Is a public hearing required for all ordinances?

No. State law does not impose a blanket requirement that a public hearing be held prior to the adoption of every municipal ordinance. Rather, state law imposes such a requirement only in specific instances. For example, a public hearing must be held before a zoning ordinance is adopted or amended. Wis. Stat. § 62.23(7)(d)1.b., (d)2. A municipality must also hold a public hearing prior to enacting or amending an ordinance imposing impact fees on a developer. Wis. Stat. § 66.0617(3). Thus, a municipality is not required to hold public hearings for all municipal ordinances unless the municipality has adopted a local ordinance or rule requiring that it do so.

(rev. 3/19)