Minutes - City Council

City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

City Hall

Conference Room

1A/1B

Monday, March 16, 2026

5:00 PM

Pre-Council

701 E. Broadway

Columbia, MO

I. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Buffaloe called the meeting to order at approximately 5:00 p.m.

7 - Buffaloe, Foster, Waterman, Peters, Carroll, Sample, and Elwood

Present:

Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation Proposed Amendments

Attachments: Staff Report to Planning and Zoning Commission - June 2025

STR Regulation Revisions (Public Hearing Draft - June 2025)

Public Correspondence #1

Final PZC Correspondence - STR Revisions

Excerpts from Minutes

Clint Smith, Community Development Director, presented on regulations and

recommendations on short term rentals (STRs). Smith provided a history of the

regulations for STRs and previous actions taken by staff to adhere to the regulations.

Smith provided the goals of the amendments that are being proposed by City staff. This

includes reducing complexity, creating a direct path to licensure, and retaining integrity of

established limitations. The amendments proposed are eliminating Tier 1 and expanding

STR access for residents who are renting their primary residence. Setting a single night

limit for all STRs in Residential Zoned with CUP exceptions. Refining the factors that

require a conditional use permit.

Smith explained the differences between the tiers that the city currently uses to regulate

STRs and how each tier is permitted. Smith discussed the tier two Conditional Use

Permit (CUP) where STR owners must bring their rental properties to the Planning and

Zoning Commission (P&Z) for approval. Smith explained the number of applications

Community Development receives in a year and how many are approved, rejected, or

withdrawn for the previous year.

Council member Carroll asked to specify the differences in the tiers. Carroll asked where

staff made the decision to change the regulations. The Council asked about where the

STRs were rejected by P&Z and the City Council. Carroll is interested in the differences

in how council and staff evaluate properties and how the evaluation process is going to be

handled going forward. Sharon Jones, P&Z, said that staff does not reject or deny based

on only things like square footage and parking. They do not take into account weighted

factors like neighbors or upkeep of the home. Patrick Zenner, Development Services

Manager, explained why Community Development would like to add these regulations.

Zenner agreed that there will be more work for staff but it will hopefully increase

compliance with STRS throughout the community. The complaint that staff receive the

most from STR owners trying to get into compliance is that the process is arduous.

Smith discussed the factors that go into sorting STRs into their respective tiers. Smith

explained some exceptions that will be given to STRs who might be grandfathered into

the tiered system, based on how the STR had been run previously.

Zenner explained the conditions in which the City might ask for the STR owner to make

renovations to their property or to add restrictions to their STR to keep them in

compliance with the City’s STR regulations.

Carroll asked if the primary residence is being used as an STR if they need to add

additional parking. Staff said that was not required.

Smith explained the amended tiers and consolidating the tiers. Smith stated that if STRs

are in the correct zoning then they should not be sent to council.

Mayor Buffaloe asked about the checklist that Community Development uses for

approving STRS. Zenner explained what factors they use. This includes the proper

ownership of the property, size of bedrooms, parking, and distance between other STRS.

Zenner explained the code violations that Community Development might look at when

deciding to revoke a license for an STR. Zenner said that previous violations will not be

counted against owners who are trying to get in compliance with their applications.

Council member Peters arrived at approximately 5:50.

Council member Waterman asked about violations that owners had previously had with a

property. Zenner explained that it depends on whether they have since come into

compliance with City Ordinances.

Waterman asked how long the license is good with the city. Zenner said that a license

lasts for five years before it needs to be renewed and the process would be identical.

Licensure would need to be renewed through transfer of the property or an ownership

change.

Carroll wants to differentiate between investment companies using a CUP and a private

individual renting out a property they either live in or own as a spare property. Zenner

explained some reasoning as to why they would use the 120 nights Tier 1 structure or the

Conditional Use Permit that would need to go to either City Council or P&Z

Council member Elwood asked about STRs in proximity to schools. Smith said that the

Law Department will need to review the possibility of adding restrictions to STR being

near schools.

Carroll asked about providing notification to neighbors to new STRs and administrative

approval. Zenner explained how neighbors will be notified and the hotline that neighbors

can use to complain about violations. Zenner said one of the goals of the STR Ordinance

is to encourage more compliance and encourage neighbors to report violations. Smith

clarified that the notification system is still being worked out in city administration and not

a part of the ordinance. Zenner said that the goal of licensing is to keep STRs in

compliance with the number of occupants as well as increased reporting of neighbors.

Mayor Buffaloe asked staff to provide some data and some other context at another

pre-council meeting or work session. Smith said the next step will be to come back with

more information and possibly have the Department of Housing and Neighborhood

Services assist with the presentation to council at a future meeting.