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Our township is in the process of adopting a blight ordinance and civil infractions ordinance. Do we have to hold a public hearing prior to adoption of either?

No. Neither a general law nor charter township is required by law to hold a public hearing for the adoption of a general police power ordinance. Both of these ordinances would be considered that type of ordinance. Instead, a general law township can introduce and adopt such an ordinance at a single meeting without a hearing. A charter township has the additional step of introducing the ordinance at one meeting and publishing notice of the purpose of the ordinance and its availability for review or posting the complete text of the ordinance at the Clerk’s office and five other public places. The notice should also provide information as to when the ordinance will be subsequently reviewed at a meeting for adoption. Some townships, however, do provide public hearings at a Township Board meeting prior to the adoption of a general police power ordinance, which is an acceptable practice. Note that zoning ordinance amendments are subject to public hearing requirements. At a minimum, a public hearing on a zoning ordinance amendment must occur once before the planning commission prior to its ultimate review and adoption by the Township Board.

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