Columbia lawmakers to consider new tent regulations

Columbia officials are working on changes to local rules governing tents after a collapse in St. Louis last month killed one person and hurt 100 more.

Columbia Fire Battalion Chief Steve Sapp told city officials that fire marshals in other cities are discussing their tent permitting regulations and how far they should go to ensure public safety.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the city is hosting a public input session at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to discuss proposed changes.

Sapp says the current rule for tents is "one size fits all" and doesn't take into account the size of tents or how long they stay up.

A staff report submitted to the City Council in February noted enforcement of the city's tent regulations had been "spotty."