Ordinance Adoption Procedures - General Law Township

CHECKLIST OF STEPS FOR ENACTMENT OF NONZONING ORDINANCE
(General Law Township)
___ 1. Determine whether Township has authority to enact ordinance regarding specific subject matter.
___ 2. ADOPT ORDINANCE by motion approved by majority of the members elect of the Township Board, on roll call vote, at any regular meeting or proper special meeting (minutes of meeting must reflect decision and vote).
___ 3. PUBLISH complete ordinance, or proper summary of ordinance, in newspaper circulating in Township within 30 days after adoption.
A. Each section of ordinance must be preceded by "catch line".
B. If summary of ordinance is published:
(1) It may be prepared by the person who drafted the ordinance or by the Township Board (or attorney).
(2) It must be written in clear and non-technical language.
(3) Each section must be preceded by a "catch line".
(4) It must designate the location in the Township where a true copy of the complete ordinance can be inspected or obtained.
___ 4. FILE AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION from newspaper in Township ordinance records.
___ 5. FILE ATTESTED COPY OF COMPLETE ORDINANCE WITH COUNTY CLERK within one week after publication (not required if Township office is open to the public during regular hours on each business day).
___ 6. RECORD COMPLETE ORDINANCE in Township book of ordinances within one week after publication, with Certificate recording date of adoption of ordinance, names of Board members voting thereon, how each member voted, date of publication and name of newspaper, and (where applicable) date of filing of ordinance with County Clerk.
___ 7. DISTRIBUTE copies of new ordinance to appropriate Township officials.
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Copyright 2004 by Craig A. Rolfe
Bauckham, Sparks, Rolfe, Lohrstorfer & Thall, P.C.