A note before we begin – to make sure we`re clear about what we mean by “municipal codes,” we`re referring to the set of laws passed by a local government agency (often a county, city, village, municipality, or other similar subdivision of government). The laws themselves can be referred to by many names, including “ordinance,” “status,” and “measure.” As long as they do not conflict with the laws of the state in which the municipality is located, these ordinances have the “force of law” in the municipality. [1] Why do we need these city codes? And what is their contribution to urban development and urbanization? You can also use a catalog from a larger collection or set of collections, such as Library of Congress or WorldCat catalogs. For a more targeted search, simply use the title “municipal ordinances” in conjunction with the name of the municipality you are looking for. For researchers looking for older, outdated versions of community code, the research process becomes a bit more complicated. Old versions of municipal ordinances can be found in several places. First, we recommend that you focus your search on the geographic area where the municipality is located, as institutions in that region are more likely to have the records you are looking for. Therefore, you can start your search at the local public library for the community and/or a university, state, or other public library in the community state. Some researchers also managed to contact the city clerk`s office, as well as the official state archives of the municipality. We hope this beginner`s guide is helpful to you. If you have any questions about finding municipal codes, please contact us through our Ask a Librarian service. Secondary sources are not a law in themselves, but can help a researcher unravel and understand an unknown area of law. The secondary sources listed below are diverse; They will help you understand the basics of municipal law, give you advice on interpretation cases and provide you with useful forms.
For researchers looking for information on trends in municipal ordinances, or for municipalities who want to learn more about laws that could improve their field, there are organizations that provide guidance on supporting research and language in drafting municipal laws: Although here at the Library of Congress, We are probably asked more often about federal laws, We receive a number of referral requests on state and local law. Among these non-federal requests, some of the most difficult issues relate to the laws contained in municipal codes. This challenge stems primarily from the difficulty of finding copies of municipal codes for our clients, as there is no single clearinghouse for all municipal codes. We hope this beginner`s guide will help users who are researching municipal bylaws more easily sort through available resources and find the information they need. Most of the questions we receive about municipal codes relate to the current form of legislation. Fortunately for these researchers, many up-to-date community codes are freely available online on the websites of several publishers. Some of the most popular websites are:[1] Norman J. Singer and J.D. Shambie Singer, Statutes and Statutory Construction (also known as Sutherland`s Statutory Construction).
While this resource does not focus specifically on municipal ordinances, it does provide a very useful chapter on the topic. While none of these sites contain all the community codes in the United States, they are a useful (and free) starting point for lawyers in the field. Chapter 03, Trade Regulations, Business Taxes, Permits and Licensing “Interior, City Council, 1st Floor – Schenectady City Hall, 100 Jay Street, Schenectady, Schenectady County, NY” Courtesy of Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress This article was co-authored by legal reference specialists Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer. A table of contents is provided to make it easier to find specific chapters, articles, departments, and sections. Section 06, Public Works and Property; Public Improvement and Evaluation Procedures The San Diego City Council contains numerous ordinances for the City of San Diego. The municipal code is organized by chapters, articles, departments and sections. This blog is subject to the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You are fully responsible for everything you post. The content of all comments will be placed in the public domain, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
The Library of Congress does not control published content. Nevertheless, the Library of Congress may monitor user-generated content at its discretion and reserves the right to remove content for any reason without consent. Free links to websites are considered spam and may result in comments being deleted. We also reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to revoke a user`s right to post content on the Library website. Read our comment and posting guidelines. Historical information can be found on the Municipal Code History Table website. A very useful and concise summary of important sources of municipal law. Especially the secondary sources are good.
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