Dillon's Rule
Definition
Dillon's Rule holds that local governments only have the powers a state explicitly gives them, plus whatever is clearly implied by those powers. Any doubt about whether a city can act is resolved against the city, in favor of the state.
Why it matters
Under Dillon's Rule, a city council can pass a popular local ordinance, on minimum wage, tenant protections, or plastic bags, only to have it struck down in court because the state never granted that specific authority. It shifts real power away from city hall to the state legislature, even on issues that seem purely local.
Seen in the wild
Virginia is a strict Dillon's Rule state, and its localities have had to seek specific state enabling legislation before acting, needing General Assembly authorization for local plastic bag taxes before a handful of Virginia cities and counties could adopt them starting in 2020.1