Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ 2.0 update is here and it’s glorious. With it comes farming, Brewster, new islands, villagers and so much more (full list here). But something that has been introduced but not really explained is the new island ordinance s. So that’s what we’re going to do for you here.
Ordinances are basically island rules that adjust island living to your play style. For example, if you’re more of a night owl then you can set it so your shops open later. There are a number of ordinances to choose from that will best suit your playstyle. To activate it simply go to Isabelle at Resident Services to ‘Review Island Features’ to change them. Just a warning though that it does cost 20,000 Bells to set up or change an ordinance. But that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re late in the game.
So without further ado let’s break down the ordinances.
Beautiful Island Ordinance

Resident Services says that villagers will assist with weeding, watering flowers on the island, and clearing trash from the water with the Beautiful Island Ordinance. Which is a lot better than me spending the better part of an hour watering flowers.
This is the one that I’ve chosen for my island in particular and it’s all about maintaining the island’s beauty. Mainly in the form of more flower growth. If you’re eager to collect all the varieties or are looking to grow a lush flower garden then this may be the ordinance for you.
It’s also useful for those seeking to grow all the different types of hybrid flowers. Hybrid flower varieties grow in specific colours that can’t be bought from a shop like blue, purple and black that grow with a certain rarity. With the Beautiful Island ordinance hybrid flowers’ spawn rates by 20%.
The perks of the Beautiful Island Ordinance extend past gardening, however. There should also be a noticeable decrease in the trash in the ocean, weeds, and cockroaches. An important feature for non-regular Animal Crossing players.
Bell Boom Ordinance
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If you want all the glory with none of the grind, then the Bell Boom Ordinance may be the one for you. With this ordinance the cost of goods will go up, but so does the amount of money you make from selling items.
This ordinance is great for when you need to sell several items at one time and need the extra Bells for construction purposes. While this ordinance isn’t great for players who are investing in new items or furniture as it will increase their cost, it’s perfect for players trying to save up enough Bells to move island homes, build bridges and inclines, or save up for expensive items.
I’d suggest this ordinance for people at maybe a mid-tier in their Animal Crossing: New Horizons journey. You’ve opened all the necessary shops but now need those extra bells to pay off all those pesky loans, increase your house to the maximum size or even open all the shops on Harv’s Island.
Be sure to check out our ‘How to be a Bellionaire’ guide as well if you’re looking to make some extra cash.
Early Bird Ordinance

The Early Bird ordinance will shift the island’s schedule so that villagers wake up earlier. Shops will open earlier as well, making this island ordinance the perfect choice for players who tend to play in the mornings before they get their day started.
But do take note that the Early Bird ordinance will also make the shops close earlier, and villagers go to sleep earlier as well.
Generally, each villager has their own schedule based on their personality, with each type following the same schedule. This change allows players to actually be able to spend time with their favourites, instead of having to sneak in gaming time during the day.
Night Owl Ordinance

The Night Owl Ordinance is the opposite of the Early Bird Ordinance and makes the shops open later in the day. Villagers will also start getting up later as well. Of course, this means that the shops will stay open later into the night, and villagers will also stay up late.
If you’re not someone who time travels and runs a normal 9-5 job it’s most likely that the only time you’ll be able to play Animal Crossing is after work and your daily responsibilities. But an unfortunate reality is that there isn’t a lot to do late at night. But this Night Owl ordinance will change all of that.
Choosing An Ordinance

After speaking to Isabelle and choosing an ordinance, it will take effect starting the next day. If you want to change your mind after setting up an ordinance, you’ll have to wait for the next day for it to go into effect before switching to something new.
The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 update is live now. And for all our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides be sure to check out all of them over here.