SB278 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Steve French
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Municipalities, ordinances, planning, zoning, or licensing of businesses, publication or posting further provided for, Sec. 11-45-8 am'd.
Summary: Allows municipalities with 2,000+ people to publish planning, zoning, or business licensing ordinances in a local newspaper either as a full copy or as a notice of substance.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Section 11-45-8 to let a municipality publish either the full text of planning, zoning, or business licensing ordinances or just a notice of the ordinance’s substance in a locally published newspaper after adoption. If there is no local newspaper, the existing options of posting in public places (three places, including the post office or mayor’s office) or publishing in a county newspaper remain available. It also retains the option to publish a synopsis of such ordinances in a newspaper, with required details. The rules about when publication takes effect, how long postings must stay up (30 days), and website posting, continue to apply, and clerks must attach a publication certificate after recording the ordinance.

Who It Affects
Municipalities with a population of 2,000 or more, who gain flexibility in how they publish planning, zoning, or business licensing ordinances (full copy or notice) in local newspapers.
Residents and businesses in those municipalities, who will receive notice about ordinances through newspaper publication or posted notices and can access full text through the clerk or the municipality's website.

Key Provisions
Allows 2,000+ population municipalities to publish either a full copy of planning/zoning/licensing ordinances or a notice of substance in a locally published newspaper.
Maintains existing publication options when there is no local newspaper: posting in three public places (one at the post office or mayor's office) or publishing in a county newspaper.
Provides an alternative to full publication by allowing a synopsis of planning/zoning/licensing ordinances to be published in a newspaper, with required content listed.
Specifies publication timing: newspaper publication takes effect when it first appears; posting takes effect five days after posting; postings must be kept for at least 30 days and may require a 30-day online posting if the municipality has a website.
Requires the clerk to append a certificate of publication after recording the ordinance, which serves as presumptive evidence of publication.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Municipalities