Alabama § 11-3A-3 - Adoption Procedures for Ordinances; Administrative Fees; Penalties.

§ 11-3A-3. Adoption Procedures for Ordinances; Administrative Fees; Penalties.

(a) Following the notice requirements set out in subsection (b), the county commission, by majority vote, may adopt ordinances for the implementation and enforcement of the powers set out in Section 11-3A-2. The county commission, in its discretion, may hold a separate public hearing on the adoption of the proposed ordinances except the vote on approval of a proposed ordinance shall be taken only at a regularly scheduled county commission meeting and only following notice as set out in subsection (b). The style of all ordinances shall be, “Be it ordained by the _________ County Commission as follows:” inserting the name of the county as the case may be.

All ordinances adopted by the county commission pursuant to this chapter shall be kept in a separate book maintained in the county commission office and on a county maintained website if one is available, and shall be available at all times for public inspection.

(b) Prior to the adoption of any ordinance pursuant to subsection (a), the county commission shall post notice of its intention to consider the adoption of the ordinance at the courthouse and at any other place it determines appropriate for a period of no less than 30 days. Notice shall also be published at least twice beginning three weeks prior to the county commission meeting at which the matter will be addressed in all newspapers published in the county that are authorized to publish legal advertisements. All notices shall state the date, time, and location of the meeting at which the proposed ordinance will be considered and shall advise where copies of all proposed ordinances may be obtained for review.

(c) Subject to any limitations set out in the constitution or the general laws of this state, the county commission may utilize the ordinance procedure in this section to establish administrative fees only for the purpose of administering the powers in subsection (a) of Section 11-3A-2, which shall not exceed the actual cost of the implementation and enforcement of any ordinance adopted under authority granted herein.

(d) The powers granted in this chapter shall not be construed to authorize any assessments, rates, charges, fees for services, or other similar monetary impositions not constituting taxes to be made or imposed against any person or property, unless the services related to the assessments, rates, charges, fees for services, or other similar monetary impositions may be provided to the person or the powers related thereto may be exercised with respect to the property.

(e) The county commission may establish and enforce administrative and civil penalties, including fines, for the enforcement of ordinances adopted under authority granted in this chapter. The fine shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense, however, the total fine shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). The ordinances, including any penalties and fines, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedures set out in subsections (a) and (b). All fines and penalties collected shall be paid into the county general fund of the county and earmarked for the administration of the ordinances adopted pursuant to this chapter. Compliance may also be pursued through civil or equitable action filed in the circuit court of the county seeking injunctive relief or other appropriate remedy.