Registration Fees
San Diego Municipal Code § 27.4010
in effect§27.4010 Registration Fees
(a) At the time a lobbying firm registers pursuant to section 27.4007, the lobbying firm shall pay an annual registration fee based on the number of lobbyists identified on its registration form, plus an annual client registration fee for each client identified on the registration form.
(1) A lobbying firm that initially qualifies to register during the last quarter of a calendar year (October through December) pursuant to section 27.4007 shall pay prorated registration fees.
(2) When a lobbying firm adds a lobbyist subsequent to the lobbying firm’s initial registration, the lobbying firm shall pay an additional lobbyist registration fee when filing its amended registration form as required by section 27.4012.
(3) When a lobbying firm acquires a client subsequent to the lobbying firm’s initial registration, the lobbying firm shall pay an additional client registration fee when filing its amended registration form as required by section 27.4012.
(4) For the purpose of determining client registration fees, a coalition or membership organization shall be considered a single client, even if one or more of its members also qualify as clients under section 27.4002.
(5) Registration fees may be paid or reimbursed by a client.
(b) At the time an organization lobbyist registers pursuant to section 27.4007, the organization lobbyist shall pay an annual organization lobbyist registration fee.
(1) An organization lobbyist that initially qualifies to register during the last quarter of a calendar year (October through December) pursuant to section 27.4007 shall pay a prorated registration fee.
(2) An organization lobbyist shall pay a single registration fee regardless of the number of its owners, officers, and employees who engage in lobbying.
(c) All registration fees shall be set by the City Council based upon the recommendation of the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall from time to time recommend fee amounts to the City Council that reflect, but do not exceed, the City’s costs of administering the filing requirements set forth in this division. A copy of the fee schedule shall be filed in the rate book of fees on file in the office of the City Clerk.
(Amended 12-7-1998 by O-18606 N.S.)
(Retitled and amended 8-3-2007 by O-19656 N.S.; effective 1-1-2008.)
(Amended 12-2-2009 by O-19913 N.S.; effective 1-1-2010.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter02/Ch02Art07Division40.pdf#page=13Fetched: 10/28/2026