Staying in Housing

All residents are required to scan their Columbia University IDs at the guard’s desk upon entering the designated residence halls. This procedure helps maintain a secure environment and ensures that only authorized individuals can access the premises.

• Arrive at the designated check-in location at your scheduled time. This information will be communicated through your program coordinator.
• Bring a valid form of identification.
  • Acceptable forms of identification include: passport, foreign passport, driver license, driving permit, state ID, foreign driver license, foreign ID, high school picture ID, Columbia University ID
  • All identification documents must be valid and legible
• Receive your room access card and enjoy your stay!

All residents must remove their belongings by the check-out time at 11 a.m. If your program coordinator or you have arranged a different check-out time with Housing, you may check out then. Any items left behind after your check-out date and time will be deemed abandoned and will be discarded.

Any request for an extension must be submitted in writing to [email protected] ahead of your scheduled check-out date. Extensions will be reviewed by the housing team. Approval is contingent on availability with a charge of the nightly rate for each additional night if approved.

Cleaning Expectations and Responsibility

Residents are responsible for cleaning their assigned bedroom spaces, including the furnishings, appliances, and fixtures therein; and for maintaining satisfactory sanitation, garbage disposal, and safety standards. Responsibility for bathroom and kitchen cleaning varies by building.

To request the cleaning of a communal, custodial services-managed space, please contact the Housing Hospitality Desk at 212-854-2779 or at [email protected].

Trash & Recycling Policy

Residents are responsible for properly discarding trash and recycling and maintaining satisfactory sanitation and safety standards. Methods of trash disposal vary by building; please visit the Housing Location page to learn more.

• Residents must clean and separate recyclables from trash before they are placed in recycling receptacles.
• Do not discard heavy items down compactor chutes as they can damage the chutes, damaged chutes will be closed until repaired.
• Do not throw recyclable items (i.e. metal, hangers, paper waste, etc.) into the trash compactors. These items should be disposed at the building’s recycling station.

How to Clean Your Suite or Shared Bathroom

In some residence halls, residents are responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms. Watch the video below for tips on how to clean properly.

Housing prohibits the removal or alteration of any University-owned and provided furniture, fixtures, appliances, and locks. Residents must keep all furnishings in their room, including bed frames and mattresses. Due to space limitations, Housing cannot provide alternate storage for any furniture. Residents will be charged if any furniture or provided items are found missing or damaged.

For security and the consideration of other residents, summer group residents are not permitted to host visitors or overnight guests in the residence halls. Only registered summer group residents are allowed in the rooms and common areas.

Report any maintenance issues or repairs needed in your room or shared common space promptly to the Housing Hospitality Desk. Do not attempt to fix or alter any fixtures without proper authorization.

Keep your personal belongings secured within your room. While we strive to maintain a safe environment, the university is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

Pets are not allowed in residence halls or brownstones, except for service animals, assistance animals, and fish kept in half-gallon or smaller tanks.

Columbia University allows service and assistance animals in certain locations on campus. A service animal is any animal, typically a dog, trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. An Assistance animal is a dog, cat, or other domestic animal that provides emotional support and companionship. Residents are required to register service and assistance animals with Disability Services prior to arrival.

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited in all Columbia-owned and operated residence halls and brownstones.

• Banners, flags, nets, holiday lighting, cable wire, and hangers installed in such a way as to interfere with the operation of any fire safety equipment (i.e. sprinkler heads or smoke detectors). No items may be installed on/suspended from the ceilings.
• Candles, even if the item is strictly decorative
• "Live" holiday decorations such as wreaths or Christmas trees
• Deep fryers
• Drones
• Electric scooters or bikes
• Electronic cigarettes, vape pens, and Juuls
• Extension cords (only UL-listed surge protectors with shut-off safety functioning are allowed)
• Fog Machines
• Grills
• Halogen lamps
• Hookahs
• Hot plates
• Hoverboards, self-propelled scooters, and similar devices
• Illegal drugs and/or paraphernalia
• Incense, even if item is strictly decorative
• Immersion coils
• Lofted Beds
• Mattresses
• Motorcycles or any gas engine vehicles
• Non-flame-resistant decorations hung on room/suite doors or hallway bulletin boards.
• Personal washing machines/dryers
• Pets
• Signs, posters, lights, or decorations on the exterior of buildings or attached to windowpanes.

The possession, use, or distribution of explosives (includes, but is not limited to, fireworks and ammunition), guns (includes, but is not limited to, air, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects such as arrows, axes, machetes, nunchucks, throwing stars, or knives, including the storage of any item that falls within the category of a weapon in a vehicle parked on University property is prohibited. Other items include, but are not limited to, gunpowder, mace, martial arts weapons, and swords.

To the extent permitted by law, the University reserves the right to enter rooms to confiscate weapons for reasons of safety.

Prohibited Behaviors

The following behaviors and activities are prohibited in all Columbia-owned and operated residence halls and brownstones:

• Storage of flammables or explosives of any type
• Tampering with fire extinguishers, alarms, or other safety equipment
• Throwing of any items from windows and balconies
• Excessive noise
• Soliciting or commercial activities
• Actions that are inconsistent with city, state, and federal statutes
• Structural additions or modifications of any kind are not permitted to any part of a student room or residence hall
• Drawing, painting or nailing of any kind to any surface
• Removing or altering University-owned and provided furniture, fixtures, appliances, or locks

Please observe quiet hours between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM. During these hours, keep noise levels to a minimum in both individual rooms and common areas to respect the rest and comfort of fellow residents. 

Conference guests should treat common areas, such as lounges, kitchens, and study rooms, with respect. Clean up after yourself, dispose of trash properly, and avoid leaving personal belongings in shared spaces. Learn about cleaning policies and procedures including suites and shared bathrooms.

Smoking is strictly prohibited within the residence halls, including individual rooms and common areas. Click here for a campus map with designated smoking areas. Additionally, do not tamper with or disable fire safety equipment, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Please take a moment to review the University’s fire safety policies. 

If you require special accommodation due to an impairment, please speak with your program coordinator prior to arriving on campus. You can also contact Columbia Disability Services.