Chicago Board of Ethics
@chicagoethicsbd.bsky.social
Since 1986, we've administered, interpreted + enforced Chicago's Governmental Ethics Ordinance--we advise, educate, regulate, enforce + adjudicate. 312-744-9660. www.chicago.gov/Ethics
We thank Reform for Illinois for honoring our Executive Director Steve Berlin with their 2025 Leadership in Ethics Award! RFI does amazing work for Chicagoans and Illinoisans in government ethics.
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
We thank Reform for Illinois for honoring our Executive Director Steve Berlin with their 2025 Leadership in Ethics Award! RFI does amazing work for Chicagoans and Illinoisans in government ethics.
Among other actions the Board took at yesterday's meeting, it set the default schedule for its 2026 monthly meetings. Note the changed start time from 3pm to 2pm:
November 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Among other actions the Board took at yesterday's meeting, it set the default schedule for its 2026 monthly meetings. Note the changed start time from 3pm to 2pm:
The Board met today. It found probable cause in 2 cases, dismissed another, found a violation and assessed a $5,000 fine in another, issued an advisory opinion, granted one waiver request, and denied another waiver request. Watch this space tomorrow for more info.
November 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The Board met today. It found probable cause in 2 cases, dismissed another, found a violation and assessed a $5,000 fine in another, issued an advisory opinion, granted one waiver request, and denied another waiver request. Watch this space tomorrow for more info.
In lobbying news, 793 individuals are registered for 2025, and we have collected $372,350 in 2025 registration fees. A complete list of lobbyists and their clients is here: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
November 13, 2025 at 3:41 PM
In lobbying news, 793 individuals are registered for 2025, and we have collected $372,350 in 2025 registration fees. A complete list of lobbyists and their clients is here: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
The Board has found 7 lobbyists in violation of the law for failing to file Q3 activity reports as required. The Board has fined them $250/day and suspended their lobbying rights until they comply: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The Board has found 7 lobbyists in violation of the law for failing to file Q3 activity reports as required. The Board has fined them $250/day and suspended their lobbying rights until they comply: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
We're hiring! We have two posted vacancies, one for a Project Coordinator: chicago.taleo.net/careersectio...
and one for a Senior Attorney: chicago.taleo.net/careersectio...
and one for a Senior Attorney: chicago.taleo.net/careersectio...
October 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
We're hiring! We have two posted vacancies, one for a Project Coordinator: chicago.taleo.net/careersectio...
and one for a Senior Attorney: chicago.taleo.net/careersectio...
and one for a Senior Attorney: chicago.taleo.net/careersectio...
In lobbying news, 789 individuals are registered with us; we’ve collected $363,175 in 2025 fees. A complete list of all lobbyists and their clients is here: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
October 16, 2025 at 4:22 PM
In lobbying news, 789 individuals are registered with us; we’ve collected $363,175 in 2025 fees. A complete list of all lobbyists and their clients is here: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
1 of 3: A common Q we get: "I'm a City employee; I was invited to an Alder's political fundraiser. Can I go?" A: yes. It's political activity, which is allowed (protected by State law actually)--just not on or with City property. The entry donation is a political contribution, also allowed. See:
September 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
1 of 3: A common Q we get: "I'm a City employee; I was invited to an Alder's political fundraiser. Can I go?" A: yes. It's political activity, which is allowed (protected by State law actually)--just not on or with City property. The entry donation is a political contribution, also allowed. See:
Here are the minutes from the Board's August 2025 meeting: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Minutes dating back to 2005 are posted here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
Minutes dating back to 2005 are posted here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
September 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Here are the minutes from the Board's August 2025 meeting: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Minutes dating back to 2005 are posted here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
Minutes dating back to 2005 are posted here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
The Board met today, and among other things, found probable cause in one case, a minor violation in another, dismissed two matters, and continued another. Please check here tomorrow for more information.
September 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The Board met today, and among other things, found probable cause in one case, a minor violation in another, dismissed two matters, and continued another. Please check here tomorrow for more information.
In lobbying news, 783 individuals are registered with us, and we've collected $353,100 in 2025 registration fees. A complete list of lobbyists and all their clients is here: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
September 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
In lobbying news, 783 individuals are registered with us, and we've collected $353,100 in 2025 registration fees. A complete list of lobbyists and all their clients is here: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
The Board meets next on Monday, September 15, at 3pm, in person at 740 N Sedgwick 5th FL, and via Zoom. Respectful public participation is welcome. The agenda and Zoom access info are here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
September 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The Board meets next on Monday, September 15, at 3pm, in person at 740 N Sedgwick 5th FL, and via Zoom. Respectful public participation is welcome. The agenda and Zoom access info are here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
The Law Dept. has settled 2 cases of ethics violations for $10,000, based on investigations by the OIG: 23067.02, for failure to report unlawful activity to the OIG; and 24020, for failing to disclose ownership interests on annual statements of financial interests. www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
August 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Law Dept. has settled 2 cases of ethics violations for $10,000, based on investigations by the OIG: 23067.02, for failure to report unlawful activity to the OIG; and 24020, for failing to disclose ownership interests on annual statements of financial interests. www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
The Board's amended Rules + Regulations take effect today, 8/22/25: chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Here's a brief PowerPoint about the changes: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Here's a brief PowerPoint about the changes: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
August 22, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The Board's amended Rules + Regulations take effect today, 8/22/25: chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Here's a brief PowerPoint about the changes: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Here's a brief PowerPoint about the changes: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
1 of 2: a good Q that comes up when City employees or official run for Congress: are City contractors and lobbyists subject to the $1,500 annual contribution limit to their campaign funds? A: no, because Federal election laws supersede Chicago law here. See 52 U.S.C. 30143 and 11 CFR § 108.7.
August 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
1 of 2: a good Q that comes up when City employees or official run for Congress: are City contractors and lobbyists subject to the $1,500 annual contribution limit to their campaign funds? A: no, because Federal election laws supersede Chicago law here. See 52 U.S.C. 30143 and 11 CFR § 108.7.
The Board has posted the Settlement Agreement in Case 25006.IG, involving violations of the revolving door/post-employment prohibitions by a former employee, for $6,000: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
August 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The Board has posted the Settlement Agreement in Case 25006.IG, involving violations of the revolving door/post-employment prohibitions by a former employee, for $6,000: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
The Board has found 7 lobbyists in violation of the law for failing to file their Q2 lobbyist activity reports as required by law, and assessed ongoing daily fines of $250 until they file.
www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
August 11, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The Board has found 7 lobbyists in violation of the law for failing to file their Q2 lobbyist activity reports as required by law, and assessed ongoing daily fines of $250 until they file.
www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
Alea iacta est: See www.chicago.gov/dam/city/dep...; www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...; and www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
August 8, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Alea iacta est: See www.chicago.gov/dam/city/dep...; www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...; and www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
An odd Q that arises ~once a decade: "I'm a City employee and won a $100 gift card in raffle--can I accept it?" A: If it was truly a bona fide random drawing and there's no evidence your name was deliberately chosen to influence to you, then yes. The Board has addressed this in 4 cases since 1990.
August 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
An odd Q that arises ~once a decade: "I'm a City employee and won a $100 gift card in raffle--can I accept it?" A: If it was truly a bona fide random drawing and there's no evidence your name was deliberately chosen to influence to you, then yes. The Board has addressed this in 4 cases since 1990.
In lobbying news, 772 individuals are registered with our office currently, and we have collected $346,300 in 2025 registration fees. For a list of all lobbyists and their clients, please see www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
August 7, 2025 at 2:48 PM
In lobbying news, 772 individuals are registered with our office currently, and we have collected $346,300 in 2025 registration fees. For a list of all lobbyists and their clients, please see www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
A Q we get: "Can I, a City employee, apply for a small business loan from the Dept of Planning & Dev. for a $45,000 grant for my business?" A: generally no--the limit is $1,000/year, unless the DPD has designated the specific program as "eligible" for City personnel. www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
August 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A Q we get: "Can I, a City employee, apply for a small business loan from the Dept of Planning & Dev. for a $45,000 grant for my business?" A: generally no--the limit is $1,000/year, unless the DPD has designated the specific program as "eligible" for City personnel. www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...
Who is on our Board? We currently have 6 members, all attorneys, and one vacancy, that of the Chair. Our Board members' brief bios are here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
August 5, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Who is on our Board? We currently have 6 members, all attorneys, and one vacancy, that of the Chair. Our Board members' brief bios are here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
The Board meets next on Monday, August 11, at 3 pm, in our offices and via Zoom. Respectful public comment is welcome. The agenda and Zoom access information are here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
August 5, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The Board meets next on Monday, August 11, at 3 pm, in our offices and via Zoom. Respectful public comment is welcome. The agenda and Zoom access information are here: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...
That said, honoraria for presentations unrelated to one's City job are fine. Ergo, if a City employee is offered a $500 honorarium by the American Philatelic Society for a presentation on their French airmail stamp collection, that "flies."
July 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
That said, honoraria for presentations unrelated to one's City job are fine. Ergo, if a City employee is offered a $500 honorarium by the American Philatelic Society for a presentation on their French airmail stamp collection, that "flies."
A question we get now and then: can City government personnel accept an honorarium for a presentation that's related to their City job? A: no. Since 2012, Chicago's laws prohibit this, period. Before that, honoraria were ok if reported to the Board. Jurisdictions around the US vary widely on this.
July 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM
A question we get now and then: can City government personnel accept an honorarium for a presentation that's related to their City job? A: no. Since 2012, Chicago's laws prohibit this, period. Before that, honoraria were ok if reported to the Board. Jurisdictions around the US vary widely on this.