n.

1. An authoritative command or order.
2. A custom or practice established by long usage.
3. A Christian rite, especially the Eucharist.
4. A statute or regulation, especially one enacted by a city government.

[Middle English ordinaunce, from Old French ordenance, from Medieval Latin ōrdinantia, from Latin ōrdināns, ōrdinant-, present participle of ōrdināre, to ordain, from ōrdō, ōrdin-, order.]

ADVERTISEMENT

Local law that applies to persons and things subject to the local Jurisdiction. Usually it is an act of a city council or similar body and has the same force as a statute when it is duly enacted.

noun

A principle governing affairs within or among political units: canon, decree, edict, institute, law, precept, prescription, regulation, rule. See law.

n.a law, regulation, or mandatory instruction.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A law or rule adopted by a local governmental authority.

---

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a municipal corporation.

An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government. A municipality, such as a city, town, village, or borough, is a political subdivision of a state within which a municipal corporation has been established to provide local government to a population in a defined area.

Ordinances constitute the subject matter of municipal law. The power of municipal governments to enact ordinances is derived from the state constitution or statutes or through the legislative grant of a municipal charter. The charter in large part dictates how much power elected officials have to regulate actions within the municipality. Municipalities that have been granted "home rule" charters by the legislature have the most authority to act. If, however, a municipality enacts an ordinance that exceeds its charter or is in conflict with state or federal law, the ordinance can be challenged in court and ruled void.

Many ordinances deal with maintaining public safety, health, morals, and general welfare. For example, a municipality may enact housing ordinances that set minimum standards of habitability. Other ordinances deal with fire and safety regulations that residential, commercial, and industrial property owners must follow. Many municipalities have enacted noise ordinances, which prohibit prescribed levels of noise after certain hours of the evening.

Ordinances may also deal with public streets and sidewalks. They typically include regulations regarding parking, snow removal, and littering. Restrictions on pets, including "pooper scooper" and leash laws, are also governed by municipal ordinances.

One of the most significant areas of municipal law is zoning. Zoning ordinances constitute a master plan for land use within the municipality. A municipality is typically divided into residential, commercial, and industrial zoning districts. Zoning attempts to conserve the value of property and to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout a particular locality.

In the past, many U.S. municipalities enacted a variety of ordinances regulating public morals and behavior. Many, such as ordinances that prohibited spitting on a public sidewalk, have been repealed or are rarely enforced.

IN BRIEF: A law or rule.

The city passed an ordinance that forbade tap dancing after two a.m.

Tutor's tip: An ordinance is a rule or city regulation; while ordnance is military supplies.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - forordning, bestemmelse, anordning, ritual

Nederlands (Dutch)
bepaling, voorschrift, wet ingevoerd door plaatselijke overheid, religieus ritueel, verordening

Français (French)
n. - (gén, Jur) ordonnance, (US, Jur, Admin) arrêté municipal

Deutsch (German)
n. - Verordnung, Verfügung, Sakrament, Ritus

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - διαταγή, εντολή, προσταγή, (θρησκ.) μυστήριο, ιεροτελεστία

Italiano (Italian)
ordinanza, decreto, rito religioso, cerimonia

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ordenança (m), postura municipal, regulamento (m)

Русский (Russian)
указ, декрет

Español (Spanish)
n. - ordenanza, decreto

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - förordning, stadga, föreskrift, kyrklig ceremoni

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
法令, 条例, 条令, 仪式, 圣餐式

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 法令, 條例, 條令, 儀式, 聖餐式

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 법령, 의식

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 法令, 布告, 条例, 聖餐式

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) شريعه, قانون‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮צו, חוק, תקנה, תקנה של רשות מקומית, פולחן דתי‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.