How to request a not-for-profit lobbying fee waiver

Under the Lobbyist Registration and Regulation Ordinance, the City Clerk may waive the filing fees for:

• a not-for-profit client
• a lobbying entity that registers to only represent not-for-profit clients
• a client that employs fewer than 10 people and has been in business for fewer than five years, or
• a lobbyist that registers to only represent such a client.

For calendar year 2023, fee waiver requests must be submitted by November 1, 2022.

A not-for-profit client and its employees must include:

• a recent Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• the not-for-profit client’s articles of organization or incorporation and any amendments thereto, and
• the most recent annual financial report or statement.

A lobbying entity and its employees that register to only represent not-for-profit clients must include:

• a list of all of the lobbying entity’s clients signed by an authorized signatory of the lobbying entity. This document must acknowledge that the list is complete, accurate, and true.

A client that employs fewer than 10 persons and has been in business for fewer than 5 years must include:

• a certification signed by an individual authorized to sign such certification on behalf of the client that states that the client employs fewer than 10 people, and
• the client’s articles of organization or other filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that shows the client has been in business for fewer than five years.

Not required to file incorporation, organization, or other documents with the Massachusetts Secretary of State? You may submit other documents that show you have been in business for fewer than five years.

A lobbyist that registers to only represent a client that employs fewer than 10 people and has been in business for fewer than five years must include:

• a list of all of the lobbyist’s clients signed by the lobbyist acknowledging that the list is complete, accurate, and true, and
• documentary evidence that each of the lobbyist’s clients employs fewer than 10 people and has been in business for fewer than five years.

Please remember to include all of the requested information. You may also upload all of your documents supporting your fee waiver request:

Fee waiver online form

The City Clerk will review each request. We will notify you by email whether or not we granted the fee waiver. If you have any questions, you can contact our office at 617-635-4601 or lobbying@boston.gov.