What are local ordinances, anyway?

Have you ever been annoyed by (or grateful for) smoking bans in restaurants?

What about leash laws that keep dogs from running free?

Limits on noise levels from car radios or parties at certain hours?

Ordinances are local rules about things like that.

Ordinances affect
how businesses operate,
property values, and
quality of life issues.

Another common example is zoning that keeps certain businesses from locating in a residential part of town.

Who are ordinances for?

Ordinances are local laws that apply only to the city or county in which they were created, so ordinances in Pulaski County don’t apply in Saline County. However, they cannot conflict with state or federal laws, so ordinances in Little Rock can’t contradict Arkansas law.

Who decides these ordinances?

Ordinances are created by city councils, the mayor, quorum courts, or a local municipality.  The good news for you is that all of those positions are voted on.

Whoever votes in local elections chooses the people who write or repeal local ordinances.

How do I influence decisions about ordinances in my community?

Quorum courts are public and your city council’s meeting minutes and agenda are online.  Check them out to see which issues have been under discussion and what’s coming up. To make sure that you’re being heard from, talk to your representative on the city council.

Better yet, go to a meeting and speak to the council or quorum directly.

(For some meetings, you’ll have to sign up in advance if you want to speak during the public comment session, when the council gives everyone a turn on the mike.)

Go to your county or city government’s website to find out who your representative is and get in contact.

Want to know more about who’s running your local government?

Visit the Arkansas Municipal League’s site to find contact info for all of Arkansas’ municipalities.

What are the ordinances in my area?

Try doing an internet search for the municipal code or ordinances for your town, city, or county. How loud is a car radio allowed to be, anyway?