SEC. 3.415. PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT.
§ 3.415
Permit consultants who miss filing deadlines face daily late fees of $50 (waivable at the Executive Director's discretion); violations may result in administrative proceedings before the Ethics Commission, warning letters, and/or civil suits by the City Attorney seeking up to $5,000 per violation.
If a permit consultant doesn't turn in required information by the deadline, they have to pay a $50 fee for each day it's late. The Ethics Commission can cancel or reduce this fee if the lateness wasn't on purpose and won't help enforce the rules. If someone breaks the rules in this chapter, the Ethics Commission can hold a hearing and issue warnings or penalties. The City Attorney can also sue for money damages up to $5,000 for each violation.
- Controversial:Penalties and fee structures are typically subject to public debate about appropriateness, burden on businesses, and enforcement priorities.
AI-generated · claude-haiku-4-5 · informational only, not legal advice.
Official text
(a) If any permit consultant fails to submit any information required by this Chapter after any applicable deadline, the Ethics Commission shall, in addition to any other penalties or remedies established in this Chapter, impose a late filing fee of $50 per day after the deadline until the information is received by the Ethics Commission. The Executive Director of the Ethics Commission may reduce or waive a late filing fee if the Executive Director determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement will not further the purposes of this Chapter. The Ethics Commission shall deposit funds collected under this Section in the General Fund of the City and County of San Francisco.
(b) Any person who violates this Chapter may be liable in an administrative proceeding before the Ethics Commission pursuant to Charter Section C3.699-13. In addition to the administrative penalties set forth in the Charter, the Ethics Commission may issue warning letters regarding potential violations of this Chapter to the permit consultant.
(c) Any person or entity which knowingly or negligently violates this Chapter may be liable in a civil action brought by the City Attorney for an amount up to $5,000 per violation.
(Added by Ord. 98-14 , File No. 130374, App. 6/26/2014, Eff. 7/26/2014; re-enacted and amended by Proposition D, 3/5/2024, Eff. 4/12/2024, Oper. 10/12/2024)