# Title 40 — Municipal Government

## Chapter 40-11 — Ordinances

### § 40-11-01. Enacting clause for ordinances.

The enacting clause of every ordinance adopted by a municipal corporation shall be: "Be it
ordained by the _____________ (governing body) of the city of _____________." Such
caption, however, may be omitted when the ordinances are published in book form or are
revised and digested.
### § 40-11-02. Procedure in passing ordinances.

All ordinances shall be read twice and the second reading and final passage shall not be
had in less than one week after the first reading. After the first reading and before final passage,
an ordinance may be amended. Except as otherwise specifically provided, a majority of all of
the members of the governing body must concur in the passage of an ordinance and in the
creation of any liability against the city and in expending or appropriating money.
### § 40-11-03. Yea and nay vote on passage - When required.

The yeas and nays shall be taken and entered on the journal of the governing body's
proceedings upon the passage of all ordinances and upon all propositions creating any liability
against the city or providing for the expenditure or appropriation of money, and in all other cases
at the request of any member.
### § 40-11-04. Ordinance required for the transfer of property.

Every municipality shall enact an ordinance providing for the conveyance, sale, lease, or
disposal of personal and real property of the municipality. When the property to be disposed of
is estimated by the governing body of the municipality to be of a value of less than two thousand
five hundred dollars, the property may be sold at private sale upon the proper resolution of the
governing body. In all other cases, the property may be sold only at public sale or as provided
under section 40-11-04.2. This section and sections 40-11-04.1 and 40-11-04.2 do not apply to a
lease by a municipality to the state, or any agency or institution of the state, of any waterworks,
mains, and water distribution system and any equipment or appliances connected therewith and
any real property related thereto pursuant to subsection 5 of section 40-33-01 or of any sewage
system and all related property for the collection, treatment, purification, and disposal in a
sanitary manner of sewage pursuant to section 40-34-19.
### § 40-11-04.1. Real property transfer requirements.

Upon resolution by the governing body of a city authorizing the public sale of real property, a
notice containing a description of the property to be sold and designating the place where and
the day and hour when the sale will be held shall be published in the city's official newspaper as
provided in section 40-01-09 once each week for two consecutive weeks with the last
publication being at least ten days in advance of the date set for the sale. The notice shall
specify whether the bids are to be received at auction or as sealed bids as determined by the
governing body of the city. The property advertised shall be sold to the highest bidder if that
person's bid is deemed sufficient by a majority of the members of the governing body.
### § 40-11-04.2. Transfer of real property by exclusive and nonexclusive listing

agreements.
1. As an alternative to the procedure established under section 40-11-04.1, the governing
body of a city may by resolution:
a. Describe the real property of the city which is to be sold;
b. Provide a maximum rate of fee, compensation, or commission; and
c. Provide that the city reserves the right to reject any and all offers determined to
be insufficient.
2. After adoption of the resolution, and publication of the resolution on the city website for
at least fourteen days, if the city maintains a website, the governing body of a city may

engage licensed real estate brokers to attempt to sell the described property by way of
nonexclusive listing agreements or by way of an exclusive listing agreement if the real
estate broker is selected through a competitive process.
3. A proposal from a licensed real estate broker to enter an exclusive listing agreement
with the governing body of a city must be based on the:
a. Experience of the licensed real estate broker;
b. Experience of the licensed real estate broker selling similar property;
c. Marketing strategy the licensed real estate broker intends to use; and
d. Rate of fee, compensation, or commission the licensed real estate broker intends
to accept.
4. In the negotiation of a purchase agreement with a buyer represented by a real estate
broker, the governing body of a city may agree to pay compensation to the buyer's real
estate broker. In the negotiation of a listing agreement, the governing body of a city
shall consider the financial impact of paying compensation to the buyer's real estate
broker on the total fees, compensation, or commission that may become payable by
the city.
### § 40-11-05. Ordinances and resolutions adopted in council cities - Mayor's veto power -

Reconsideration after veto.
An ordinance or resolution adopted by the city council of a city operating under the council
form of government is not enacted until the ordinance or resolution is approved by the mayor or
passed over the mayor's veto. An ordinance or resolution passed by the governing body of a
city operating under the council form of government must be deposited in the office of the city
auditor for the approval of the mayor. If the mayor approves the ordinance or resolution, the
mayor shall sign the ordinance or resolution. An ordinance or resolution not approved by the
mayor must be returned by the mayor with the mayor's objections in writing to the next regular
or special meeting of the council occurring not less than five days after the passage of the
ordinance or resolution. The veto may extend to an entire ordinance or resolution or to any one
or more items or appropriations contained in any ordinance or resolution making an
appropriation. If a veto extends to only a part of an ordinance or resolution, the residue takes
effect. If the mayor fails to return any ordinance or resolution with the mayor's objections within
the time specified in this section, the mayor is deemed to have approved the ordinance or
resolution. Any veto of an ordinance or resolution may be overridden by the city council, if
two-thirds of its members pass a motion to override the veto. Upon such action, the ordinance
or resolution is effective notwithstanding the veto. The vote to pass an ordinance or resolution
over the mayor's veto must be taken by yeas and nays and entered in the journal.
### § 40-11-06. Publication of ordinances.

The title and penalty clause of every ordinance imposing any penalty, fine, imprisonment, or
forfeiture for a violation of its provisions, after the final adoption of the ordinance, shall be
published in one issue of the official newspaper of the city.
### § 40-11-07. Effective date of ordinances.

Ordinances finally approved by the governing body of a municipality and which require
publication shall take effect and be in force from and after the publication thereof unless
otherwise expressly provided in the ordinance. Ordinances which do not require publication
shall take effect and be in force from and after the final approval thereof unless otherwise
expressly provided therein.
### § 40-11-08. Ordinance book required - Ordinance book and certified copies of

ordinances as evidence.
Each municipality shall keep an ordinance book. The city auditor shall record in such book
all ordinances finally passed and approved, and when any ordinance has been published, the
city auditor shall record therein the affidavit of publication or of posting. The ordinance book, or
copies of ordinances as recorded therein, certified by the city auditor, shall be received as

evidence without further proof. If the ordinances of a municipality have been printed in book or
pamphlet form by authority of the governing body of the municipality, such book or pamphlet
shall be received as evidence of the existence of the ordinances therein contained.
### § 40-11-09. Enactment and revision of ordinances.

The executive officer of a municipality may appoint, by and with the advice and consent of
the governing body of the municipality, one or more competent persons to prepare and submit
to the governing body, for its adoption or rejection, an ordinance for the revision or amendment
of existing ordinances or for the enactment of new and additional ordinances for such
municipality. The attorney for the municipality, if it has an attorney, shall be appointed as one of
the persons to prepare and submit such ordinance. The compensation of the revisor or revisors,
including that of the attorney, shall be determined by the governing body and shall be paid out of
the municipal treasury. Such revision, including any additional ordinances and amendments to
existing ordinances contained therein, may be passed as a single ordinance and may be
published in pamphlet or book form, by and under the authority of the governing body of the
municipality, and shall be valid and effective without publication in a newspaper or posting.
### § 40-11-09.1. Presumption of regular adoption, enactment, or amendment of resolution

or ordinance.
Three years after the adoption or amendment of a resolution or the enactment or
amendment of an ordinance by the governing body of a city it is conclusively presumed that the
resolution or ordinance was adopted, enacted, or amended and published as required by law.
### § 40-11-10. Action for violation of ordinance in corporate name - Previous prosecution,

recovery, or acquittal no defense.
Repealed by S.L. 2025, ch. 379, § 4.
### § 40-11-11. Summons to issue on violation of ordinance - When warrant of arrest to

issue.
Repealed by S.L. 2025, ch. 379, § 4.
### § 40-11-12. Commitment of guilty person for nonpayment of fines or costs.

Repealed by S.L. 2025, ch. 379, § 4.
### § 40-11-13. Fines and forfeitures for violation of ordinances paid into treasury.

Repealed by S.L. 2025, ch. 379, § 4.
