Ordinance is a term sometimes used interchangeably with bylaw, referring to local laws passed by municipal councils. While 'bylaw' is more common in Canadian usage, 'ordinance' appears in some jurisdictions or historical contexts. Both terms describe legally binding rules that municipalities enact within their authority to regulate local matters including land use, noise, parking, business licensing, and property standards. Ordinances and bylaws must comply with provincial legislation and cannot exceed municipal authority. Understanding that these terms refer to the same concept helps when encountering different terminology in various documents, jurisdictions, or historical records.