A Time to Open and a Time to Close—Municipal Regulation of Business Hours

In examining this area of regulation, it is necessary to consider (1) what purposes for municipal restrictions on business hours are valid, (2) what purposes are improper, (3) other limitations on governmental exercise of authority besides the properpurpose requirement, such as prohibitions against discrimination, (4) the forms of legislation available for use, and (5) the division of authority between state and local governments. An examination of these topics will delineate the circumstances under which legislative bodies are likely to impose, and courts are likely to uphold, restrictions on business hours.