What is an Ordinance?
An Ordinance is an act or law of a municipality, duly enacted by the proper authorities and expressed in written ordaining form. City Councils are given the power to pass ordinances (Government Code 37100) as long as they are not in conflict with the laws and Constitutions of the State of California and the United States. An ordinance is the most binding form of action taken by the City Council, the violation of which may be a misdemeanor, unless by ordinance, it is made an infraction (G.C. 36900).
Ordinances make up the laws of a municipality, enacted by the City Council and approved by the Mayor. Unless given an emergency clause, an ordinance is effective 30 days after its passage by the City Council. An ordinance is the most binding form of action taken by the City Council, and compliance is monitored by the Code Enforcement Unit of the Hillsboro Police Department. For Code Enforcement issues, call 503-615-6645.
An Ordinance is legislative acts or local laws prescribing permanent rules of conduct of government. They are the most permanent and binding form of Council action and may be changed or repealed only by a subsequent ordinance. Except in cases of emergency, an ordinance as passed by the city council takes effect five days after its publication in the City’s official newspaper, the Bainbridge Review. Most ordinances become part of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code.
