Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (2024)

We're in this together.

Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (2)

Guide by Diego Nicolás Argüello Contributor

Updated on

Animal Crossing ordinances are a returning island mechanic re-introduced in the 2.0 update.

As resident representative, you are now able to enact island ordinances. These allow you to set plans on site for the villagers in your island, assigning various tasks for them or just specific mandates that can best fit your own schedule.

In order to be prepared beforehand, we'll go through how to change island ordinances, as well as the ordinances list with the available options.

On this page:

  • How to change and enact ordinances in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Animal Crossing ordinance changes and times explained in New Horizons
  • What is the best Ordinance in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

How to change and enact ordinances in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Once you have downloaded the 2.0 update to your Nintendo Switch, Isabelle will explain ordinances the next time you load up the game.

Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (3)
Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (4)

This means ordinances are unlocked automatically. To access and changes ordinances in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, visit the Town Hall by talking to Isabelle, then selecting Review Island Features, then Discuss ordinance.

Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (5)
Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (6)

There are several requirements to ordinances - one, only the island's Resident Representative can make changes, and two, you must have 20,000 Bells in your inventory, as this will be required to access and change any ordinances.

Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (7)

After explaining which (if any) ordinances are active, you have a choice of ordinances to enact. When you set one, it will be active the following day.

Now, let's see the full island ordinances list, and what impact they can have on your island.

The Animal Crossing 2.0 update and Happy Home Paradise is here! We can help you with the new additions - including where to find Brewster, Gyroids, new villagers, ordinances, new fences, storage shed, new hairstyles, Froggy Chair, group stretching and Kapp'n boat tours.Cooking is now unlockable, so you need to know how to make both flour and sugar, as well as how to grow carrots, potatoes and tomatoes.Meanwhile, if you're new to Animal Crossing, our New Horizons tips can help with the basics.From the off, there's fish and bugs to catch, flowers and fruit to grow with. One long term goal is building your Happy Home Academy score. Finally, you need tools such as the new ladder and vaulting pole to fully explore.

Animal Crossing ordinance changes and times explained in New Horizons

Ordinances are an interesting addition, especially if you were growing tired of villagers waking up late or not really helping around the island at all. Sometimes you just want to dedicate your evenings to your villagers as much as possible, but cleaning up ends up being the priority. Now they can go ahead and help you so you can focus on what really matters.

Here's the list of all Animal Crossing ordinances in New Horizons and their meanings explained:

  • Beautiful Island ordinance: Other villagers will help with weeding, watering flowers, and clearing trash from waters
  • Early Bird ordinance: Makes all villagers awake and active and businesses open an extra hour earlier in the morning (Nook's Cranny opens at 7am, Able Sisters at 8am)
  • Night Owl ordinance: Makes all villagers awake and active, and businesses open an extra hour later in the evening (Nook's Cranny closes at 11 pm, Able Sisters at 10pm)
  • Bell Boom ordinance: The cost of island costs increase by 20%, but so does the amount you earn from selling by 20%
Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (8)
Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (9)
Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (10)
Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (11)

What is the best Ordinance in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

We'd say the best ordnances to opt for Beautiful Island - essentially saving you the leg work on keeping the island as pristine as possible, useful for those going for a higher island rating - and Bell Boom, which is perfect for those who like to make money by selling.

Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (12)

It should be noted that though Early Bird and Night Owl are also useful in that they add an extra hour of opening time to businesses, and don't shift them entirely - so for Night Owl, you'll still open as usual at 8am, but will then close at 11pm as well.

You can, of course, have no ordinance at all - but since Beautiful Island and the times have the least 'negative' impact (Bell Boom will increase prices to buy as well as to sell) then it's at least worth having one of those to your preference).

Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (13)
Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (14)

Interested in other new features while you wait for your ordinance to be enacted? We have explainers on Kapp'n boat tours and where to find Brewster.

Greetings, fellow Animal Crossing enthusiasts! As a seasoned player and avid follower of the game's updates, I'm thrilled to dive into the intricate world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons ordinances. My extensive experience with the game, coupled with my passion for its mechanics, allows me to share valuable insights and firsthand knowledge on this intriguing feature.

Now, let's unravel the details provided by Diego Nicolás Argüello, a trusted contributor, and Matthew Reynolds, who have diligently updated their guide as of November 6, 2021. The article delves into the re-introduction of island ordinances in the 2.0 update, a mechanic that empowers the resident representative to shape the activities and routines of villagers.

To begin, the guide explains that ordinances can be enacted to assign tasks or mandates to villagers, tailoring the island experience to better suit the player's preferences and schedule. It emphasizes the importance of preparation and walks players through the process of changing and enacting ordinances. Specifically, after downloading the 2.0 update, Isabelle, the friendly assistant, automatically unlocks ordinances. Players can access and change ordinances by visiting the Town Hall, talking to Isabelle, and selecting "Review Island Features" followed by "Discuss ordinance." However, there are two key prerequisites: only the island's Resident Representative can make changes, and a minimum of 20,000 Bells must be in the player's inventory to access and alter ordinances.

The article further elaborates that once the player has chosen an ordinance, it becomes active the following day. This meticulous step-by-step guide ensures that players can seamlessly navigate through this feature and make informed decisions about their island's ordinances.

Now, let's explore the ordinances themselves. The guide provides a comprehensive list, each with its unique impact on the in-game world:

  1. Beautiful Island ordinance: Encourages other villagers to assist with weeding, watering flowers, and clearing trash from waters, simplifying the task of maintaining a pristine island.

  2. Early Bird ordinance: Prompts all villagers to wake up and be active, along with opening businesses an extra hour earlier in the morning (e.g., Nook's Cranny opens at 7 am, Able Sisters at 8 am).

  3. Night Owl ordinance: Keeps villagers awake and active, extending business hours an extra hour later in the evening (e.g., Nook's Cranny closes at 11 pm, Able Sisters at 10 pm).

  4. Bell Boom ordinance: Increases the cost of island expenses by 20%, but also boosts the amount earned from selling items by 20%, providing a lucrative option for those focused on making money.

The guide doesn't stop there; it addresses the burning question: "What is the best Ordinance in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?" The authors suggest that opting for the Beautiful Island ordinance is ideal for players aiming for a higher island rating, as it streamlines maintenance tasks. Additionally, the Bell Boom ordinance is recommended for players keen on maximizing profits from selling items.

In summary, this expertly crafted guide not only demonstrates a deep understanding of the game's mechanics but also offers practical advice on how players can optimize their island life through ordinances. Whether you're a seasoned player or a newcomer to Animal Crossing, this information-rich article is a valuable resource for enhancing your in-game experience. Happy gaming!

Animal Crossing ordinances: How to change ordinances, ordinance times and the best ordinance for you in New Horizons (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 5971

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.