Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 110 - Council
Section 11018.1 - Ordinances and resolutions


(a) Ordinances.--With regard to ordinances, the following shall apply:
(1) Council shall enact ordinances as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of this part and impose fines and penalties for the violation of the ordinances, recoverable in the manner provided in this part and subject to limitations as to the amount of the fines and penalties.
(2) Every legislative act of council shall be by ordinance and the legislative acts shall include:
(i) Certain tax ordinances.
(ii) General appropriation ordinances.
(iii) All ordinances that:
(A) Exercise the police power of the city.
(B) Regulate land use, development and subdivision.
(C) Impose building, plumbing, electrical, property maintenance, housing and similar standards.
(D) Otherwise regulate the conduct of persons within the city.
(iv) Imposition of penalties for the violation of ordinances.
(3) A proposed ordinance may be introduced by a council member and council may require that the introduction of a proposed ordinance by a council member be by motion.
(b) Resolutions.--With regard to resolutions, the following shall apply:
(1) Council shall adopt resolutions in accordance with the provisions of this part.
(2) The purposes for which resolutions may be adopted shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(i) Ceremonial or congratulatory expressions of the goodwill of council.
(ii) Statements of public policy of council.
(iii) Approval of formal agreements of the city, except when an agreement arises under a previously approved purchasing system of the city.
(iv) Approval of the acquisition, disposition and leasing of real property.
(v) Approval of administrative rules and regulations arising under State statutes or city ordinances.
(vi) Annual tax millage rate in accordance with section 12531 (relating to tax levies).
(3) When eminent domain proceedings are instituted by resolution, notice of the resolution, including a description of the subject properties, must be published once in a newspaper of general circulation not more than 60 days nor fewer than seven days prior to adoption.
(July 2, 2019, P.L.351, No.51, eff. 60 days)

2019 Amendment. Act 51 amended subsecs. (a)(2) and (b)(2).

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 11 - CITIES

Chapter 110 - Council

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 11001 - Qualifications of council members

Section 11002 - Vesting of legislative power

Section 11003 - Organization of council

Section 11004 - Oath of council members, quorum and rules

Section 11005 - Meetings of council, notice and participation by telecommunication device

Section 11015 - Attendance of witnesses and production of books before council or committee of council

Section 11016 - Salaries

Section 11016.1 - Appointment of city clerk

Section 11018.1 - Ordinances and resolutions

Section 11018.2 - Voting, no veto and vote necessary to enact ordinances or adopt resolutions

Section 11018.3 - Journal of proceedings, recording and withholding of vote

Section 11018.4 - Signing and attesting ordinances

Section 11018.5 - Proposed ordinances and titles

Section 11018.6 - Reading of proposed ordinances and final enactment

Section 11018.7 - Payments not authorized by law

Section 11018.8 - Time of taking effect of ordinances

Section 11018.9 - Publication of proposed ordinances

Section 11018.10 - Filing of proposed ordinances

Section 11018.11 - Records of ordinances maintained by city clerk

Section 11018.12 - Proof and evidence

Section 11018.13 - Standard or nationally recognized codes

Section 11018.14 - Maps, plans or drawings

Section 11018.15 - Codification of ordinances

Section 11018.16 - Enforcement of ordinances, recovery and payment of fines and penalties

Section 11018.17 - Penalty

Section 11030 - Initiation of proposed ordinances by petition and exceptions

Section 11031 - Petition and notice

Section 11032 - Signing and oath

Section 11033 - Number of signatures, examination and certificate by city clerk

Section 11034 - Submission to council

Section 11035 - Actions by council and notices

Section 11036 - Form of ballot on submission to vote

Section 11037 - Effect of majority vote

Section 11038 - No repeal within two years

Section 11039 - Number of proposed ordinances to be submitted and elections limited

Section 11040 - Submission for repeal by council

Section 11041 - Publication of proposed ordinance, repeal or amendment

Section 11050 - Time ordinances go into effect

Section 11051 - Petition and reconsideration of ordinance

Section 11052 - Preparation of petition by city clerk and notice

Section 11053 - Additional petitions

Section 11054 - Signatures, oath and time of signing

Section 11055 - Presentation of petition to council

Section 11056 - Ascertainment of number of signers and report

Section 11059 - Effect of petition and submission to electors

Section 11060 - Certification to county board of elections, ballots or ballot labels and expense of elections

Section 11061 - Form of ballot or ballot label

Section 11062 - Computing and filing returns

Section 11063 - Effect of vote

Section 11064 - Publication of ordinance before election