Part 2. Drafting an ordinance
We recommend that simple prose be used in the initial draft ordinance. The draft ordinance should then be submitted to municipal legal staff for review. We have provided an explanation of the purpose of each ordinance provision, a list of its key elements, and notes on its use and implications, and example text from existing ordinances. Many of the existing examples are from the California communities (Bernhardt and Swiecki 1991), but we will be adding additional examples from throughout the country as this web site is developed further. For a few provisions, we have not yet found good existing examples and have composed example text. We have sometimes omitted (shown by ...) or added (shown by brackets ) code where we deemed it appropriate.
All example provisions are provided for illustration, and are not necessarily "model" provisions. We recommend that you use the examples, key elements, and notes as a starting point for developing language that is suited to meet your local needs. We realize that the 37 provisions described here may not cover every situation. If you are aware of specific provisions that are regionally important or particularly exemplary that you would like to have included here, please contact us using the link below.
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