Copies of Ordinance 13320 and the Public Rules are available at the Department of Executive Services, 401 5th Avenue, #610, Seattle, WA 98104, or electronic copies are available by clicking on the links below.

• Ordinance 13320 (Formats: Word / PDF)
• Public Rules (Formats: Word / PDF)

Except for allegations of untimely filing of statements and reports, which are processed by the Department of Executive Services, complaints alleging a violation of any provision of the ordinance should be filed with the county ombudsman.

Only written complaints, describing the basis for the complainant's belief that the Ordinance has been violated, verified and signed by the complainant will be accepted. The complainant may state in the written complaint whether the complainant desires their name be withheld from disclosure if the complaint is the subject to public disclosure.

• L1 - Lobbyist Registration (Formats: Word / PDF)
• L2.1 - Lobbyist Quarterly Expense Report (Formats: Word / PDF)
• L2.2 - Lobbyist January Expense Report (Formats: Word / PDF)
• L3 - Lobbyist Employer's Report of Registered Lobbyists and Expenses (Formats: Word / PDF)
• L4 - Professional Grass Roots Lobbying Campaign Report (Formats: Word / PDF)

Lobbyists, lobbyist employers, and professional grass root lobbyists are required to file registration and expense reports by completing and forwarding a signed original copy of each required form, prior to required deadlines, via mail to:

Department of Executive Services
Attn: Lobbyist Registration Program
401 5th Avenue, Room 0610
Seattle, WA 98104-1818

Forms may also be dropped off in person to Michael Strouse at the same address above.

Please note: Original signatures are required on all documents, therefore electronic copies of forms cannot be accepted at this time.

Lobbyists: Each lobbyist (any person who lobbies for compensation) must file a Lobbyist Registration (Form L1) statement for each employer within seven days after being employed or otherwise being retained as a lobbyist. Citizen lobbyists, technical experts, media personnel and government officials (plus their officers and employees) are exempt from filing a lobbyist registration statement. Lobbyists are also required to prepare a Lobbyist Quarterly Expense Report (Form L2.1) for the first three quarters of the year, due April 15, July 15, and Oct. 15 respectively, and a Lobbyist January Expense Report (Form L2.2), due Jan. 15, which covers total expenditures for the preceding calendar year.

Lobbyist employer's: Employers of registered lobbyists are also required to report their total annual expenditures for lobbying by either filing a Lobbyist Employer's Report of Registered Lobbyists and Expenses (Form L3), due the last day of February for the prior year, or by signing each of their employee's Lobbyist January Expense Report.

Grass root lobbyists: Professional grass root lobbyists need to register by filing Professional Grass Roots Lobbying Campaign Report(s) (Form L4). A Professional Grass Root Lobbyist is defined as a person or group that spends, or knows they will spend in excess of $10,000 within 12 consecutive months presenting a program addressed to the public to influence legislation that may be the subject of action by the council.

Communications or other actions:

• with the members of an association or organization by that same association or organization;
• made by a person related to quasi-judicial proceeding before the council,
• made by a person related to proposed motions to confirm or reject appointments by the executive,
• made by a person related to proposed motions to exercise the councils power of appointment or removal,
• related to proposed employment actions concerning legislative branch employees;
• by any county employee acting within the scope of his/her employment
• by representatives of labor organizations related to existing or proposed collective bargaining agreement(s) with the county or other legislation which could affect specific existing or proposed collective bargaining agreements; or
• by a person with the executive or executive staff regarding legislation at any time prior to its adoption by the council.

Citizen lobbyists: Persons who lobby without compensation or with compensation or other consideration limited to reimbursement for minor incidental personal expenses, such as mileage, parking, meals, photocopying, telephone and facsimiles.

Technical experts: Employees of a business, or contracted experts who meet on an irregular basis (less than six times per quarter) with councilmembers or the executive or appear before public sessions of the council or its committees to provide expert testimony.

Government officials, officers and employees: Elected officials, officers and employees of any local, state or federal government agency acting within the scope of their representation of or employment with such agency are not required to register or report unless they are specifically retained by a government agency to lobby.

Media persons: News or feature reporting activities and editorial comment by working members of the press, radio or television and the publication or dissemination thereof by a newspaper, book publisher, regularly published periodical, radio station or television station.