures. Additionally, all vendors who wish to participate in First Fridays will now be required to apply online. All applications will be reviewed by the Columbia Main Street First Fridays Committee and applicants will be notified of their acceptance status via email. Submitting an application does not guarantee a booth space.  

Go to the Events tab on Visit Columbia's webpage to stay informed on happenings in Columbia! 

Visit Submit an Event and fill out the needed information. The event will then be reviewed and added to the webpage! 

Per the Finance Department, the City of Columbia makes surplus property available for sale to the general public. The availability and type of items being sold may change frequently.

Personal surplus property is sold online through the auction website GovDeals.com.

To participate in an auction, individuals must register directly with GovDeals.com. Registration is free.

Please note:

• All items are sold as is and without warranty.

• In most cases, the City is unable to ship purchased items; however, staff may be able to assist buyers with information about local shipping resources.

• The City accepts most major debit and credit cards. A small convenience fee will be added to card transactions.

For current listings and auction details, visit GovDeals.com.

The City’s Tourism and Marketing staff are responsible for the overall content of the web site, with each department contributing directly to their respective department pages.  The MIS Department assists with technical issues.

For the most up-to-date information about Mule Day visit https://muleday.com/.