LOBBYIST REGISTRATION (2-156-210 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 2, ch. 2-156, art. IV

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-210 Persons required to register.

2-156-210 Persons required to register. Each lobbyist shall register and file reports with the Board as provided in this article if such lobbyist: (1) is paid or otherwise compensated, or has spent at least $1,250, in any combination, for lobbying in any lobbyist reporting period; or (2) spends more than 20 hours on lobbying in any lobbyist reporting period. This section shall extend to any individual who undertakes to influence any administrative action or legislative action as any part of such individual’s duties as an employee of another, regardless of whether such individual is formally designated as a lobbyist by such individual’s employer. (Prior code § 26.2-21; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 7-30-97, p. 50892; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7721, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-220 Persons not required to register.

2-156-220 Persons not required to register. This article is not intended and shall not be construed to apply to the following: (a) Persons who own, publish or are employed by a newspaper or other regularly published periodical, or who own or are employed by a radio station, television station or other news medium which, in the ordinary course of business, disseminates to the general public news, editorial or other comment, or paid advertisements which directly urge the passage or defeat of, action upon, any legislative or administrative matter. This exemption shall not be applicable to such persons insofar as they receive additional compensation or expenses from any other source for undertaking to influence legislative or administrative action; (b) Officials and employees of the City of Chicago, or of any other unit of government, who appear in their official capacities before any city agency for the purpose of explaining the effect of any legislative or administrative matter pending before such body; (c) Persons who advise as to, or participate in, drafting legislation, or associated rules, at the request of the City; (d) Persons who: (1) testify or comment publicly before any agency; (2) participate at the request of a City official, employee, or agency on a task force, commission, working group, advisory committee, or other similar body addressing an issue or situation of interest to the City, provided that the person does not advocate for additional work, responsibilities, contracts, grants, or other treatment from the City on behalf of their employer or client; or (3) fund or co-fund a City position or program at the request of or in coordination with an agency. This exemption (d) shall apply only to the extent that such persons engage in the foregoing capacity. If such persons also engage in activities for which this article otherwise requires them to register, they shall register for those activities; (e) Persons who, either as a member of, or on behalf of, a not-for-profit entity: (1) undertake nonpartisan analysis, study, and research; (2) provide technical advice or assistance; (3) examine or discuss broad social, economic, and similar problems and related solutions; (4) make a self-defense communication; or (5) make a grassroots lobbying communication; (f) Persons who: (1) participate in a grassroots lobbying event and whose lobbying is limited to participation at a grassroots lobbying event; or (2) are involved in organizing a grassroots lobbing event and whose contact with City employees or officials is solely in connection with organizing a grassroots lobbying event; or (g) Persons who communicate with a City official, employee, or agency to influence any administrative action or legislative action solely through participation in a temporary youth employment program or transitional employment program. (Prior code § 26.2-22; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-24-19, p. 2394, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7721, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-230 Information required of registrants.

2-156-230 Information required of registrants. No later than January 20th of each year, or within five business days of engaging in any activity which requires such person to register, every person required to register shall file with the board of ethics a certified written statement on a form prescribed by the board containing the following information: (a) The registrant's name, permanent address and temporary address (if any) while lobbying; (b) With respect to each client and each business entity on behalf of which the registrant expects to act as a lobbyist: (i) The name, business address, permanent address and nature of the business of the client or business entity; (ii) Whether the relationship is expected to involve compensation or expenditures or both; and (iii) The name of each city agency before which the registrant expects to lobby. (c) If such registrant is retained by another business entity pursuant to a written agreement of retainer or employment, a copy of such agreement shall be attached. If the agreement of retainer is oral, a written statement of the substance thereof shall be attached. (d) The registration statement required under this section shall be accompanied by a written statement certifying that all information contained therein is true and correct, and a registration fee of $350.00 per person identified as a lobbyist in the registration statement. In addition to this registration fee of $350.00 per person, there shall also be an annual fee of $75.00 for each additional registered client after the first client. Provided, however, that the Board shall, in accordance with objective criteria established by rule, grant a waiver or reduction of the registration fee required under this subsection (d) for a specific lobbyist, upon written request in a format and accompanied by such proof as may be specified by the Board, if the lobbyist is an individual who is paid or otherwise compensated to influence administrative action or legislative action solely on behalf of one not-for-profit entity. (Prior code § 26.2-23; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-04, p. 39840, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73199, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 7-28-11, p. 4941, § 7; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. IX, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 46730, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-24-19, p. 2394, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7721, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-240 Amendment of registration statements.

2-156-240 Amendment of registration statements. In the event any substantial change or addition occurs with respect to the information required by this article to be contained in the registration statement, an amendment to the statement shall be filed with the board of ethics within 14 days. (Prior code § 26.2-24; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-245 Failure to register.

2-156-245 Failure to register. When the board of ethics determines that any person has failed to register as required in this article, the board of ethics shall notify such person, in a manner prescribed by the board, of his failure to register. Such person shall be subject to the penalty or penalties, as applicable, provided in Article VII of this Chapter. The board of ethics shall suspend the registration of and not accept a lobbyist registration statement from any person who owes a fine pursuant to this chapter until the fine has been paid in full. (Added Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73199, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-12, p. 31123, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-250 Reports of lobbying activities.

2-156-250 Reports of lobbying activities. No later than January 20th, April 20th, July 20th and October 20th of each year, each registrant shall file with the Board a written report of lobbying activities during the previous three calendar months. The report shall be on a form prescribed by the Board, which may include electronic submission, and shall contain: (a) The registrant's name, permanent address, and temporary address (if any) while lobbying; (b) With respect to each client: (i) The name, business address, and nature of business of the client and of any other business entities on whose behalf lobbying was performed; (ii) A statement of the amount of compensation received from each client; (iii) The name of each agency before which the registrant lobbied and a brief description of the administrative action or legislative action that the registrant sought to influence, including: (A) identifying information, if applicable, such as title, file number, or document number; and (B) the outcome sought by the client; (c) The total amount of expenditures, outside the registrant’s own business entity, for lobbying in each of the following categories: (i) Office expenses; (ii) Advertising and publications; (iii) Compensation to others, provided that compensation paid by employees of a not-for-profit entity, or by the not-for-profit entity itself, as stipends to other individuals to participate in activities that would constitute lobbying, without regard to whether those other individuals’ activities would meet the compensation or hours-spent thresholds set forth in Section 2-156-210, shall not count toward such employee’s own expenditures for determining whether that employee must register as a lobbyist pursuant to Section 2-156-210; (iv) Personal sustenance, lodging, and travel totaling $50 or more; (v) Other expenses; provided, however, that each expenditure of $250.00 or more shall also be itemized by the date of the expenditure, the amount, purpose, and beneficiary of the expenditure, the name, address, and nature of business of the recipient, and administrative action or legislative action, if any, in connection with which said expenditure was made; (d) An itemized list of every gift given to any official or employee of the city; and (e) An itemized list of every political contribution made to any of the following persons: (1) any candidate for city office; (2) any elected official of the government of the city; and (3) any official or employee of the city seeking election to an office other than a city office. (f) Upon receipt of the quarterly report required under subsection (a) of this section, the board of ethics shall, without delay, post such report on the on-line system required under subsection (m) of Section 2-156-380. (Prior code § 26.2-25; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 7-30-97, p. 50892; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-28-11, p. 4941, § 8; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 46730, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7721, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-260 Inactive lobbyists.

2-156-260 Inactive lobbyists. Registrants who received no compensation and made no expenditures during a three-month reporting period shall nevertheless file reports as required herein. Such reports shall state that no compensation was received and no expenditures were made during the reporting period. (Prior code § 26.2-26; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-15, p. 3567, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-270 Failure to file reports.

2-156-270 Failure to file reports. If a registrant fails to file a report as required herein, the board of ethics shall, within 15 days of the due date, notify the registrant, in a manner prescribed by the board, of his failure to file by the required date. The registrant shall thereafter file his report within ten days of the issuance of the notice. Any registrant who fails to file within the ten days shall be subject to suspension of his lobbyist registration and the penalty or penalties, as applicable, provided in Article VII of this chapter. Failure to file within the ten days shall constitute a violation of this chapter. Any registrant who is required to file a report hereunder may effect one 30-day extension of time for filing the report by filing with the board of ethics, not less than ten days before the date on which the statement is due, a declaration of his intention to defer the filing of the report. The filing of such declaration shall suspend application of the penalty provisions contained herein for the duration of the extension. Failure to file by the extended date shall constitute a violation of this chapter and shall subject the registrant to suspension of his lobbyist registration and the penalty or penalties, as applicable, provided in Article VII of this chapter. The board of ethics shall not accept a lobbyist registration statement from any person who owes a fine pursuant to this section until the fine has been paid in full. The registration of any person who fails to file a timely report for three or more reporting periods may be suspended by the board for a one year period. (Prior code § 26.2-27; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 7-30-97, p. 50892; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-09, p. 73199, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-12, p. 31123, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-13-13, p. 46730, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-280 Termination of lobbying.

2-156-280 Termination of lobbying. A registrant who terminates the activities that require registration and filing under this article shall file with the board of ethics a termination notice which shall include a report of compensation and expenditures as provided in Section 2-156-250, covering the period of time to the date of termination of his activities as a lobbyist. Such notice and report shall be final and relieve such registrant of further reporting under this article unless and until he later undertakes activities requiring him to register again under this article. (Prior code § 26.2-28; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-290 Access to information.

2-156-290 Access to information. Registration statements, amendments to statements, reports of compensation and expenditures, and notices of termination shall be maintained and made available to the public by the board of ethics. By February 15th of each year, the board of ethics shall compile a list of registered lobbyists, which list shall be made available to the public. (Prior code § 26.2-29; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-300 Contingent fees.

2-156-300 Contingent fees. No person shall retain or employ a lobbyist for compensation contingent in whole or in part upon the approval or disapproval of any administrative action or legislative action, and no person shall accept any such employment or render any service for compensation contingent upon the approval or disapproval of any administrative action or legislative action. (Prior code § 26.2-30; Added Coun. J. 5-16-90, p. 16204; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7721, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-301 Lobbying on the floor of City Council or committee meetings.

2-156-301 Lobbying on the floor of City Council or committee meetings. During any meeting of the City Council or a City Council Committee, no person who is not a current City Council member, City elected official, employee, or a City Council contractor acting on behalf of such City Council member, shall lobby or solicit any City Council member on the floor of City Council or in a City Council Committee meeting room to vote for or against any person or proposition, except through public comment or other testimony, whether in person, by electronic means, or in writing. Nothing in this provision is intended to limit debate by City Council members on any pending matter, or to prohibit discussion between City Council members, or between City Council members and any employee or City elected official, concerning a pending matter. (Added Coun. J. 7-20-22, p. 50671, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-305 Retaining and employing lobbyists who have failed to register - Penalty.

2-156-305 Retaining and employing lobbyists who have failed to register - Penalty. No person shall retain or employ a lobbyist who has failed to register as required in this article. Any person who violates this section shall be subject to the penalty or penalties, as applicable, provided in Article VII of this Chapter. (Added Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-12, p. 31123, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-308 Duty to report persons who have failed to register.

2-156-308 Duty to report persons who have failed to register. The head of any City department and each City employee designated by a department head as having policy-making authority shall be required to report to the Board any person who they believe has undertaken to influence any administrative action or legislative action when such department head or designated City employee has knowledge that the person who they believe has undertaken to influence administrative action or legislative action is not registered as a lobbyist as required by this article. (Added Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32667, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-13-23, p. 7721, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 2-156-309 Lobbyists holding elected office.

2-156-309 Lobbyists holding elected office. No elected official of the State or a unit of local government in the State, other than the city, may lobby the city, the city council, or any city agency, department, board or commission (for purposes of this subsection "City"); provided that nothing in this section shall preclude (1) any such elected official from appearing in their official capacities before the City for the purpose of explaining the effect of any legislative or administrative matter pending before the pertinent City body, (2) any such elected official from appearing without compensation or on behalf of their constituents in the course of their duties as an elected official, (3) any such elected official who is an attorney from providing legal representation to any person seeking quasi-judicial, administrative or legislative action before the City, or (4) any such elected official from engaging in any political activity. (Added Coun. J. 12-18-19, p. 11945, § 1)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2604492Fetched: 10/24/2026