Campaign finance rules and process

If you are a candidate for City Council or PUSD Board of Education, you need to file forms with financial details of your campaign. All campaign finance reports are considered public and may be posted online.

The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is a state agency responsible for campaign finance. They provide support to candidates, including training for campaign treasurers.

Learn about rules for campaign filings.

Forms and statements

Your filing requirements depend on how much you raise and spend on your campaign. Deadlines are strict. You can file early.

Campaign finance reports are public records. We post redacted versions of filed forms on the City’s website.

When, what, and how to file

Some forms need to be filed in-person with the City Clerk, others can be filed online. When we issue your nomination papers we will set up an account for you.

If you need to file in-person, make an appointment with the City Clerk’s office. Office hours areMonday to Friday, 8:30am-12pm, 1pm-5pm.

Name When/if you need to file Deadlines How to file
Statement of intent (Form 501) If you solicit or receive contributions from anyone other than yourself.

Before you:

  • Solicit or receive contributions
  • Use personal funds for your campaign
 In-person
Statement of organization (Form 410) If you create, change, or close a campaign committee. No later than 10 days after your committee has spent or received $2,000 or more.

By mail or electronically with Secretary of State.

Submit copy to City Clerk In-person.
Recipient committee campaign statement (Form 460) If you have a campaign committee, use this form to report all campaign activity during the semi-annual and pre-election periods. File online
Campaign statement (Form 470) If you have filed a Form 501, you need to file at least 1 campaign statement before the election. Set by FPPC each election cycle File online
Late contribution report (Form 497) If your committee receives $1,000 or more from a single source in the last 90 days before the election. Within 24 hours of receiving it. If the contribution is non-monetary, you have 48 hours to file. File online

Campaign committees

You need to create a campaign committee if you raise or spend $2,000 for your campaign.

Opening a Campaign Committee

Contributions

  • Record all contributions and expenses of $25 or more. Your FPPC Manual offers guidelines for recordkeeping and reporting.
  • If you receive $1,000 or more from a single source in the last 90 days before the election, you must disclose it within 24 hours, even if the contributions are from your personal funds. This includes separate contributions from the same source that add up to $1,000 or more.

Expenses

Do not use your campaign funds for:

  • Non-campaign expenses
  • Independent expenditures to support or oppose other candidates

Campaign contribution limit

The State of California implements contribution limits for City Council positions. The contribution limit does not apply to Board of Education positions.

For the 2024 General Municipal Election, contributions are limited to $5,500 per contributor. A contributor is a:

  • Individual
  • Business
  • Entity
  • Committee
  • Political action committee
  • Small contributor committee
  • Political party

Learn about contribution limits.

Get help

The City Clerk is the filing officer for Piedmont. We can answer basic procedural questions. Contact the FPPC for complex or situation-specific questions.

Piedmont City Clerk

FPPC