what is a ordinance
ORDINANCE. A law, a statute, a decree. An ordinance is a law enacted by a municipal body, such as a city council or county commission (sometimes called county council or county board of supervisors). Ordinances govern matters not already covered by state or federal laws such as zoning, safety and building regulations. This word is more usually applied to the laws of a corporation than to the acts of the legislature; as the ordinances of the city of Philadelphia.