ORDINANCE

ordinance (or-d<<schwa>>-n<<schwa>>nts). An authoritative law or decree; esp., a municipal regulation. • Municipal governments can pass ordinances on matters that the state

government allows to be regulated at the local level. — Also termed bylaw; municipal ordinance.

[Cases: Municipal Corporations  105. C.J.S. Municipal Corporations §§ 247–251.]

“An ordinance … may be purely administrative in nature, establishing offices, prescribing duties, or setting salaries; it may have to do with the routine or procedure of the governing body. Or it may be a governmental exercise of the power to control the conduct of the public — establishing rules which must be complied with, or prohibiting certain actions or conduct. In any event it is the determination of the sovereign power of the state as delegated to the municipality. It is a legislative enactment, within its sphere, as much as an act of the state legislature.” 1 Judith O’Gallagher, Municipal Ordinances § 1A.01, at 3 (2d ed. 1998).

[Blacks Law 8th]