Laws & Advice
Federal Law
State Law
Local Law
Government Codes
The Ethics Commission provides links to unofficial copies of the code on this page for convenience, but you should not rely on it as the City's official published code. For the official published version of the code, see the following links to the American Legal Publishing Corporation:
- San Francisco Charter (Links to the City American Legal service)
- San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code (Links to the City American Legal service)
Campaign Finance
- Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance (Amendments operative May 20, 2012)
- Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance Regulations (Updated February 15, 2010)
Conflict of Interest
- Conflict of Interest Laws (Updated January 26, 2011)
- Conflict of Interest Regulations (Revised December 19, 2010)
- San Francisco Charter Provisions Relating to Governmental Ethics and the Ethics Commission (Revised July, 2004)
- Manual on Governmental Ethics Laws: A Guide to State and Local Laws Governing the Conduct of Public Officials and Employees (Updated May 7, 2013)
- Conflict of Interest Code: Financial Interests Campaign & Gov't Conduct Code, Sections 3.1-100 - 3.1-500
- Permit Application Processing Section 3.400
- Permit Processing Code of Conduct
- Statements of Incompatible Activities (SIAs)
- Summary of Gifts Rules - March 2013
Complaints & Whistleblowing
- San Francisco Charter, Appendix C, Section C3.699-13
- Reporting Improper Government Activity: Protection of Whistleblowers (Campaign & Gov't Conduct Code, Article IV, Chapter 1, § 4.100, et seq.)
- Regulations for Investigations and Enforcement Proceedings
- Regulations for Violations of the Sunshine Ordinance
Campaign Consultants
- Campaign Consultant Ordinance (Campaign & Gov't Conduct Code, Article I, Chapter 5 § 1.500, et seq.) (Note: Lobbying by campaign consultants and their employees is governed by the Lobbying Ordinance)
- Campaign Consultant Ordinance Regulations
Lobbyists
- Lobbyist Ordinance amendments effective in 2010 (Campaign and Gov't Conduct Code, Article II, Chapter 1, § 2.100, et seq.)
- Lobbyist Ordinance Regulation (Operative February 15, 2010)
- Lobbyists on Behalf of the City (regulated by the Sunshine Ordinance) (SF Administrative Code, Chapter 67, §67.1, et seq.)
Public Access
- Sunshine Ordinance (SF Administrative Code, Chapter 67)
- Sunshine Ordinance Regulation 67.33 - 1 (amendments effective March 13, 2009)
Advice
The Ethics Commission provides two kinds of advice: written formal opinions and informal advice. S.F. Charter § C3.699-12. Written formal opinions are available to individuals who request advice about their responsibilities under local law. Formal opinions provide the requester immunity from subsequent enforcement action if the material facts are as stated in the request for advice, and if the District Attorney and City Attorney concur in the advice. See id. Informal advice does not provide similar protection. See id.
Past advice letters are available on-line in the Commission's advice letters archive 
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