Laws Governing Ordinances

The several states of the United States each maintain their own laws regarding the enactment, recording, and publication of ordinances and resolutions. Information about each state’s laws appear below.

Current as of January 12, 2012

Alabama

§ 11-3A-3. Adoption procedures for ordinances; administrative fees; penalties.

(a) Following the notice requirements set out in subsection (b), the county commission, by majority vote, may adopt ordinances for the implementation and enforcement of the powers set out in Section 11-3A-2. The county commission, in its discretion, may hold a separate public hearing on the adoption of the proposed ordinances except the vote on approval of a proposed ordinance shall be taken only at a regularly scheduled county commission meeting and only following notice as set out in subsection (b). The style of all ordinances shall be, “Be it ordained by the __________ County Commission as follows:” inserting the name of the county as the case may be.

All ordinances adopted by the county commission pursuant to this chapter shall be kept in a separate book maintained in the county commission office and on a county maintained website if one is available, and shall be available at all times for public inspection.

(b) Prior to the adoption of any ordinance pursuant to subsection (a), the county commission shall post notice of its intention to consider the adoption of the ordinance at the courthouse and at any other place it determines appropriate for a period of no less than 30 days. Notice shall also be published at least twice beginning three weeks prior to the county commission meeting at which the matter will be addressed in all newspapers published in the county that are authorized to publish legal advertisements. All notices shall state the date, time, and location of the meeting at which the proposed ordinance will be considered and shall advise where copies of all proposed ordinances may be obtained for review.

(c) Subject to any limitations set out in the constitution or the general laws of this state, the county commission may utilize the ordinance procedure in this section to establish administrative fees only for the purpose of administering the powers in subsection (a) of Section 11-3A-2, which shall not exceed the actual cost of the implementation and enforcement of any ordinance adopted under authority granted herein.

(d) The powers granted in this chapter shall not be construed to authorize any assessments, rates, charges, fees for services, or other similar monetary impositions not constituting taxes to be made or imposed against any person or property, unless the services related to the assessments, rates, charges, fees for services, or other similar monetary impositions may be provided to the person or the powers related thereto may be exercised with respect to the property.

(e) The county commission may establish and enforce administrative and civil penalties, including fines, for the enforcement of ordinances adopted under authority granted in this chapter. The fine shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense, however, the total fine shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). The ordinances, including any penalties and fines, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedures set out in subsections (a) and (b). All fines and penalties collected shall be paid into the county general fund of the county and earmarked for the administration of the ordinances adopted pursuant to this chapter. Compliance may also be pursued through civil or equitable action filed in the circuit court of the county seeking injunctive relief or other appropriate remedy.
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Alaska

§ 29.25.020. Ordinance procedure

(a) An ordinance is introduced in writing in the form required by the governing body.

(b) The following procedure governs the enactment of all ordinances, except emergency ordinances:

(1) an ordinance may be introduced by a member or committee of the governing body, or by the mayor or manager;

(2) an ordinance shall be set by the governing body for a public hearing by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes authorized on the question;

(3) at least five days before the public hearing a summary of the ordinance shall be published together with a notice of the time and place for the hearing;

(4) copies of the ordinance shall be available to all persons present at the hearing, or the ordinance shall be read in full;

(5) during the hearing the governing body shall hear all interested persons wishing to be heard;

(6) after the public hearing the governing body shall consider the ordinance, and may adopt it with or without amendment;

(7) the governing body shall print and make available copies of an ordinance that is adopted.

(d) This section does not apply to an ordinance proposed under AS 04.11.507(d).
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Arizona

§ 9-812. Publication of notices and ordinances

A. Notices of election, invitations for bids, notices of letting contracts, laws and ordinances, and other notices of a public character issued by authority of the governing body of any city or town, shall be published as provided by § 39-204.

B. In cases of laws or ordinances enacted on behalf of a private person, he shall pay the expense of publication, and may designate the newspaper.

§ 39-204. Publication of notice; time; place

A. When publication of a notice in a newspaper is directed or authorized by law, it shall be in a newspaper of general circulation printed in English.

B. If the number of times the notice is to be published is not specified, publication shall be:

1. If in a weekly newspaper, once each week for two consecutive weeks.

2. If in a daily newspaper, four consecutive times.

C. If the place of publication of the notice is not specified, publication shall be:

1. If by a state officer, board, or commission, in a newspaper printed and published within the county where the state capital is located.

2. If by a county officer, board, or commission, or by any person in a county, in a newspaper printed and published within such county. If no such newspaper is printed and published within the county, publication may be made in a newspaper of general circulation in the county which is printed in an adjoining county.

3. If by a district, city or town officer, board, or commission, or by any person in a district, city or town, in a newspaper printed and published within the territorial limits thereof. If no such newspaper is printed and published within the limits thereof, publication may be made in a newspaper printed and published in the county in which the district, city or town is located.
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Arkansas

§ 14-55-206. Notice by publication

(a)(1)(A) All bylaws or ordinances of a general or permanent nature and all those imposing any fine, penalty, or forfeiture shall be published in some newspaper published in the municipality.

(B) In municipalities in which no newspaper is published, written or printed notice posted in five (5) of the most public places designated by the governing body in an ordinance or minutes of the governing body shall be deemed a sufficient publication of any law or ordinance.

(2) It shall be deemed a sufficient defense to any suit or prosecution of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture to show that no notice was given as provided herein.

(b) As to ordinances establishing rules and regulations for zoning, construction of buildings, the installation of plumbing, the installation of electric wiring, or other similar work, where such rules and regulations have been printed as a code in book form, the code or provisions thereof may be published by the municipality by reference to title of the code without further publication or posting thereof. However, no fewer than three (3) copies of the code shall be filed for use and examination by the public in the office of the clerk or recorder of the municipality after the adoption thereof if there is no electronic form of the code available for examination by the public.
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California

§ 36933. Publication

(a) Within 15 days after its passage, the city clerk shall cause each ordinance to be published at least once, with the names of those city council members voting for and against the ordinance, in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the city, or if there is none, he or she shall cause it to be posted in at least three public places in the city or published in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in the county and circulated in the city. In cities incorporated less than one year, the city council may determine whether ordinances are to be published or posted. Ordinances shall not be published in a newspaper if the charge exceeds the customary rate charged by the newspaper for publication of private legal notices, but these ordinances shall be posted in the manner and at the time required by this section.

(b) Except as provided in Section 36937, an ordinance shall not take effect or be valid unless it is published or posted in substantially the manner and at the time required by this section.

(c) The publication or posting of ordinances, as required by subdivision (a), may be satisfied by either of the following actions:

(1) The city council may publish a summary of a proposed ordinance or proposed amendment to an existing ordinance. The summary shall be prepared by an official designated by the city council. A summary shall be published and a certified copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance or proposed amendment shall be posted in the office of the city clerk at least five days prior to the city council meeting at which the proposed ordinance or amendment or alteration thereto is to be adopted. Within 15 days after adoption of the ordinance or amendment, the city council shall publish a summary of the ordinance or amendment with the names of those city council members voting for and against the ordinance or amendment and the city clerk shall post in the office of the city clerk a certified copy of the full text of the adopted ordinance or amendment along with the names of those city council members voting for and against the ordinance or amendment; or

(2) If the city official designated by the city council determines that it is not feasible to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed or adopted ordinance or amendment, and if the city council so orders, a display advertisement of at least one-quarter of a page in a newspaper of general circulation in the city shall be published at least five days prior to the city council meeting at which the proposed ordinance or amendment or alteration thereto is to be adopted. Within 15 days after adoption of the ordinance or amendment, a display advertisement of at least one-quarter of a page shall be published. The advertisement shall indicate the general nature of, and provide information about, the proposed or adopted ordinance or amendment, including information sufficient to enable the public to obtain copies of the complete text of the ordinance or amendment, and the names of those city council members voting for and against the ordinance or amendment.

(d)(1) Any member of the public may file with the city clerk, or any other person designated by the governing body to receive these requests, a request for notice of specific proposed ordinances or proposed amendments to ordinances.

(2) Notice pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be mailed or otherwise transmitted at least five days before the council is scheduled to take action on the proposed ordinances or proposed amendments to an ordinance. Notice may be given by written notice properly mailed or by e-mail if the requesting member of the public provides an e-mail address. Notice may be in the form specified in either paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (c), as determined by the city council.

(3) As an alternative to providing notice as requested of specific proposed ordinances or proposed amendments to ordinances, the city clerk, or other person designated by the governing body, may place the requesting member of the public on a general mailing list that gives timely notice of all governing body public meetings at which proposed ordinances or proposed amendments to ordinances may be heard, as provided in Section 54954.1. If this alternative is selected, the requesting member of the public shall be so advised.

(4) The city may charge a fee that is reasonably related to the costs of providing notice pursuant to this subdivision. The city may require each request to be annually renewed.

(5) Failure of the requesting person to receive the information pursuant to this subdivision shall not constitute grounds for any court to invalidate an otherwise properly adopted ordinance or amendment to an ordinance.
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Colorado

§ 31-16-105. Record and publication of ordinances

All ordinances, as soon as may be after their adoption, shall be recorded in a book kept for that purpose and shall be authenticated by the signature of the presiding officer of the governing body and the clerk. All ordinances of a general or permanent nature and those imposing any fine, penalty, or forfeiture, following adoption and, if required by ordinance adopted pursuant to section 31-4-102(3) or 31-4-302, compliance with the provisions of section 31-16-104, shall be published in some newspaper published within the limits of the city or town or, if there are none, in some newspaper of general circulation in the city or town. It is a sufficient defense to any suit or prosecution for such fine, penalty, or forfeiture to show that no publication was made. If there is no newspaper published or having a general circulation within the limits of the city or town, then, upon a resolution being passed by the governing body to that effect, ordinances may be published by posting copies thereof in three public places within the limits of the city or town, to be designated by the governing body. Except for ordinances calling for special elections or necessary to the immediate preservation of the public health or safety and containing the reasons making the same necessary in a separate section, such ordinances shall not take effect and be in force before thirty days after they have been so published. The excepted ordinances shall take effect upon adoption and, if required by ordinance adopted pursuant to section 31-4-102(3) or 31-4-302, compliance with the provisions of section 31-16-104 if they are adopted by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of the governing body of the city or town. The book of ordinances provided for in this section shall be taken and considered in all courts of this state as prima facie evidence that such ordinances have been published as provided by law. Any municipality may determine at a regular or special election to meet the requirements of this section and section 31-16-106 by publishing ordinances by title only rather than by publishing the ordinance in full. No municipality shall call a special election for the sole purpose of determining the issue of whether the municipality should publish new ordinances in full or by title only.

§ 31-16-106. Reading before city council–publication

No ordinance shall be adopted by any city council of any city unless the same has been previously introduced and read at a preceding regular or special meeting of such city council and published in full in the manner provided in section 31-16-105 at least ten days before its adoption. The previous introduction of the ordinance at such preceding meeting of the city council and the fact of its publication shall appear in the certificate and the attestation of the clerk on the ordinance after its adoption. The provisions of section 31-16-105 shall apply to any ordinance adopted by a city council; except that, if publication after introduction was in a newspaper, publication after adoption may be in the same newspaper by title only and shall contain the date of the initial publication and shall reprint in full any section, subsection, or paragraph of the ordinance which was amended following the initial publication. Publication following adoption may be in full at the discretion of the city council.
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Connecticut

§ 7-191. Charters, charter amendments and home rule ordinance amendments; Hearings; draft and final report; public notice; referendum; effective date; filing of copies with Secretary of the State; file maintained by State Library

(a) The commission shall hold at least two public hearings on the proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments; one prior to the beginning of any substantive work on such charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments, and one after the draft report to the appointing authority has been completed, but not submitted, after which hearings the commission may amend such report. The commission may hold such other public hearings as it deems necessary.

(b) The commission shall submit its draft report, including the proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments, to the clerk of the municipality, who shall transmit such report to the appointing authority. The appointing authority shall hold at least one public hearing on the draft report and shall hold its last hearing not later than forty-five days after the submission of the draft report to such clerk. Not later than fifteen days after its last hearing, the appointing authority shall make recommendations to the commission for such changes in the draft report as it deems desirable.

(c) If the appointing authority makes no recommendations for changes in the draft report to the commission within such fifteen days, the report of the commission shall be final and the appointing authority shall act on such report. If the appointing authority makes recommendations for changes in the draft report to the commission, the commission shall confer with the appointing authority concerning any such recommendations and may amend any provisions of the proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments, in accordance with such recommendations, or the commission may reject such recommendations. In either case the commission shall make its final report to the appointing authority not later than thirty days after receiving such recommendations.

(d) Not later than fifteen days after receiving the final report, the appointing authority, by a majority vote of its entire membership, shall either approve the proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments or reject the same or separate provisions thereof. Not later than forty-five days after a vote of the appointing authority to reject such matter, a petition for a referendum thereon, signed by not less than ten per cent of the electors of such municipality, as determined by the last-completed registry list thereof, and filed and certified in accordance with the provisions of section 7-188, may be presented to the appointing authority. Not later than thirty days after approval by the appointing authority or the certification of such a petition (1) the proposed charter shall be published in full at least once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality, or (2) the portion of the charter or home rule ordinance being amended shall be published at least once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the municipality with a notice that a complete copy of the charter or home rule ordinance and amendment is available in the town clerk’s office and that a copy shall be mailed to any person who requests a copy. The town clerk shall mail or otherwise provide such copy to any person who requests a copy.

(e) The appointing authority shall, by a majority vote of its entire membership, determine whether the proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments shall be submitted to the electors for approval or rejection at a regular election or at a special election warned and held for that purpose, which shall be held not later than fifteen months after either the approval by the appointing authority or the certification of a petition for a referendum.

(f) The proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments shall be prepared for the ballot by the appointing authority and may be submitted in the form of one or several questions; and, if approved by a majority of the electors of the municipality voting thereon at a regular election or if approved by a majority which number equals at least fifteen per cent of the electors of the municipality as determined by the last-completed active registry list of such municipality at a special election, such proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments shall become effective thirty days after such approval unless an effective date or dates are specified therein, in which event the date or dates specified shall prevail.

(g) Not later than thirty days after the approval by the electors of any proposed charter, charter amendments or home rule ordinance amendments, the town or city clerk shall file, with the Secretary of the State, (1) three certified copies thereof, with the effective date or dates indicated thereon, and (2) in the case of the approval of charter or home rule ordinance amendments, three certified copies of the complete charter or ordinance incorporating such amendments. The Secretary of the State shall distribute two copies, whether tangible or intangible in form, to the State Library, where a file of such charters, charter amendments and home rule ordinance amendments shall be kept for public inspection.
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Delaware

§ 812. Publication of proposed charter, charter amendment or repeal proposition and resolution

At least 30 days before an election thereon, notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipal corporation that copies of a proposed charter, charter amendment or repeal proposition and resolution are on file in the office of the clerk or other chief recording officer of the legislative body of the municipal corporation and that a copy will be furnished by the clerk or other chief recording officer to any qualified voter or taxpayer of the municipal corporation upon request.
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Florida

166.041. Procedures for adoption of ordinances and resolutions

(1) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless some other meaning is plainly indicated:

(a) “Ordinance” means an official legislative action of a governing body, which action is a regulation of a general and permanent nature and enforceable as a local law.

(b) “Resolution” means an expression of a governing body concerning matters of administration, an expression of a temporary character, or a provision for the disposition of a particular item of the administrative business of the governing body.

(2) Each ordinance or resolution shall be introduced in writing and shall embrace but one subject and matters properly connected therewith. The subject shall be clearly stated in the title. No ordinance shall be revised or amended by reference to its title only. Ordinances to revise or amend shall set out in full the revised or amended act or section or subsection or paragraph of a section or subsection.

(3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), a proposed ordinance may be read by title, or in full, on at least 2 separate days and shall, at least 10 days prior to adoption, be noticed once in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. The notice of proposed enactment shall state the date, time, and place of the meeting; the title or titles of proposed ordinances; and the place or places within the municipality where such proposed ordinances may be inspected by the public. The notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance.

(b) The governing body of a municipality may, by a two-thirds vote, enact an emergency ordinance without complying with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection. However, no emergency ordinance or resolution shall be enacted which establishes or amends the actual zoning map designation of a parcel or parcels of land or that changes the actual list of permitted, conditional, or prohibited uses within a zoning category. Emergency enactment procedures for land use plans adopted pursuant to part II of chapter 163 shall be pursuant to that part.

(c) Ordinances initiated by other than the municipality that change the actual zoning map designation of a parcel or parcels of land shall be enacted pursuant to paragraph (a). Ordinances that change the actual list of permitted, conditional, or prohibited uses within a zoning category, or ordinances initiated by the municipality that change the actual zoning map designation of a parcel or parcels of land shall be enacted pursuant to the following procedure:

1. In cases in which the proposed ordinance changes the actual zoning map designation for a parcel or parcels of land involving less than 10 contiguous acres, the governing body shall direct the clerk of the governing body to notify by mail each real property owner whose land the municipality will redesignate by enactment of the ordinance and whose address is known by reference to the latest ad valorem tax records. The notice shall state the substance of the proposed ordinance as it affects that property owner and shall set a time and place for one or more public hearings on such ordinance. Such notice shall be given at least 30 days prior to the date set for the public hearing, and a copy of the notice shall be kept available for public inspection during the regular business hours of the office of the clerk of the governing body. The governing body shall hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance and may, upon the conclusion of the hearing, immediately adopt the ordinance.

2. In cases in which the proposed ordinance changes the actual list of permitted, conditional, or prohibited uses within a zoning category, or changes the actual zoning map designation of a parcel or parcels of land involving 10 contiguous acres or more, the governing body shall provide for public notice and hearings as follows:

a. The local governing body shall hold two advertised public hearings on the proposed ordinance. At least one hearing shall be held after 5 p.m. on a weekday, unless the local governing body, by a majority plus one vote, elects to conduct that hearing at another time of day. The first public hearing shall be held at least 7 days after the day that the first advertisement is published. The second hearing shall be held at least 10 days after the first hearing and shall be advertised at least 5 days prior to the public hearing.

b. The required advertisements shall be no less than 2 columns wide by 10 inches long in a standard size or a tabloid size newspaper, and the headline in the advertisement shall be in a type no smaller than 18 point. The advertisement shall not be placed in that portion of the newspaper where legal notices and classified advertisements appear. The advertisement shall be placed in a newspaper of general paid circulation in the municipality and of general interest and readership in the municipality, not one of limited subject matter, pursuant to chapter 50. It is the legislative intent that, whenever possible, the advertisement appear in a newspaper that is published at least 5 days a week unless the only newspaper in the municipality is published less than 5 days a week. The advertisement shall be in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF (TYPE OF) CHANGE

The (name of local governmental unit) proposes to adopt the following ordinance: (title of the ordinance) .

A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on (date and time) at (meeting place) .

Except for amendments which change the actual list of permitted, conditional, or prohibited uses within a zoning category, the advertisement shall contain a geographic location map which clearly indicates the area covered by the proposed ordinance. The map shall include major street names as a means of identification of the general area.

c. In lieu of publishing the advertisement set out in this paragraph, the municipality may mail a notice to each person owning real property within the area covered by the ordinance. Such notice shall clearly explain the proposed ordinance and shall notify the person of the time, place, and location of any public hearing on the proposed ordinance.

(4) A majority of the members of the governing body shall constitute a quorum. An affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum present is necessary to enact any ordinance or adopt any resolution; except that two-thirds of the membership of the board is required to enact an emergency ordinance. On final passage, the vote of each member of the governing body voting shall be entered on the official record of the meeting. All ordinances or resolutions passed by the governing body shall become effective 10 days after passage or as otherwise provided therein.

(5) Every ordinance or resolution shall, upon its final passage, be recorded in a book kept for that purpose and shall be signed by the presiding officer and the clerk of the governing body.

(6) The procedure as set forth herein shall constitute a uniform method for the adoption and enactment of municipal ordinances and resolutions and shall be taken as cumulative to other methods now provided by law for adoption and enactment of municipal ordinances and resolutions. By future ordinance or charter amendment, a municipality may specify additional requirements for the adoption or enactment of ordinances or resolutions or prescribe procedures in greater detail than contained herein. However, a municipality shall not have the power or authority to lessen or reduce the requirements of this section or other requirements as provided by general law.

(7) Five years after the adoption of any ordinance or resolution adopted after the effective date of this act, no cause of action shall be commenced as to the validity of an ordinance or resolution based on the failure to strictly adhere to the provisions contained in this section. After 5 years, substantial compliance with the provisions contained in this section shall be a defense to an action to invalidate an ordinance or resolution for failure to comply with the provisions contained in this section. Without limitation, the common law doctrines of laches and waiver are valid defenses to any action challenging the validity of an ordinance or resolution based on failure to strictly adhere to the provisions contained in this section. Standing to initiate a challenge to the adoption of an ordinance or resolution based on a failure to strictly adhere to the provisions contained in this section shall be limited to a person who was entitled to actual or constructive notice at the time the ordinance or resolution was adopted. Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the standing requirements under part II of chapter 163.

(8) The notice procedures required by this section are established as minimum notice procedures.
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Georgia

§ 36-35-5. Filing and publication of laws

No amendment or revision of any charter made pursuant to this chapter shall become effective until a copy of the amendment or revision, a copy of the required notice of publication, and an affidavit of a duly authorized representative of the newspaper in which the notice was published, to the effect that the notice has been published as provided in this chapter, has been filed with the Secretary of State and in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county of the legal situs of the municipal corporation. The Secretary of State shall provide for the publication and distribution of all such amendments and revisions at least annually.
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Hawaii

46-2. Publication or advertising of ordinances, amendments, resolutions, and bills

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, whenever any law requires the publication or advertisement of ordinances, amendments, resolutions, or bills, the publication or advertisement shall be in a newspaper of general circulation within the county concerned, and need not be in a daily newspaper.
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Idaho

§ 50-901. Ordinances–Style–Publication–When effective–Immediate operation in emergencies

The style of all ordinances shall be: “Be it ordained by the mayor and council of the city of ………” and all ordinances of a general nature, unless otherwise required by law, shall, before they take effect and within one (1) month after they are passed, be published in full or by summary as provided in section 50-901A, Idaho Code, in at least one (1) issue of the official newspaper of the city, or mailed as provided in section 60-109A, Idaho Code; provided, however, that in cases of riot, infections or contagious disease, or other impending danger requiring immediate enforcement, such ordinances shall take effect upon the proclamation of the mayor or president of the council, posted in at least five (5) public places of the city; provided further, that nationally recognized codes such as, but not limited to, those establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration or repair of buildings, the installation of plumbing, the installation of electric wiring, fire prevention, gas piping installations, sanitary regulations, health measures, and statutes of the state of Idaho such as, but not limited to, those relating to the operation of motor vehicles, equipment of motor vehicles, traffic control devices, motor vehicle laws, liquor and beer laws, housing, construction, health and sanitation, may be adopted by a city council without including more than a particular reference to such code, and without publication or posting thereof, if adoption of such code be made in a regularly adopted and published ordinance; provided further, that at least one (1) copy of the supplemental code, duly certified by the city clerk, shall have been filed for use and examination by the public in the office of the clerk of the city prior to the adoption of the ordinance by the city council. Following its adoption by the city, one (1) copy of the supplemental code shall be retained by the city, which shall be filed in the office of the city clerk.

50-901A. Summarization of ordinances permitted–Requirements

(1) In lieu of publishing the entire ordinance under section 50-901, Idaho Code, the city may publish a summary of the ordinance which summary shall be approved by the governing body and which shall include:

(a) The name of the city;

(b) The formal identification or citation number of the ordinance;

(d) A summary of the principal provisions of the ordinance, including penalties provided and the effective date;

(e) Any other information necessary to provide an accurate summary; and

(f) A statement that the full text is available at the city hall.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section notwithstanding, whenever any publication is made under this section and the proposed or adopted ordinance contains legal descriptions, or contains provisions regarding taxation or penalties concerning real property, then the sections containing this matter shall be published in full and shall not be summarized. When a legal description of real property is involved, the notice shall also include the street address or addresses of the property described, if any. In the case of descriptions covering one or more street addresses, the street addresses of the corners of the area described shall meet this requirement. Maps may be substituted for written legal description of property provided they contain sufficient detail to clearly define the area with which the ordinance is concerned.

(3) Before submission of a summary to a newspaper for publication under this section, the legal advisor of the city shall sign a statement, which shall be filed with the ordinance, that the summary is true and complete and provides adequate notice to the public.

(4) The full text of any ordinance which is summarized by publication under this section shall be promptly provided by the city clerk to any citizen on personal request.
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Illinois

5/1-2-4. Publication of ordinances; effective date

§ 1-2-4. All ordinances of cities, villages and incorporated towns imposing any fine, penalty, imprisonment, or forfeiture, or making any appropriation, shall (1) be printed or published in book or pamphlet form, published by authority of the corporate authorities, or (2) be published at least once, within 30 days after passage, in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the municipality. If there is an error in printing, the publishing requirement of this Act shall be satisfied if those portions of the ordinance that were erroneously printed are republished, correctly, within 30 days after the original publication that contained the error. The fact that an error occurred in publication shall not affect the effective date of the ordinance so published. If the error in printing is not corrected within 30 days after the date of the original publication that contained the error, as provided in the preceding sentence, the corporate authorities may by ordinance declare the ordinance that was erroneously published to be nevertheless valid and in effect no sooner than the tenth day after the date of the original publication, notwithstanding the error in publication, and shall order the original ordinance to be published once more within 30 days after the passage of the validating ordinance. In municipalities with less than 500 population in which no newspaper is published, publication may instead be made by posting a notice in 3 prominent places within the municipality. An annual appropriation ordinance adopted under Section 8-2-9 shall take effect upon passage, but no other ordinance described in this paragraph shall take effect until 10 days after it is so published, except that an ordinance imposing a municipal retailers’ occupation tax adopted under Section 8-11-1, or a Tourism, Convention and Other Special Events Promotion Tax adopted under Section 8-3-13, or effecting a change in the rate thereof shall take effect on the first day of the month next following the expiration of the 30 day publication period. However, ordinances establishing rules and regulations for the construction of buildings or any part thereof, or for the development or operation of camps accommodating persons in house trailers, house cars, cabins or tents, where such rules and regulations have been previously printed in book or pamphlet form, may by their terms provide for the adoption of such rules and regulations or portions thereof by reference thereto without further printing, or publication, if not less than one copy of such rules and regulations in book or pamphlet form has been filed in the office of the clerk of the municipality for use and examination by the public at least 30 days prior to the adoption thereof.

All other ordinances, resolutions and motions, shall take effect upon their passage unless they otherwise provide.

This Section applies to incorporated towns even if the Section’s provisions are in conflict with the charters of such incorporated towns.

Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, any ordinance which contains a statement of its urgency in the preamble or body thereof, other than an ordinance adopted under Article 8 of this Code, [FN1] may take effect immediately upon its passage provided that the corporate authorities, by a vote of 2/3 of all the members then holding office, so direct. The decision of the corporate authorities as to the urgency of any ordinance shall not be subject to judicial review except for an abuse of discretion.
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Indiana

36-5-2-10 Adoption, amendment, or repeal of ordinance, order, or resolution

Sec. 10. (a) An ordinance, order, or resolution passed by the legislative body is considered adopted when it is signed by the executive. If required by statute, an adopted ordinance, order, or resolution must be promulgated or published before it takes effect.

(b) An ordinance prescribing a penalty for a violation must, before it takes effect, be published in the manner prescribed by IC 5-3-1, unless:

(1) it is published under IC 36-1-5; or

(2) it declares an emergency requiring its immediate effectiveness and is posted in:

(A) one (1) public place in each district in the town; or

(B) a number of public places in the town equal to the number of town legislative body members, if the town has abolished legislative body districts under section 4.1 of this chapter.

(c) This section (other than subsection (e)) does not apply to a zoning ordinance or amendment to a zoning ordinance, or a resolution approving a comprehensive plan, that is adopted under IC 36-7.

(d) An ordinance increasing a building permit fee on new development must:

(1) be published:

(A) one (1) time in accordance with IC 5-3-1; and

(B) not later than thirty (30) days after the ordinance is adopted by the legislative body in accordance with IC 5-3-1; and

(2) delay the implementation of the fee increase for ninety (90) days after the date the ordinance is published under subdivision (1).

(e) Subject to subsection (i), the legislative body shall:

(1) subject to subsection (f), give written notice to the department of environmental management not later than sixty (60) days before amendment or repeal of an environmental restrictive ordinance; and

(2) give written notice to the department of environmental management not later than thirty (30) days after passage, amendment, or repeal of an environmental restrictive ordinance.

(f) Upon written request by the legislative body, the department of environmental management may waive the notice requirement of subsection (e)(1).

(g) An environmental restrictive ordinance passed or amended after 2009 by the legislative body must state the notice requirements of subsection (e).

(h) The failure of an environmental restrictive ordinance to comply with subsection (g) does not void the ordinance.

(i) The notice requirements of subsection (e) apply only if the municipal corporation received under IC 13-25-5-8.5(f) written notice that the department is relying on the environmental restrictive ordinance referred to in subsection (e) as part of a risk based remediation proposal:

(1) approved by the department; and

(2) conducted under IC 13-22, IC 13-23, IC 13-24, IC 13-25-4, or IC 13-25-5.

5-3-1-2 Public hearings or meetings, elections, etc.; requirements for publication of notice; posting in lieu of publication

Sec. 2. (a) This section applies only when notice of an event is required to be given by publication in accordance with this chapter.

(b) If the event is a public hearing or meeting concerning any matter not specifically mentioned in subsection (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) notice shall be published one (1) time, at least ten (10) days before the date of the hearing or meeting.

(c) If the event is an election, notice shall be published one (1) time, at least ten (10) days before the date of the election.

(d) If the event is a sale of bonds, notes, or warrants, notice shall be published two (2) times, at least one (1) week apart, with:

(1) the first publication made at least fifteen (15) days before the date of the sale; and

(2) the second publication made at least three (3) days before the date of the sale.

(e) If the event is the receiving of bids, notice shall be published two (2) times, at least one (1) week apart, with the second publication made at least seven (7) days before the date the bids will be received.

(f) If the event is the establishment of a cumulative or sinking fund, notice of the proposal and of the public hearing that is required to be held by the political subdivision shall be published two (2) times, at least one (1) week apart, with the second publication made at least three (3) days before the date of the hearing.

(g) If the event is the submission of a proposal adopted by a political subdivision for a cumulative or sinking fund for the approval of the department of local government finance, the notice of the submission shall be published one (1) time. The political subdivision shall publish the notice when directed to do so by the department of local government finance.

(h) If the event is the required publication of an ordinance, notice of the passage of the ordinance shall be published one (1) time within thirty (30) days after the passage of the ordinance.

(i) If the event is one about which notice is required to be published after the event, notice shall be published one (1) time within thirty (30) days after the date of the event.

(j) If the event is anything else, notice shall be published two (2) times, at least one (1) week apart, with the second publication made at least three (3) days before the event.

(k) If any officer charged with the duty of publishing any notice required by law is unable to procure advertisement:

(1) at the price fixed by law;

(2) because the newspaper refuses to publish the advertisement; or

(3) because the newspaper refuses to post the advertisement on the newspaper’s Internet web site (if required under section 1.5 of this chapter);

it is sufficient for the officer to post printed notices in three (3) prominent places in the political subdivision, instead of publication of the notice in newspapers and on an Internet web site (if required under section 1.5 of this chapter).

(l) If a notice of budget estimates for a political subdivision is published as required in IC 6-1.1-17-3, and the published notice contains an error due to the fault of a newspaper, the notice as presented for publication is a valid notice under this chapter.

(m) Notwithstanding subsection (j), if a notice of budget estimates for a political subdivision is published as required in IC 6-1.1-17-3, and if the notice is not published at least ten (10) days before the date fixed for the public hearing on the budget estimate due to the fault of a newspaper, the notice is a valid notice under this chapter if it is published one (1) time at least three (3) days before the hearing.
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Iowa

362.3. Publication of notices

1. Unless otherwise provided by state law:

a. If notice of an election, hearing, or other official action is required by the city code, the notice must be published at least once, not less than four nor more than twenty days before the date of the election, hearing, or other action.

b. A publication required by the city code must be in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having general circulation in the city. However, if the city has a population of two hundred or less, or in the case of ordinances and amendments to be published in a city in which no newspaper is published, a publication may be made by posting in three public places in the city which have been permanently designated by ordinance.

2. In the case of notices of elections, a city with a population of two hundred or less meets the publication requirement of this section by posting notices of elections in three public places which have been designated by ordinance.

380.8. Code of ordinances published

1. a. A city shall compile a code of ordinances containing all of the city ordinances in effect, except grade ordinances, bond ordinances, zoning map ordinances, ordinances vacating streets and alleys, and ordinances containing legal descriptions of urban revitalization areas and urban renewal areas.

b. A city may maintain a code of ordinances either by compiling at least annually a supplement to the code of ordinances consisting of all new ordinances and amendments to ordinances which became effective during the previous year and adopting the supplement by resolution or by adding at least annually new ordinances and amendments to ordinances to the code of ordinances itself.

c. A city which does not maintain the city code of ordinances as provided in paragraph “b” shall compile a code of ordinances at least once every five years.

2. a. If a proposed code of ordinances contains only existing ordinances without change in substance, the council may adopt the code by ordinance.

b. If a proposed code of ordinances contains a new ordinance or an amendment to existing ordinances, the council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed code before adoption. The clerk shall publish notice of the hearing as provided in section 362.3. Copies of the proposed code of ordinances must be available at the city clerk’s office and the notice must so state. Within thirty days after the hearing, the council may adopt the proposed code of ordinances. A new ordinance or an amendment to an existing ordinance becomes effective upon publication of the ordinance adopting the code of ordinances unless a subsequent effective date is provided within an ordinance. If the council substantially amends the proposed code of ordinances after the hearing, notice and hearing must be repeated before the code may be adopted.

3. A code of ordinances compiled and maintained at least annually, or compiled at least once every five years, is presumptive evidence of the passage, publication, and content of the ordinances codified therein as of the date of the clerk’s certification of the ordinance adopting the code or supplement.
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Kansas

12-3007. Publication; effective date

The city clerk shall cause all ordinances, except appropriation ordinances, as soon as practicable after they have been passed and signed, passed over the mayor’s veto or will take effect without signature, to be published once in the official city newspaper, unless a statute requires more publications. Ordinances shall take effect the day of publication unless a different and later day is stated in the ordinance or otherwise specified by statute: Provided, That appropriation ordinances shall take effect upon passage. The publisher shall print in a line preceding the number of the ordinance a statement in parentheses as follows: (Published ____, 19____), giving the month, day and year. The manner of publication and effective date of codifications shall be as hereinafter provided.
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Kentucky

67.077 Treatment of proposed ordinance; incorporation of material into ordinance by reference; section not applicable to charter county, urban-county government, or consolidated local government

(1) No county ordinance shall be passed until it has been read on two (2) separate days, but ordinances may be read by title and a summary only. A proposed ordinance may be amended by the fiscal court after its first reading and prior to its adoption. All amendments shall be proposed in writing, and only by setting out in full each amended section.

(2) No county ordinance shall be passed until it has been published pursuant to KRS Chapter 424. Prior to passage, ordinances may be published by summary. Publication shall include the time, date, and place at which the county ordinance will be considered, and a place within the county where a copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance is available for public inspection. Publication of amendments to a proposed ordinance shall be required, pursuant to KRS Chapter 424, prior to its adoption, and amendments shall be filed with the full text of the proposed ordinance that is available for public inspection. If consideration for passage is continued from the initial meeting to a subsequent date, no further publication shall be necessary if at each meeting the time, date, and place of the next meeting are announced.

(3) All county ordinances and amendments shall be published after passage and may be published in full or in summary form at the discretion of the fiscal court. If applicable, a sketch, drawing, or map, together with a narrative description written in layman’s terms, may be used in lieu of metes and bounds descriptions. If published in summary form, publication shall contain notice of a place in the county where the full text of the ordinance or amendment is available for public inspection.

(4) Traffic, building, housing, plumbing, electrical, safety, and other self-contained codes may be adopted by reference if a copy of the code is kept with the adopting ordinance and is made a part of the permanent records of the county.

(5) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable in counties that have pursuant to KRS 67.830 adopted a charter county form of government or pursuant to KRS Chapter 67A adopted an urban-county form of government or pursuant to KRS Chapter 67C adopted a consolidated local government.
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Louisiana

§ 406. Enactment, recording, and publication of ordinances and resolutions

A. (1) Any law enacted by a board of aldermen shall be by ordinance. The style of all ordinances shall be: “Be it ordained by the board of aldermen of the City (or Town or Village, as the case may be) of ……..” No ordinance shall be adopted except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board.

(2) Any act of the board which is not law shall be by resolution. A resolution shall be approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board present at a meeting. No resolution shall require the signature or other action of the mayor to become effective.

(3) Any act of the board which would provide for the appropriation of funds, the incurrence of debt, or the issuance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness shall be by ordinance. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the board may by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board require the expenditure of funds previously appropriated. Such resolution shall be presented to the mayor within three days after its adoption for his approval or disapproval in accordance with and subject to Subsection C of this Section.

B. (1) A proposed ordinance may be introduced by any alderman at any board meeting. Each proposed ordinance shall be in writing. An ordinance shall contain only one subject which shall be indicated in its title except for ordinances involving the annual operating budget, a capital improvements budget, or a codification of municipal ordinances.

(2) After a proposed ordinance has been introduced, copies of it shall be provided to all members of the board and the mayor. The title of a proposed ordinance, except those specifically authorized by R.S. 33:405(D), shall be published once in the municipality’s official journal. The notice shall indicate the time and place where the board will consider its adoption. No ordinance, except one authorized by R.S. 33:405(D), shall be adopted until a public hearing on it has been held. No ordinance, except one authorized by R.S. 33:405(D), can be adopted at the meeting at which it is introduced.

(3) Each proposed amendment to an ordinance shall be presented in writing or reduced to writing before its final consideration. An amendment to a proposed ordinance shall not nullify the purpose of the proposed ordinance nor, except for ordinances involving the annual operating budget, a capital improvements budget, or a codification of municipal ordinances, add a new subject matter to it.

(4) A proposed ordinance shall be read by the title when called for final passage. The vote on an ordinance at final passage shall be taken by “yeas” and “nays”, and the municipal clerk shall enter the names of the aldermen voting for and against each proposed ordinance or amendment on the municipal minutes.

C. (1) Every ordinance adopted by the board of aldermen shall be signed by the municipal clerk and presented by the municipal clerk to the mayor within three days after its adoption.

(2) The mayor, within ten days of receipt of an ordinance, shall return it to the municipal clerk with or without his approval, or with his disapproval. If the ordinance is approved by the mayor or is returned by the mayor with neither his approval nor disapproval, the ordinance shall become law upon its return to the municipal clerk. If the mayor fails or refuses to return an ordinance to the municipal clerk within ten days of receipt of an ordinance, it shall become law at midnight of the tenth day after the receipt of the ordinance by the mayor. If the mayor disapproves the ordinance, he shall, within ten days after receipt of the ordinance, return the ordinance along with his written statement of the reasons for his veto to the municipal clerk for transmittal to each member of the board of aldermen. The municipal clerk shall record upon each ordinance the date of its delivery to the mayor and the date of receipt from the mayor, if any.

(3) An ordinance vetoed by the mayor shall be considered again by the board of aldermen at its next regular meeting after the veto. The board may vote on the ordinance at that meeting or at a continuance of that meeting. If a board consists of three members, an affirmative vote by all board members shall be required to override a mayor’s veto. If a board consists of more than three members, an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the board’s members shall be required to override a mayor’s veto. If a board overrides an ordinance vetoed by a mayor, the ordinance becomes law upon its enactment by the board.

D. (1) The municipal clerk shall keep a book entitled “Ordinances, City (or Town, or Village) of ……..” in which he shall file the original of every ordinance which has been adopted by the board immediately after its passage and attach a note to the ordinance stating the date of its enactment and a reference to the book and page of the board’s minutes containing the record of its adoption.

(2) The municipal clerk shall publish each ordinance adopted by the board of aldermen once in the official journal of the municipality, designated pursuant to R.S. 43:141 through R.S. 43:149, within twenty days of its adoption and prior to its effective date, except as otherwise provided in R.S. 33:405(D).

E. Unless an ordinance specifies an earlier or later effective date, the ordinance shall take effect on the thirtieth day after the meeting in which the ordinance was adopted.

F. Only the board may suspend an ordinance, and then only by the same vote and, except for mayoral veto, according to the same procedures and formalities required for enactment of that ordinance. After January 1, 1986, every resolution suspending an ordinance shall fix the period of suspension, which shall not exceed beyond one year and thirty days after the date of the meeting in which the ordinance was suspended.
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Maine

30 § 3002. Enactment procedure

Unless otherwise provided by charter or law, a municipality must enact ordinances by the following procedure.

1. Posted. The proposed ordinance must be attested and posted in the manner provided for town meetings. If a proposed ordinance or comprehensive plan exceeds 10 pages in length, it is sufficient to satisfy this posting requirement that the warrant and the warrant article related to the adoption of the ordinance or plan includes a statement that copies of the text of the ordinance or plan and map, if any, are available from the town clerk.

2. Certification. The municipal officers shall certify one copy of the proposed ordinance to the municipal clerk at least 7 days before the day of meeting. The clerk shall keep that copy as a public record and shall make copies available for distribution to the voters from the time of certification. Copies shall be made available at the town meeting.

A. [FN1] No ordinance of any municipality subject to this subsection may be held invalid due to the municipality’s failure to comply with this subsection unless the plaintiff is prejudiced or harmed by that failure.

3. Question. The subject matter of the proposed ordinance shall be reduced to the question: “Shall an ordinance entitled ‘ ’ be enacted?” and shall be submitted to the town meeting for action either as an article in the warrant or a question on a secret ballot.

4. Application. Subsections 1, 2 and 3 do not apply to ordinances which may be enacted by the municipal officers.

30 § 3004. Revision, codification and publication

A municipality may revise, codify and publish from time to time in book or pamphlet form all or part of its ordinances arranged in appropriate classifications excluding the titles, signatures and other formal parts of the enacting legislation for the purpose of producing a complete, accurate code of the ordinances in force.

1. Enactment. The revised code shall be enacted by one ordinance entitled “An ordinance to revise and codify ordinances of the City (or Town) of …..”.

2. Repeals; vested rights. The revised code is a repeal of all ordinances in conflict with it, but all ordinances in force before its adoption continue in force for the sole purpose of preserving vested rights acquired under the former provisions.

3. Admissible in evidence; revision. When adopted, the revised code becomes law and is admissible in all courts without further proof as prima facie evidence of its existence and validity.

4. Revision of ordinance. In the process of codifying a municipality’s ordinances, an ordinance may be revised only by following the procedure required for its original enactment. This subsection does not require the individual enactment of changes in each ordinance which is to be codified by a municipality except when the enactment procedure to be followed requires it.
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Maryland

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Massachusetts

§ 32A. Publication of ordinances

The provisions in the charter of a city which accepts this section by vote of its city council, requiring newspaper advertising of certain ordinances and proposed ordinances shall, in case of any ordinance or proposed ordinance, or codification thereof, exceeding in length eight octavo pages of ordinary book print, be deemed to be complied with if the same is published by the city council in a municipal bulletin or printed pamphlet, but otherwise in conformity with said provisions, except for zoning ordinances or amendments thereto, a summary of which shall be published at least two times in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. The publication of such zoning summaries shall include a statement indicating where copies of the ordinance may be examined and obtained and a statement that claims of invalidity by reason of any defect in the procedure of adoption may only be made within ninety days after the posting or the second publication.
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Michigan

89.6. Approved ordinances, publication; certificate; plumbing, etc., codes, adoption; publication

Sec. 6. Within 1 week after the passage of any ordinance the same shall be published in some newspaper printed and circulated within the city, and the clerk shall immediately after such publication enter upon the record of ordinances, in a blank space to be left for such purpose under the recorded ordinance, a certificate stating in what newspaper and of what date such publication was made, and sign the same officially, and such certificate shall be prima facie evidence that legal publication of such ordinance has been made: Provided, however, That each city shall have power to adopt any plumbing code, electrical code, or building code which has been promulgated by the state of Michigan, or by any department, board, or other agency thereof, or by any organization or association which is organized and conducted for the purpose of developing any such code or codes by reference thereto in an adopting ordinance and without publishing any such code in full: Provided, That said code is clearly identified in said ordinance and that the purpose of said code shall be published with the adopting ordinance and that printed copies thereof are kept in the office of the city clerk, available for inspection by and distribution to the public at all times, and that the publication shall contain a notice to the effect that a complete copy of said code is available for public use and inspection at the office of the city clerk.
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Minnesota

412.191. Members; powers, duties

Subdivision 1. Composition. The city council in a standard plan city shall consist of the mayor, the clerk, and the three or five council members. In optional plan cities, except those cities having a larger council under repealed section 412.023, subdivision 4, the council shall consist of the mayor and the four council members. A majority of all the members shall constitute a quorum although a smaller number may adjourn from time to time.

Subd. 2. Meetings. Regular meetings of the council shall be held at such times and places as may be prescribed by its rules. Special meetings may be called by the mayor or by any two members of a five-member council or three members of a seven-member council by writing filed with the clerk who shall then mail a notice to all the members of the time and place of meeting at least one day before the meeting. The mayor or, in the mayor’s absence, the acting mayor, shall preside. All meetings of the council shall be open to the public. The council may preserve order at its meetings, compel the attendance of members, and punish nonattendance and shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its members. The council shall have power to regulate its own procedure.

Subd. 3. Publish proceedings; alternative. The council, after every regular or special meeting, shall publish the official council proceedings or a summary conforming to section 331A.01, subdivision 10. As an alternative to publication, the city may mail, at city expense, a copy of the proceedings to any resident upon request. The publication shall occur within 30 days of the meeting to which the proceedings relate. Cities with a population of less than 1,000 according to the latest federal census are not required to comply with this section, but may do so at their discretion.

Subd. 4. Ordinances. Every ordinance shall be enacted by a majority vote of all the members of the council except where a larger number is required by law. It shall be signed by the mayor, attested by the clerk and published once in the official newspaper. In the case of lengthy ordinances, or ordinances which include charts or maps, if the city council determines that publication of the title and a summary of an ordinance would clearly inform the public of the intent and effect of the ordinance, the council may by a four-fifths vote of its members direct that only the title of the ordinance and a summary be published, conforming to section 331A.01, subdivision 10, with notice that a printed copy of the ordinance is available for inspection by any person during regular office hours at the office of the city clerk and any other location which the council designates. A copy of the entire text of the ordinance shall be posted in the community library, if there is one, or if not, in any other public location which the council designates. Prior to the publication of the title and summary the council shall approve the text of the summary and determine that it clearly informs the public of the intent and effect of the ordinance. The publishing of the title and summary shall be deemed to fulfill all legal publication requirements as completely as if the entire ordinance had been published. The text of the summary shall be published in a body type no smaller than brevier or eight-point type. Proof of the publication shall be attached to and filed with the ordinance.

Every ordinance shall be recorded in the ordinance book within 20 days after publication of the ordinance or its title and summary. All ordinances shall be suitably entitled and shall be substantially in the style. “The City Council of …………… ordains:”.
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Mississippi

§ 21-13-11. Effectiveness, prerequisites and emergencies

Every ordinance passed by the governing body of a municipality, except as is otherwise provided by law, shall be certified by a municipal clerk, signed by the mayor or a majority of all the members of the governing body, recorded in the ordinance book, and published at least one (1) time in some newspaper published in such municipality, or, if there be no such newspaper, then in a newspaper within the county having general circulation in said municipality, or, if there be no newspaper published in or having general circulation in same, then in any newspaper published in the State of Mississippi having general circulation in said county; and all of same shall be done before such ordinance shall be effective. The publication of the ordinance may be made as provided in Section 21-17-19. No ordinance shall be in force for one (1) month after its passage; however, any ordinance for the immediate and temporary preservation of the public peace, health or safety or for other good cause, which is adopted by unanimous vote of all members of the governing body, may be made effective from and after its passage by a unanimous vote of all members of the governing body. However, in such cases, such ordinance shall contain a statement of reason why it is necessary that same become immediately effective. All such ordinances shall be published and recorded in the ordinance book in the same manner as other ordinances, but shall become effective immediately upon the adoption thereof, and prior to being so recorded and published. Nothing in this section shall apply to ordinances appropriating money for the payment of the current expenses of the municipality or the payment of sums due on any contract previously made.
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Missouri

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Montana

7-1-4127. Publication of notice–content–proof

(1) When a municipality is required to publish notice, publication must be in a newspaper, except that in a municipality with a population of 500 or less or in which a newspaper is not published, publication may be made by posting in three public places in the municipality that have been designated by ordinance.

(2) The newspaper must:

(a) be of general circulation;

(b) be published at least once a week;

(d) have, prior to July 1 of each year, submitted to the city clerk a sworn statement that includes:

(i) circulation for the prior 12 months;

(ii) a statement of net distribution;

(iii) itemization of paid circulation and circulation that is free; and

(iv) the method of distribution.

(3) A newspaper of general circulation does not include a newsletter or other document produced or published by the municipality.

(4) In the case of a contract award, the newspaper must have been published continuously in the county for the 12 months preceding the awarding of the contract.

(5) In a county where a newspaper does not meet the qualifications in subsection (2), publication must be made in a qualified newspaper in an adjacent county.

(6) If a person is required by law or ordinance to pay for publication, the payment must be received before the publication may be made.

(7) The notice must be published twice, with at least 6 days separating each publication.

(8) The published notice must contain:

(a) the date, time, and place of the hearing or other action;

(b) a brief statement of the action to be taken;

(c) the address and telephone number of the person who may be contacted for further information on the action to be taken; and

(d) any other information required by the specific section requiring notice by publication.

(9) A published notice required by law may be supplemented by a radio or television broadcast of the notice in the manner prescribed in 2-3-105 through 2-3-107.

(10) Proof of the publication or posting of any notice may be made by affidavit of the owner, publisher, printer, or clerk of the newspaper or of the person posting the notice.
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Nebraska

13-2807. Ordinance; form; publication; emergency

The style of ordinances shall be: “Be it ordained by the council of the municipal county of ….,” and all ordinances of a general nature shall, within fifteen days after they are passed, be published in one or more newspapers in general circulation within the municipal county, or in pamphlet form, to be distributed or sold, as may be provided by ordinance. Every ordinance fixing a penalty or forfeiture for its violation shall, before the same takes effect, be published for at least one week in one or more newspapers in general circulation within the municipal county. In cases of riots, infectious diseases, or other impending danger, or any other emergency requiring its immediate operation, such ordinance shall take effect upon the proclamation of the council immediately upon its first publication.
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Nevada

266.115. Enactment of ordinance: Style; introduction and notice; final action; publication

1. The style of ordinances must be as follows: “The City Council of the City of ……………………. do ordain.” All proposed ordinances, when first proposed, must be read by title to the city council and may be referred to a committee of any number of the members of the council for consideration, after which an adequate number of copies of the ordinance must be deposited with the city clerk for public examination and distribution upon request. Notice of the deposit of the copies, together with an adequate summary of the ordinance, must be published once in a newspaper published in the city, if any, otherwise in some newspaper published in the county which has a general circulation in the city, at least 10 days before the adoption of the ordinance. At any meeting at which final action on the ordinance is considered, at least one copy of the ordinance must be available for public examination. The city council shall adopt or reject the ordinance, or the ordinance as amended, within 30 days after the date of publication, except that in cases of emergency, by unanimous consent of the whole council, final action may be taken immediately or at a special meeting called for that purpose.

2. At the next regular or adjourned meeting of the council following the proposal of an ordinance and its reference to committee, the committee shall report the ordinance back to the council, and thereafter it must be read by title and summary or in full as first introduced, or if amended, as amended, and thereupon the proposed ordinance must be finally voted upon or action on it postponed.

3. After final adoption the ordinance must be signed by the mayor, and, together with the votes cast on it, must be:

(a) Published by title, together with an adequate summary including any amendments, once in a newspaper published in the city, if any, otherwise in a newspaper published in the county and having a general circulation in the city; and

(b) Posted in full in the city hall.

The ordinance must go into effect 20 days after its publication, except emergency ordinances which may be effective immediately.
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New Hampshire

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New Jersey

40:49-2.1. Land use ordinances; publication; transmittal to tax assessor

In the case of any ordinance adopted pursuant to the “Municipal Land Use Law,” P.L.1975, c. 291 (C. 40:55D-1 et seq.), including any amendments or supplements thereto, or revisions or codifications thereof, which is in length six or more octavo pages of ordinary print, the governing body of any municipality may, notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 40:49-2, satisfy the newspaper publication requirements for the introduction and passage of such ordinance in the following manner:

a. The publication of a notice citing such proposed ordinance by title, giving a brief summary of the main objectives or provisions of the ordinance, stating that copies are on file for public examination and acquisition at the office of the municipal clerk, and setting forth the time and place for the further consideration of the proposed ordinance;

b. The placing on file, in the office of the clerk, three copies of the proposed ordinance, which copies shall be available for public inspection until final action is taken on said ordinance; and

c. The publication or arranging for the publication of the proposed ordinance in pamphlet or other similar form, which may be sold by the municipality at a price not to exceed the cost of publication and distribution.

If any amendment be adopted to any such proposed ordinance substantially altering the substance of the proposed ordinance, there shall be caused to be published a notice of the title of the ordinance, the introduction and time and place that the amended ordinance will be further considered and a summary of the objectives or provisions of the amendment or amendments, which notice shall be published at least 2 days prior to the time so fixed therefor in accordance with subsection c. of R.S. 40:49-2. Copies of the amended ordinance shall be on file and available for public examination and duplication, in the office of the municipal clerk, until final action is taken on said ordinance. If said ordinance is again amended, the same publication requirements herein set forth for amended ordinances shall be followed.

Upon passage of any such ordinance, notice of passage or approval shall be published in accordance with subsection d. of R.S. 40:49-2. A copy of the ordinance and of any summary or summaries published in connection with its adoption pursuant to subsection a. or c. of this section shall be forthwith transmitted to the tax assessor of the municipality.
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New Mexico

§ 3-17-3. Notice by publication of certain proposed ordinances

A. Notice by publication of the title and subject matter of any ordinance proposed for adoption by the governing body of any municipality must take place at least two weeks prior to consideration of final action upon the ordinance in open session of the governing body, except that this section shall not apply to ordinances dealing with an emergency declared by the chairman of the governing body or the mayor, as the case may be, to be an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare of the municipality, or to ordinances the subject matter of which is amending a city zoning map, provided the amendment to such zoning map has been considered by, and recommended to, the commission by a planning commission with jurisdiction in the matter. It is sufficient defense to any suit or prosecution to show that no notice by publication was made.

B. Notice of the proposed ordinance shall be published one time as a legal advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality.

C. Copies of a proposed ordinance shall be available to interested persons during normal and regular business hours of the municipal clerk upon request and payment of a reasonable charge beginning with the date of publication and continuing to the date of consideration by the municipality’s elected commission.
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New York

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North Carolina

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North Dakota

§ 40-11-06. Publication of ordinances

The title and penalty clause of every ordinance imposing any penalty, fine, imprisonment, or forfeiture for a violation of its provisions, after the final adoption of the ordinance, shall be published in one issue of the official newspaper of the city.
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Ohio

705.16 Publication of ordinances, resolutions, or summaries

(A) All ordinances or resolutions shall be in effect after thirty days from the date of their passage, except as provided in section 705.75 of the Revised Code.

(B) A succinct summary of each ordinance and resolution of a general nature, or providing for public improvements, or assessing property shall, upon passage of the ordinance or resolution, be promptly published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation. Such publication shall be made in the body type of the paper under headlines in eighteen point type, which headlines shall specify the nature of such legislation. The publication shall contain notice that the complete text of each such ordinance or resolution may be obtained or viewed at the office of the clerk of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation and may be viewed at any other location designated by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation. The city director of law, village solicitor, or other chief legal officer of the municipal corporation shall review the summary of an ordinance or resolution published under this section prior to forwarding it to the clerk for publication, to ensure that the summary is legally accurate and sufficient.

(C) Upon publication of a summary of an ordinance or resolution in accordance with this section, the clerk of the legislative authority shall supply a copy of the complete text of each such ordinance or resolution to any person, upon request, and may charge a reasonable fee, set by the legislative authority, for each copy supplied. The clerk shall post a copy of the text at the clerk’s office and at every other location designated by the legislative authority.

(D) No newspaper shall be paid a higher price for the publication of summaries of ordinances than its government rate established under section 7.10 of the Revised Code.
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Oklahoma

§ 14-106. Publication of ordinances

No ordinance having any subject other than the appropriation of monies shall be in force unless published or posted within fifteen (15) days after its passage. Every municipal ordinance shall be published at least once in full, except as provided for in Section 14-107 of this title.

When publishing the ordinance, the publisher or managing officer of the newspaper shall prefix to the ordinance a line in brackets stating the date of publication as “Published ____”, giving the month, day, and year of publication.

§ 14-107. Publication of certain codes and ordinances by title and summary of contents

A. If a municipal governing body enacts or adopts by reference ordinances which are compilations or codes of law or regulations relating to traffic, building, plumbing, electrical installations, fire prevention, inflammable liquids, milk and milk products, protection of the public health, or any other matters which the municipality has the power to regulate, such ordinances are not required to be published in full. Legal publication of such ordinances may be by publishing the title and a summary of their contents in the manner provided by Section 14-106 of this title. At least one copy of such ordinances shall be kept in the office of the municipal clerk for public use, inspection, and examination. The municipal clerk shall keep copies of the ordinances, codes, or compilations for distribution or sale at a reasonable price.

B. A municipality which adopts building standards shall adopt and enforce codes adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission.

C. Nothing in this act shall prevent or take away from any city, town or county the authority to enact and enforce rules containing higher standards and requirements than the codes adopted by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission nor prevent or take away from any city, town or county the authority to amend such adopted codes to make changes necessary to accommodate local conditions except as provided in subsection D of this section.

D. A city, town or county may begin enforcing the higher standards and requirements allowed in subsection C of this section no less than thirty (30) days after submitting the higher standards and requirements to the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission in such form as the Commission may prescribe.

E. Ordinances which are passed by the governing body with an emergency clause attached are not required to be published in full, but may be published by title only in the manner provided by Section 14-106 of this title.
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Oregon

221.330. Publication or posting; exceptions

Ordinances passed by cities must be posted or published in a newspaper if required by their respective charters; provided, that ordinances establishing rules and regulations for the construction of buildings, the installation of plumbing, electric wiring or other similar work, where such rules and regulations have been printed as a code in book form, may adopt such code or portions thereof by reference thereto without further publication or posting thereof. Not less than three copies of such code shall be filed, for use and examination by the public, in the office of the city recorder of the city, prior to the adoption thereof. Cities may adopt as ordinances any statute of the State of Oregon, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the charter authority by reference to the chapter or section, without further publication or posting thereof.
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Pennsylvania

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Rhode Island

§ 45-6-7. Publication of ordinances

All ordinances, bylaws and regulations shall be printed and published in any manner that the town or city council directs; provided, that the city or town clerk delivers at least one copy of all ordinances including all amendments to those ordinances to the state law library and the state library within ten (10) days after being printed or published.
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South Carolina

§ 5-7-270. Form and procedures for introducing and passing ordinances.

Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing and in the form required for final adoption. Each municipality shall by ordinance establish its own rules and procedures as to adoption of ordinances. No ordinance shall have the force of law until it shall have been read two times on two separate days with at least six days between each reading.
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South Dakota

9-19-7. Reading, passage, and publication of ordinances–Codes incorporated by reference

The title of all ordinances shall be read twice with at least five days intervening between the first and second reading. The ordinance shall be signed by the mayor or acting mayor or president of the Board of Trustees, filed with the auditor or clerk, and published once except that an ordinance incorporating and adopting comprehensive regulations or a code promulgated, approved, and published by a recognized and established national organization prescribing building, electrical, plumbing, safety, fire, health, or milk regulations need not be published in a newspaper, but upon adoption of such an ordinance the auditor or clerk shall publish a notice of the fact of adoption once a week for two successive weeks in the official newspaper, and twenty days after the completed publication of such notice, unless the referendum shall have been invoked, such ordinance shall become effective.

9-19-8. Passage, recording, and publication of resolutions

Any resolution may be passed after one reading and shall be recorded at length in the minutes of the meeting at which it is passed, with a statement of the number of votes for and against it. Such resolution shall be published in full either as part of the minutes or separately.
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Tennessee

§ 6-2-101. Publication

Each ordinance, or the caption of each ordinance, shall be published after its final passage in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. No ordinance shall take effect until the ordinance or its caption is published.
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Texas

§ 52.011. Type A General-Law Municipality

(a) If a Type A general-law municipality adopts an ordinance that imposes a penalty, fine, or forfeiture, the ordinance, or a caption that summarizes the purpose of the ordinance and the penalty for violating the ordinance, shall be published in:

(1) every issue of the official newspaper for two days; or

(2) one issue of the newspaper if the official newspaper is a weekly paper.

(b) An affidavit by the printer or publisher of the official newspaper verifying the publication shall be filed in the office of the secretary of the municipality. In the courts of this state, the affidavit is prima facie evidence of the adoption of the ordinance and of the required publication.

(c) An ordinance required to be published by this section takes effect when the publication requirement is satisfied unless the ordinance provides otherwise. An ordinance that is not required to be published by this section takes effect when adopted unless the ordinance provides otherwise.

(d) If a Type A general-law municipality publishes its ordinances in pamphlet or book form, the publication in the official newspaper of an ordinance included in the pamphlet or book is not required if the ordinance was published previously in the official newspaper. A court shall admit without further proof an ordinance of a Type A general-law municipality that is published in pamphlet or book form as authorized by the governing body if the ordinance was published previously in the official newspaper.

§ 52.012. Type B General-Law Municipality
(a) Before an ordinance or a bylaw of a Type B general-law municipality may be enforced, the ordinance or bylaw, or a caption that summarizes the purpose of the ordinance or bylaw and the penalty for violating the ordinance or bylaw must be posted in three public places in the municipality or published in a newspaper that is published in the municipality. If no newspaper is published in the municipality, the ordinance, bylaw, or summary may be published in a newspaper with general circulation in the municipality.

(b) Unless the publication is in a weekly newspaper, the governing body must post or publish the ordinance, bylaw, or summary for at least two days. If the publication is in a weekly newspaper, the governing body shall publish the ordinance, bylaw, or summary in one issue.

§ 52.013. Home-Rule Municipalities

(a) The governing body of a home-rule municipality may publish a caption of an adopted ordinance that summarizes the purpose of the ordinance and any penalty for violating the ordinance in lieu of a requirement in the municipality’s charter that the text of the ordinance be published.

(b) If the charter of a home-rule municipality does not provide for the method of publication of an ordinance, the full text of the ordinance or a caption that summarizes the purpose of the ordinance and the penalty for violating the ordinance may be published at least twice in the municipality’s official newspaper.
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Utah

§ 10-3-711. Publication and posting of ordinances

(1) Before an ordinance may take effect, the legislative body of each municipality adopting an ordinance, except an ordinance enacted under Section 10-3-706, 10-3-707, 10-3-708, 10-3-709, or 10-3-710, shall:

(a) deposit a copy of the ordinance in the office of the municipal recorder; and

(b)(i) publish a short summary of the ordinance at least once:

(A) in a newspaper published within the municipality; or

(B) if there is no newspaper published within the municipality, in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality; or

(ii) post a complete copy of the ordinance:

(A) for a city of the first class, in nine public places within the city; or

(B) for any other municipality, in three public places within the municipality.

(2)(a) Any ordinance, code, or book, other than the state code, relating to building or safety standards, municipal functions, administration, control, or regulations, may be adopted and shall take effect without further publication or posting, if reference is made to the code or book and at least one copy has been filed for use and examination by the public in the office of the recorder or clerk of the city or town prior to the adoption of the ordinance by the governing body.

(b) Any state law relating to building or safety standards, municipal functions, administration, control, or regulations, may be adopted and shall take effect without further publication or posting if reference is made to the state code.

Vermont

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Virginia

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Washington

(First Class City)

35.22.288. Publication of ordinances or summary–Public notice of hearings and meeting agendas

Promptly after adoption, the text of each ordinance or a summary of the content of each ordinance shall be published at least once in the official newspaper of the city. For purposes of this section, a summary shall mean a brief description which succinctly describes the main points of the ordinance. Publication of the title of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness shall constitute publication of a summary of that ordinance. When the city publishes a summary, the publication shall include a statement that the full text of the ordinance will be mailed upon request.

An inadvertent mistake or omission in publishing the text or a summary of the content of an ordinance shall not render the ordinance invalid.

In addition to the requirement that a city publish the text or a summary of the content of each adopted ordinance, every city shall establish a procedure for notifying the public of upcoming hearings and the preliminary agenda for the forthcoming council meeting. Such procedure may include, but not be limited to, written notification to the city’s official newspaper, publication of a notice in the official newspaper, posting of upcoming council meeting agendas, or such other processes as the city determines will satisfy the intent of this requirement.

(Second Class City)

35.23.221. Ordinances–Publication–Summary–Public notice of hearings and meeting agendas

Promptly after adoption, the text of each ordinance or a summary of the content of each ordinance shall be published at least once in the city’s official newspaper.

For purposes of this section, a summary shall mean a brief description which succinctly describes the main points of the ordinance. Publication of the title of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness shall constitute publication of a summary of that ordinance. When the city publishes a summary, the publication shall include a statement that the full text of the ordinance will be mailed upon request.

An inadvertent mistake or omission in publishing the text or a summary of the content of an ordinance shall not render the ordinance invalid.

West Virginia

§ 8-11-4. Ordinance procedures

(a) Notwithstanding any charter provision to the contrary, which charter provision was in effect on the effective date of this section, it shall not be necessary, except where otherwise provided in this code, for the governing body of any municipality to publish in a newspaper any proposed ordinance prior to the adoption thereof or any enacted ordinance subsequent to the adoption thereof, and any and all ordinances of every municipality shall be adopted in accordance with the following requirements, except where different or additional requirements are specified in other provisions of this code, in which event such other different or additional requirements shall be applicable:

(1) A proposed ordinance shall be read by title at not less than two meetings of the governing body with at least one week intervening between each meeting, unless a member of the governing body demands that the ordinance be read in full at one or both meetings. If such demand is made, the ordinance shall be read in full as demanded.

(2) At least five days before the meeting at which a proposed ordinance, the principal object of which is the raising of revenue for the municipality, is to be finally adopted, the governing body shall cause notice of the proposed adoption of said proposed ordinance to be published as a Class I-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the municipality. The notice shall state the subject matter and general title or titles of such proposed ordinance, the date, time and place of the proposed final vote on adoption, and the place or places within the municipality where such proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public. A reasonable number of copies of the proposed ordinance shall be kept at such place or places and be made available for public inspection. Said notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance.

(3) A proposed ordinance shall not be materially amended at the same meeting at which finally adopted.

(b) Notwithstanding any charter provision to the contrary, which charter provision was in effect on the effective date of this section, the governing body of any municipality may adopt, by ordinance, building codes, housing codes, plumbing codes, sanitary codes, electrical codes, fire prevention codes, or any other technical codes dealing with general public health, safety or welfare, or a combination of the same, or a comprehensive code of ordinances, in the manner prescribed in this subsection (b). Before any such ordinance shall be adopted, the code shall be either printed or typewritten and shall be presented in pamphlet form to the governing body of the municipality at a regular meeting, and copies of such code shall be made available for public inspection. The ordinance adopting such code shall not set out said code in full, but shall merely identify the same. The vote on adoption of said ordinance shall be the same as on any other ordinance. After adoption of the ordinance, such code or codes shall be certified by the mayor and shall be filed as a permanent record in the office of the recorder, who shall not be required to transcribe and record the same in the ordinance book as other ordinances are transcribed and recorded. Consistent with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, it shall not be necessary that any such ordinance, either as proposed or after adoption, be published in any newspaper, and it shall not be necessary that the code itself be so published, but before final adoption of any such proposed ordinance, notice of the proposed adoption of such ordinance and code shall be given by publication as herein provided for ordinances the principal object of which is the raising of revenue for the municipality, which notice shall also state where, within the municipality, the code or codes will be available for public inspection.

(c) By a charter framed and adopted, revision of a charter as a whole, or a charter amendment or amendments, as the case may be, subsequent to the effective date of this section, a city may require any or all ordinances to be published in a newspaper prior to the adoption thereof, may expressly adopt the provisions of this section, may specify other additional requirements for the enactment of ordinances, or may prescribe a procedure for the enactment of ordinances in greater detail than prescribed in this section, but a city shall not, except in an emergency as specified in subsection (d) of this section or except as otherwise provided in this code, have the power and authority to lessen or reduce the requirements of this section.

(d) The governing body of a municipality may enact an ordinance without complying with the rules prescribed in this section only (1) in the case of a pressing public emergency making procedure in accordance with the provisions of this section dangerous to the public health, safety or morals, and by affirmative vote of two thirds of the members elected to the governing body, or (2) when otherwise provided in this code. The nature of any such emergency shall be set out in full in the ordinance.
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Wisconsin

62.11. Common council

(1) How constituted. The mayor and alderpersons shall be the common council. The mayor shall not be counted in determining whether a quorum is present at a meeting, but may vote in case of a tie. When the mayor does vote in case of a tie the mayor’s vote shall be counted in determining whether a sufficient number of the council has voted favorably or unfavorably on any measure.

(2) Time of meeting. The council shall meet at least once a month, and on the first Tuesday unless a different day be fixed by the council. More frequent regular meetings may be established by the council, and the mayor may call a special meeting by written notice delivered personally to each member or left at the member’s usual abode at least 6 hours before the meeting. Following a regular city election the new council shall first meet on the 3rd Tuesday of April.

(3) Procedure. (a) The council shall be the judge of the election and qualification of its members, may compel their attendance, and may fine or expel for neglect of duty.

(b) Two-thirds of the members shall be a quorum, except that in cities having not more than 5 alderpersons a majority shall be a quorum. A less number may compel the attendance of absent members and adjourn. A majority of all the members shall be necessary to a confirmation. In case of a tie the mayor shall have a casting vote as in other cases.

(c) Meetings shall be open to the public; and the council may punish by fine members or other persons present for disorderly behavior.

(d) The ayes and noes may be required by any member. On confirmation and on the adoption of any measure assessing or levying taxes, appropriating or disbursing money, or creating any liability or charge against the city or any fund thereof, the vote shall be by ayes and noes. All aye and nay votes shall be recorded in the journal.

(e) The council shall in all other respects determine the rules of its procedure.

(f) The style of all ordinances shall be: “The common council of the city of …… do ordain as follows.”

(4) Publication. (a) Proceedings of the council shall be published in the newspaper designated under s. 985.06 as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985. The proceedings for the purpose of publication shall include the substance of every official action taken by the governing body. Except as provided in this subsection every ordinance shall be published either in its entirety, as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, or as a notice, as described under par. (c)2., within 15 days of passage, and shall take effect on the day after the publication or at a later date if expressly prescribed.

(b) All ordinances passed by the governing body of any city of the second class between January 1, 1914, and January 1, 1924, which were or may have been required to be published before becoming effective, but which were not published, shall be valid to the same extent as if they had been published in the first instance, as required by law, providing said ordinances and all amendments thereto are printed in the official journal of any such body together with the record of the passage of the same; however, the provisions of this paragraph shall not be effective in any city unless the governing body thereof shall so elect by a vote of two-thirds of its members.

2. A notice of an ordinance that may be published under this paragraph shall be published as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 and shall contain at least all of the following:

a. The number and title of the ordinance.

b. The date of enactment.

c. A summary of the subject matter and main points of the ordinance.

d. Information as to where the full text of the ordinance may be obtained, including the phone number of the city clerk, a street address where the full text of the ordinance may be viewed, and a Web site, if any, at which the ordinance may be accessed.

(5) Powers. Except as elsewhere in the statutes specifically provided, the council shall have the management and control of the city property, finances, highways, navigable waters, and the public service, and shall have power to act for the government and good order of the city, for its commercial benefit, and for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and may carry out its powers by license, regulation, suppression, borrowing of money, tax levy, appropriation, fine, imprisonment, confiscation, and other necessary or convenient means. The powers hereby conferred shall be in addition to all other grants, and shall be limited only by express language.
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Wyoming

§ 15-1-110. Minutes of meetings and titles of ordinances passed to be published; exception; contents; publication of names, salaries and wages of specified officials and employees; “department head” defined

(a) The governing body of any city or town shall designate a legal newspaper and publish once therein the minutes of all regular and special meetings of the governing body and the titles of all ordinances passed. If a newspaper is not published in the city or town the proceedings or ordinances shall be posted for at least ten (10) days in the city or town clerk’s office and in such other places as the governing body determines. The clerk of each city or town shall within twelve (12) days after adjournment of every meeting, furnish the newspaper a copy of the proceedings of the meeting. Except for salaries and wages published under subsection (b) of this section, the copy shall include any bill presented to the governing body stating the amount of the bill, the amount allowed, the purpose of the bill and the claimant. Claims for part-time employees may be summarized by department without listing each part-time employee. The newspaper shall publish the copy of proceedings within nine (9) days after receipt.

(b) A city or town required to publish minutes under subsection (a) of this section shall separately publish:

(i) During January and July of each year, the name, position and gross monthly salary of each chief administrative official, assistant administrative official and department head including elected officials. The publication shall also include a list of all other full-time positions employed by the city or town without the name of the current employee, including the gross monthly salary for each position. A brief statement shall accompany the salary publication specifying that all salaries are listed as gross monthly salaries or actual monthly wages, not including any fringe benefits such as health insurance costs, life insurance benefits and pension plans. The statement shall also indicate that the salaries or wages do not include any overtime [that] the employee may earn which would be paid by the city or town; and

(ii) During March of each year, a complete list of all chief administrative officials, assistant administrative officials, elected officials, department heads and full-time employees of the city or town specified by name and position, excluding salaries.

(c) As used in this section, “department head” means any employee responsible for the operation of a major functional area of the city or town who reports directly to the chief administrative official.

(d) Subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to undercover personnel working in the law enforcement field.
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Laws Governing Ordinances