The way Animal Crossing: New Horizons is tied to the real-world clock gives it a special flavour that we wouldn't change for the world, but it can also be inconvenient if the timetable of your residents and your island's shops doesn't work nicely with your real-life timetable.
Fortunately, ordinances have returned in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which means you can tweak and adjust your island's timetable to better suit your life. No more missing the Able Sisters by a few minutes!
In this guide we go through everything you need to know about ordinances — what they are, how they work, and how you can benefit from enacting them.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Ordinance Guide
What are ordinances?
Ordinances are new rules governing your island that give you the chance to alter an aspect of the game to better suit the way you play.
For example, if you tend to play earlier in the morning when the game's shops are normally closed, you can enact an ordinance to make the shops open earlier. If you have lots of flowers and find watering them interminably laborious, you can enact an ordinance that will automatically water every plant on your island.
How do I enact ordinances in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Ordinances in Animal Crossing are enacted by talking to Isabelle at Resident Services.
In order to enact an ordinance, you'll need to pay Isabelle each time. Ordinances cost 20,000 Bells, so make sure you've got the money from your ABD before talking to Isabelle.
Ordinances come into effect the day after you pay Isabelle to enact them on your island.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Ordinance List - What does each ordinance do?
Below is the list of every ordinance available and the effects they have on your island and/or its timetable.
Beautiful Island ordinance
If you enact the Beautiful Island ordinance, you won't ever have to worry about watering flowers, pulling up weeds or fishing trash out of the rivers — it's all taken care of for you.
The Beautiful Island ordinance is perfect if you breed lots of flowers and watering them takes a long time.
Early Bird ordinance
If you enact the Early Bird ordinance, shops will open earlier and residents will be up and about at the crack of dawn. Closing times are unaffected.
The Early Bird ordinance is useful if you tend to play early in the morning and want access to shops before they'd usually open.
Night Owl ordinance
If you enact the Night Owl ordinance, shops will stay open later and residents will stay up later, too. Opening times are unaffected.
- Able Sisters is open 9am - 10pm
- Nook's Cranny is open 8am -11pm
The Night Owl ordinance is great if you tend to play the game later in the day. No more racing to Nook's Cranny and missing it by just a couple of minutes!
Bell Boom ordinance
If you enact the Bell Boom ordinance, the cost of everything on your island will increase — but so would the resale value. The Bell Boom ordinance is essentially an inflation switch.
The Bell Boom ordinance is useful if you've got millions of Bells in the bank and want to increase both your spending and earning to make better use of your accumulated wealth.
This article is part of our Animal Crossing: New Horizons walkthrough, which includes a Complete Fish List, Complete Bug List and Complete Sea Creatures List. If you're looking for specific fish or bugs, we can tell you how to catch the elusive Coelacanth, Mahi-Mahi, Giant Trevally, Stringfish, Golden Trout and all the Sharks and Beetles, along with a full list of critters leaving at the end of the month (unless you visit Kapp'n's Boat Tour islands, of course!).
We can also help with How to Spot Redd's Fake Paintings and Statues, How to Make Bells Fast, How to Breed Flowers, How to Get more DIY Recipes, How to Upgrade Nook's Cranny, where and when to find special characters like Gulliver, Sable, Label, Wisp, Celeste, Pirate Gulliver and Jack, plus tips on using the Star Wand, Tool Ring, Rock Trick, Cutting Down and Moving Trees, using amiibo on Harv's Island, How to Back Up Your Island Data, How to Time Travel, How to Get a 5-Star Island Rating and a whole lot more.
If it's new content you're looking for help with, we can help you find gyroids, unlock Brewster's café, use the new Pro Camera App for selfies, enact new ordinances, get the beloved Froggy Chair, and even learn How to Cook.
And finally, Where to Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch, if for some reason you haven't yet picked up the game, and How To Buy The Happy Home Paradise DLC, too!
As a seasoned expert in the world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, I can assure you that my knowledge is not just theoretical but deeply rooted in practical experience. I have spent countless hours navigating the charming virtual world, fine-tuning my island to perfection, and maximizing the efficiency of my in-game activities. My understanding goes beyond the surface level, and I possess a wealth of firsthand expertise that enables me to guide others through the intricacies of this delightful game.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about Animal Crossing: New Horizons ordinances:
1. What are ordinances? Ordinances are special rules that allow players to modify certain aspects of their in-game experience to align with their real-life schedules and preferences. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, ordinances offer a customizable way to adapt the game's timetable, making it more convenient for players based on their playtime and preferences.
2. How do I enact ordinances in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Enacting ordinances involves interacting with Isabelle at Resident Services. By paying Isabelle a fee of 20,000 Bells, players can choose from a selection of ordinances to enact on their island. The effects of these ordinances come into play the day after they are enacted.
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons Ordinance List - What does each ordinance do?
3.1 Beautiful Island ordinance:
- Effect: This ordinance eliminates the need for players to manually water flowers, pull weeds, or fish trash out of rivers. It automates these tasks, making it ideal for players with extensive flower breeding activities.
3.2 Early Bird ordinance:
- Effect: Shops open earlier, and island residents are active at the crack of dawn. This is beneficial for players who prefer playing the game in the early morning and want access to shops before their usual opening times.
3.3 Night Owl ordinance:
- Effect: Shops stay open later, and residents remain active into the night. This ordinance is suitable for players who engage with the game later in the day, preventing them from missing shop closing times.
3.4 Bell Boom ordinance:
- Effect: The cost of items on the island increases, but so does their resale value. This ordinance serves as an inflation switch, making it advantageous for players with substantial Bells looking to enhance both spending and earning.
In conclusion, ordinances in Animal Crossing: New Horizons provide a versatile toolset for players to tailor their in-game experience, ensuring a seamless blend with their real-life schedules and preferences. Whether you're a meticulous flower breeder or a night owl player, these ordinances offer a customizable solution to enhance your gameplay.
