Code of Alabama
Chapter 45 - Ordinances and Resolutions.
Section 11-45-8 - Publication and Recordation of Ordinances; When Ordinances Take Effect; Adoption of Certain Technical Codes by Reference.

(a) All ordinances shall as soon as practicable after their passage be recorded in a book kept for that purpose and be authenticated by the signature of the clerk.
(b)(1) All ordinances of a general or permanent nature, except as provided in subdivision (2) and in subsection (d) of this section, shall be published in some newspaper of general circulation published in the municipality, but if no such newspaper is published in the municipality such ordinances may be published by posting a copy of the ordinance in three public places within the municipality, one of which shall be at the mayor's office in the city or town. In the event there is no newspaper published in the municipality and there is a newspaper published in the county in which the municipality is located having general circulation in the municipality, at the option of the governing body of such municipality the ordinance may be published in that newspaper. In towns having a population of less than 2,000 inhabitants as shown by the 1950 federal census, the governing body of such town shall have the option of publication of the ordinance by posting as above provided or in a newspaper published in the town or in the county having a general circulation in the town.
(2) All ordinances of a general and permanent nature relating to planning or zoning or the licensing or franchising of businesses, as an alternative to the publishing requirements of subdivision (1), may be published in a synopsis form in some newspaper of general circulation published in the municipality provided that the synopsis, at a minimum, includes the following information:
a. A summary of the purpose and effect of the ordinance.
b. If the ordinance relates to planning or zoning, a general description of the property or properties affected by the ordinance including the common name by which the property or properties are known and the substance of the ordinance.
c. If the ordinance relates to the licensing of businesses or the granting of a franchise, the categories of businesses affected by the ordinance and the substance of the ordinance.
d. The date upon which the ordinance was passed and, if different from the date of publication, the effective date of the ordinance.
e. A statement that a copy of the full ordinance may be obtained from the office of the city or town clerk during normal business hours.
(3) When the ordinance or notice of the substance of an ordinance is published in the newspaper, it shall take effect from and after the time it shall first appear therein, and when published by posting it shall take effect five days thereafter. When an ordinance is published by posting, the municipality shall take reasonable steps to maintain the posting for not less than 30 days. In addition, if the municipality maintains an Internet website, the municipality, at a minimum, shall include a copy of the ordinance or notice of the substance of an ordinance on its website for 30 days.
(4) Immediately following the record of any ordinance, the clerk shall append a certificate stating therein the time and manner of publication, which certificate shall be presumptive of the facts stated therein.
(5) All ordinances or notices of the substance of an ordinance granting a franchise shall be published at the expense of the party or parties to whom the franchise is granted.
(c) Ordinances may adopt by reference thereto, without setting the same out at length in the ordinance, rules, and regulations which have been printed as a code in book or pamphlet form for any of the following:
(1) The construction, erection, alteration, or improvement of buildings.
(2) Installation of plumbing or plumbing fixtures.
(3) Installation of electric wiring or lighting fixtures.
(4) Installation of gas or gas fixtures.
(5) Fire prevention.
(6) Health and sanitation.
(7) Milk and milk products.
(8) Parks.
(9) Airports.
(10) Waterworks and sewers.
(11) Traffic.
(12) Mechanical.
(13) Swimming pools.
(14) Housing.
(15) Standard code for elimination and repair of unsafe buildings.
(16) Other like codes.
If, before adopting the code in book or pamphlet form, the governing body of the city or town shall by resolution hold a public hearing of which there shall be at least 15 days' notice of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing by publication of the resolution once a week for two successive weeks or by posting notices of the hearing for the length of time, as the case may be, under subsection (b) of this section, the resolution shall provide that not less than three copies of the code shall be filed for not less than 15 days prior to the holding of the public meeting for use and examination by the public in the office of the city or town clerk.
Amendments to such rules or regulations adopted as a code thereafter shall be adopted by ordinances published as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(d) The following shall not be deemed ordinances of a general or permanent nature requiring publication:
(1) Ordinances authorizing or ratifying contracts with public utilities for utility services for a specified term.
(2) Ordinances authorizing the issuance or sale or security of bonds, debentures, notes, warrants and other obligations, whether full faith and credit obligations or payable from general revenues or special taxes or from revenues of a utility or other property of a municipality.
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the adoption of a code for the revision and codification of the ordinances of a municipality and the adoption of such code by ordinances as provided in Section 11-45-7.