The City Recorder's Office, under the direction of Betty R. Modrall, provides a variety of services to the citizens of Columbia.

Business License

The City of Columbia has adopted the State of Tennessee Business Act. This requires anyone planning to open a business within the city limits with a gross income of more than $3,000 to obtain a City Business License. Applications can be picked up at the front counter of City Hall or downloaded from our downloaded from our Public Records page. Upon receipt of your completed application, we will collect a fee of $20.00 and issue you a business license. Business licenses are renewed annually, with a percentage of your gross receipts to be paid along with the renewal fee. Renewal dates and percentage rates are determined by the type of business you will be conducting.

For any questions concerning your business license please contact
Kim Dale, Business License Clerk, in the City Recorder's Office.

Garbage Fee Exemption

The City of Columbia has a program that allows qualified individuals to be exempt from paying the monthly garbage pickup fee. You may qualify if you are 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the current year, or 100% totally and permanently disabled. The income limit for the elderly or disabled varies from year to year. It includes all sources of income from all persons living in the household. The power bill must be in the applicant's name. If you have any questions about whether you or someone you know may qualify, please contact the City Recorder's Office during business hours.

Permits

Alarm Permits - renewed annually
Beer Permits - renewed annually
Liquor License - renewed annually
Parade Permits - issued for any large gathering involving public streets and property in order to maintain traffic control
Peddler's Permits - issued for door-to-door solicitation within city limits
Taxi Driver Permits & Taxi Cab Permits - renewed annually
Transient Vendor Permits - issued for short term usage

Property Tax

The City Recorder's Office is responsible for the collection of all city property taxes and personal property taxes. Taxes are due and payable without penalty from November 1st through December 15th of the current tax year. If payment is not received by December 15th, penalty and interest will be added starting at .5% through the end of December, and then 1% per month beginning in January. An additional 1% will be added for each month that the tax goes unpaid. After a Notice of Suit letter from the City of Columbia to the property owner receives no response, all unpaid taxes are turned over to the Maury County Clerk and Master's Office for collection.

Tax Relief

The City of Columbia participates in the State Property Tax Relief Program. This program provides property owners meeting certain qualifications relief on a portion of their property taxes if they meet the following eligibility requirements. A homeowner may be eligible for City of Columbia property tax relief on the property where they reside (which must be their principal residence) if he or she is:

AN ELDERLY HOMEOWNER who will be at least 65 years of age by December 31 of the tax year for which they are applying, and the gross income from the previous year of all owners of the property and from all sources does not exceed the state limit

A DISABLED HOMEOWNER who is 100% totally and permanently disabled, and the gross income of all owners and sources for the previous year does not exceed the state limit

A DISABLED VETERAN HOMEOWNER who has acquired one hundred percent (100%)permanent total disability, as determined by the United States Veteran' Administration, and such disability resulted from having served as a prisoner of war, or acquired service-connected permanent and total disability or disabilities, as determined by the United States department of veteran's affair. A veteran with service-connected disability which resulted in paraplegia or permanent paralysis of both legs and lower body resulting from traumatic injury or disease to the spinal cord or brain, or loss, or loss of use, of two or more limbs, or legal blindness. NOTE: There is no income or age requirement for a qualified veteran.

A WIDOW OR WIDOWER OF A DISABLED VETERAN HOMEOWNER who was married to and living in the residence with the veteran who was receiving tax relief or was qualified to receive tax relief at the time of death. Spouses cannot qualify if they remarry. Note: There is no income or age requirement for a qualified widow(er).

A MOBILE HOMEOWNER meeting any of the above listed qualifications.

Traffic Court

The City Court Clerk works from within the City Recorder's Office, handling all traffic citations, parking tickets, and city ordinance violations according to the Judge's decree. Currently presiding over the Municipal Court is Judge Tom DuBois. Municipal Court is held each Thursday at 1:30 p.m. CST.

The City of Columbia offers repeat offenders the option of attending Driving School. The cost is $35.00 and the class is four hours long. The main benefit of attending this class is that upon completion of the course, your citation is not sent the the State of Tennessee, keeping your driving record clear of points. This is especially important to those that have a special license such as a CDL.

If you receive a citation and fail to address it, either by appearing in court or posting a cash bond, it does not magically disappear. The citation is turned over to the State of Tennessee to begin proceedings to suspend your driving privileges.

General Information