Legal Definitions - ordinance

An ordinance is a type of law that is created by a municipality, which is a local government. It is like a rule that people who live in that area have to follow. Ordinances usually say that you can't do something or that you have to do something. For example, in New York City, there is an ordinance that says you can't turn right on a red light. This means that if you are driving and you come to a red light, you have to stop and wait until the light turns green before you can turn right.

Ordinances are made by local governments, but they still have the same power as state laws. This means that if you break an ordinance, you can get in trouble with the law, just like if you broke a state law.

Other examples of ordinances include:

• A noise ordinance that says you can't play loud music after a certain time at night
• A leash ordinance that says you have to keep your dog on a leash when you are in a public place
• A smoking ordinance that says you can't smoke in certain areas, like parks or restaurants

These examples show how ordinances are used to regulate behavior in a specific area. They are created to make sure that people who live in that area can live together peacefully and safely.