Byelaw
A local regulation made by a local authority, most commonly under section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972 for the good rule and government of its area and the suppression of nuisances. Byelaws generally have no effect until confirmed by the relevant confirming authority, typically the Secretary of State.
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Section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972 gives district and London borough councils a general power to make byelaws: the council of a district and the council of a London borough may make byelaws for the good rule and government of the whole or any part of the district or borough, as the case may be, and for the prevention and suppression of nuisances therein. Many other statutes confer narrower byelaw-making powers on local authorities for specific purposes, such as parks or markets, and section 236 sets out common procedural rules for byelaws made under this Act and under other enactments where no specific procedure is otherwise provided.
Under section 236, byelaws must be made under the authority's common seal (or, for the Greater London Authority, under the Mayor's hand) and shall not have effect until they are confirmed by the confirming authority, with at least one month's public notice of the intention to apply for confirmation. The confirming authority may confirm or refuse to confirm a byelaw and may fix its commencement date. Section 236(11) defines the confirming authority as the authority or person specified for that purpose in the enactment under which the byelaws are made, but if no authority or person is so specified, it means the Secretary of State.
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Official sources
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