Legal Definitions - local option

Definition: Local option refers to the ability of a municipality or other government unit to make decisions without needing approval from state officials. It is also known as local veto and is similar to home rule.

• A city council decides to ban smoking in public parks without needing approval from the state government.
• A county board of supervisors votes to increase property taxes to fund a new community center without needing approval from the state legislature.

These examples illustrate how local option allows local governments to make decisions that are specific to their community without needing to go through a lengthy approval process with state officials. This can help to streamline decision-making and ensure that local needs are being met.