7-5-108. Adoption and amendment of codes by reference. (1) Any local government may adopt or repeal an ordinance which incorporates by reference the provisions of any code or portions of any code or any amendment thereof, properly identified as to date and source, without setting forth the provisions of the code in full. Notice of the intent to adopt a code by reference shall be published after first reading and prior to final adoption of the code. At least one copy of the code, portion, or amendment which is incorporated or adopted by reference shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the governing body and kept there, available for public use, inspection, and examination. The filing requirements prescribed in this section shall not be considered to be complied with unless the required copies of the codes, portion, amendment, or public record are filed with the clerk of the governing body for a period of 30 days prior to final adoption of the ordinance which incorporates the code, portion, or amendment by reference.

(2) The governing body may adopt or amend a code by reference by an emergency ordinance and without notice. The emergency ordinance is automatically repealed 90 days following its adoption and cannot be reenacted as an emergency ordinance.

(3) The process for repealing an ordinance which adopted or amended a code by reference shall be the same as for repealing any other ordinance.

(4) The filing requirement of subsection (1) shall be complied with in adopting amendments to codes.

(5) Any ordinance adopting a code, portion, or amendment by reference shall state the penalty for violating the code, portion, or amendment or any provision thereof separately, and no part of any penalty shall be incorporated by reference.

(6) For purposes of this section, "code" means any published compilation of rules which has been prepared by various technical trade associations, model code organizations, federal agencies, or this state or any agency thereof and shall include specifically but shall not be limited to: traffic codes, building codes, plumbing codes, electrical wiring codes, health or sanitation codes, fire prevention codes, and inflammable liquids codes, together with any other code which embraces rules pertinent to a subject which is a proper local government legislative matter.

History: En. 47A-3-103 by Sec. 6, Ch. 477, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-103.