If you need a copy of a city ordinance in the Philippines, the fastest path is usually not a court, not the mayor’s office, and not a lawyer. The office you normally need is the Office of the Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlungsod, sometimes called the City Council Secretariat, City Council Secretary, or Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretary. This office keeps the official records of city ordinances and can issue plain or certified copies, depending on what you need the ordinance for.

A city ordinance is a local law passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the legislative body of a city. People request copies for many practical reasons: checking a traffic or parking rule, verifying zoning restrictions, confirming business permit requirements, contesting a local penalty, reviewing a curfew or noise regulation, researching real property rules, or proving what a city law actually says.

What Is a City Ordinance?

A city ordinance is a local law that applies within a particular city. It is different from a national law, such as a Republic Act, because it is enacted by a local legislative body under the powers granted by the Local Government Code of 1991, or Republic Act No. 7160.

Common city ordinances cover matters such as:

traffic rules and parking penalties;
business permits and local regulatory fees;
zoning and land use;
garbage collection and environmental rules;
market, tricycle, terminal, and sidewalk regulations;
curfew, anti-noise, anti-littering, and public safety rules;
local tax and revenue measures;
health, sanitation, and animal control regulations.

For cities, the legislative body is the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Once an ordinance is enacted and approved according to law, the official record is kept by the Secretary to the Sanggunian. Under Section 469 of the Local Government Code, the secretary keeps records of ordinances and resolutions, keeps non-confidential records open to the public during usual business hours, and furnishes certified copies of records of public character upon request and payment of the prescribed fee. (ChanRobles)

Your Legal Right to Request a Copy

The right to request a city ordinance is not just a courtesy from the city government. It is supported by several legal bases.

The Constitution Protects Access to Official Records

Article III, Section 7 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the people’s right to information on matters of public concern and grants access to official records, documents, and papers relating to official acts, transactions, or decisions, subject to legal limitations. (Lawphil)

A city ordinance is normally a matter of public concern because it is a local law that affects residents, businesses, property owners, commuters, motorists, vendors, taxpayers, and sometimes visitors or foreigners staying in the city.

The Supreme Court Treats the Right to Information as Enforceable

In Legaspi v. Civil Service Commission, the Supreme Court explained that the constitutional right to information is self-executing, meaning it can be invoked even without a separate implementing law. The case also recognized that mandamus may be used to enforce a public duty when access to public information is unlawfully denied. (Lawphil)

This does not mean every document in government custody is automatically open to anyone. In Sereno v. Committee on Trade and Related Matters, the Supreme Court emphasized that the right to information is limited to matters of public concern and is subject to lawful limitations, such as recognized privileges and exceptions. (Supreme Court E-Library)

For ordinary city ordinances, however, confidentiality is rarely the issue. The more common problems are incomplete indexing, old paper records, unclear ordinance numbers, or offices passing the requester from one department to another.

RA 6713 Requires Public Documents to Be Accessible

Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, also states that public documents must be accessible and readily available for inspection by the public within reasonable working hours. (Lawphil)

This is important in practice because some requesters are told to “come back later” without any clear reason. A polite written request citing RA 6713 and the Constitution often helps staff understand that the request is a formal public records request, not a personal favor.

Where to Request a Copy of a City Ordinance

For most cities, start with the Office of the Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlungsod.

What you need	Usual office to approach	Practical notes
Copy of an enacted city ordinance	Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlungsod / City Council Secretariat	Best office for official and certified copies
Ordinance posted online	City website, City Council website, or official Facebook page	Useful for quick reference, but verify if you need it for official use
Zoning ordinance or land use rule	City Planning and Development Office, Zoning Office, or Sanggunian Secretary	Ask for the ordinance and any implementing zoning maps
Tax ordinance or local revenue code	City Treasurer’s Office and Sanggunian Secretary	Treasurer may explain implementation, but Sanggunian keeps the legislative record
Traffic ordinance	Traffic Management Office and Sanggunian Secretary	Traffic office may have a working copy; request certified copy from Sanggunian if needed
Barangay ordinance	Office of the Barangay Secretary or Sangguniang Barangay	Barangay ordinances are separate from city ordinances
Very old ordinance	City Archives, Sanggunian Secretary, or local library if maintained	Older records may be in bound books or scanned archives

If you are unsure which office has the record, ask the city’s Public Assistance and Complaints Desk, Records Office, or Information Office where ordinance requests are received. But if you want the official legislative copy, the Sanggunian Secretary remains the key office.

Step-by-Step Guide to Requesting a Copy

1. Identify the ordinance as specifically as possible

Your request will move faster if you can provide any of the following:

ordinance number;
year of passage;
title or subject matter;
name of the city;
topic, such as “parking ordinance,” “zoning ordinance,” “anti-noise ordinance,” or “business permit ordinance”;
date of violation notice, if you received a citation;
name of the office that cited the ordinance.

A good request does not need to be perfect. Many people do not know the ordinance number. You can still describe the subject clearly.

Example:

I would like to request a copy of the city ordinance imposing penalties for illegal parking along [street/area], including any amendments currently in force.

For zoning or land use concerns, be more specific:

I would like to request the current zoning ordinance and zoning classification applicable to property located at [address/barangay], including any amendments affecting that area.

2. Check if the ordinance is already online

Many larger cities upload ordinances to their official websites, City Council pages, or legislative tracking portals. Some ordinances are also posted as PDFs on official city pages or social media announcements.

When using an online copy, check:

whether it is from an official city source;
whether it shows the ordinance number and date;
whether it includes the full text, not just a summary;
whether there are later amendments;
whether the copy is signed, stamped, or marked as certified if you need it for official use.

For legal, business, immigration, court, or property transactions, a downloaded PDF may not be enough. You may need a certified true copy, which is a copy certified by the official custodian as a faithful reproduction of the record.

3. Prepare a written request

Some cities accept verbal requests for simple copies, especially if the ordinance is easy to find. But for anything important, use a written request so there is a record.

Your request should include:

your full name;
contact number and email address;
mailing address, if requesting delivery;
ordinance number or subject matter;
purpose, if required by the office;
whether you need a plain photocopy, scanned copy, or certified true copy;
preferred mode of release;
date and signature.

You do not usually need to explain your legal strategy or personal dispute in detail. A simple purpose such as “for personal reference,” “for business permit compliance,” “for property due diligence,” “for academic research,” or “for use in an administrative proceeding” is normally enough.

4. Submit the request to the proper office

You can usually submit the request through one of these methods:

Walk-in request at City Hall or the City Council building.
Email request to the Sanggunian Secretary or Records Office.
Online request portal, if the city has one.
FOI request, if the LGU has adopted a local Freedom of Information mechanism.
Authorized representative, if you are abroad or unable to appear personally.

Bring or attach a valid ID if the office asks for identification. For ordinary ordinances, ID is usually used to log the request, not because the record is private.

5. Pay the required fees

The Local Government Code allows the Secretary to the Sanggunian to furnish certified copies of public records in custody upon payment of fees prescribed by ordinance. (ChanRobles)

Fees vary by city, but common charges include:

Type of copy	Usual cost
Plain photocopy	Per page, often a minimal photocopying fee
Certified true copy	Certification fee plus photocopying cost
Digital scanned copy	Sometimes free; sometimes charged if scanning is treated as a service
Research or archive retrieval	May apply for old or voluminous records
Courier delivery	Paid separately if available

Always ask for an official receipt if you pay at the City Treasurer’s Office or authorized collection window.

6. Ask when and how the copy will be released

Under Republic Act No. 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, government agencies, including LGUs, must have a Citizen’s Charter stating requirements, steps, responsible personnel, processing time, fees, and complaint procedures. The law and its implementing rules classify processing times generally as 3 working days for simple transactions, 7 working days for complex transactions, and 20 working days for highly technical transactions, unless a special rule applies. (Supreme Court E-Library)

A request for a recent and easily located ordinance is often treated as a simple records request. A request for old, amended, archived, or voluminous ordinances may take longer.

Before leaving the office or ending the call, confirm:

reference number or receiving copy;
expected release date;
exact fee;
name or designation of the handling office;
whether the copy will be certified;
whether you need to return in person.

7. Review the copy before using it

When you receive the ordinance, check:

ordinance number;
title;
city name;
date of passage;
approval by the mayor or notation of lapse into effect, if applicable;
signatures or certification;
page completeness;
amendments, repeals, or later ordinances;
effectivity clause;
publication or posting details, especially for penal or tax ordinances.

This matters because people sometimes receive an ordinance that has already been amended. For example, a 2015 traffic ordinance may have been changed by a 2022 ordinance increasing fines. Ask specifically for the current version, including amendments.

Plain Copy vs. Certified True Copy

A plain copy is enough if you simply want to read the ordinance. A certified true copy is better if you need to prove the text before an office, court, employer, buyer, landlord, homeowners’ association, or business partner.

Situation	Recommended copy
You only want to understand the rule	Plain copy or official PDF
You are contesting a traffic ticket or local penalty	Certified true copy
You are applying for a business permit	Certified copy if required by another agency; otherwise plain copy may be enough
You are buying or leasing property	Certified copy of zoning or relevant ordinance is safer
You are submitting to a court or tribunal	Certified true copy
You are abroad and need to send it to a foreign office	Certified copy, and possibly apostille or consular authentication depending on the foreign office’s requirement

For Philippine court use, official records are generally proven by official publication or by a copy attested by the officer having legal custody of the record under the Rules of Court. This is why certification by the Sanggunian Secretary can matter when the document will be used as evidence. (Supreme Court E-Library)

Special Rules for Ordinances with Penalties, Taxes, or Zoning Effects

Ordinances with penal sanctions

If an ordinance imposes penalties, such as fines, imprisonment where legally allowed, closure, impounding, or other sanctions, publication and posting become especially important.

Section 511 of the Local Government Code requires ordinances with penal sanctions to be posted in prominent places in the city hall for at least three consecutive weeks and published in a newspaper of general circulation where available within the LGU’s territorial jurisdiction, except barangay ordinances. Official copies must also be transmitted for possible Official Gazette publication for archival and reference purposes. (ChanRobles)

If you are being penalized under a city ordinance, ask not only for the ordinance but also for:

amendments;
implementing rules, if any;
proof or certificate of posting;
publication details, if available;
schedule of fines;
authority of the enforcing office.

Tax and revenue ordinances

Local tax ordinances, revenue codes, and fee ordinances can be technical. If you are checking a business tax, regulatory fee, market fee, tricycle franchise fee, or real property-related charge, request both:

the specific ordinance imposing the tax or fee; and
the latest amendments or local revenue code provisions.

The City Treasurer may explain how the tax is computed, but the legal source should still be checked against the actual ordinance.

Zoning and land use ordinances

For zoning issues, the ordinance text alone may not be enough. You may also need:

zoning map;
Comprehensive Land Use Plan references;
locational clearance rules;
amendments or reclassification ordinances;
certificate of zoning classification;
board or council resolutions affecting the property.

This is especially important before buying land, leasing a commercial space, opening a business, building apartments, operating a warehouse, or converting a residential property to commercial use.

Sample Request Letter

You can adapt this simple format:

[Date]

Office of the Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlungsod
City Government of [City]
[City Hall Address]

Subject: Request for Copy of City Ordinance

Dear Sir/Madam:

I respectfully request a copy of the following city ordinance:

Ordinance requested: [Ordinance No., if known]
Subject matter: [e.g., parking regulations, zoning ordinance, business permit fees, anti-noise ordinance]
Year/date, if known: [Year/date]
Specific area or concern, if applicable: [Barangay/street/property/business]

I would like to request [a plain copy / a certified true copy / a scanned copy] of the ordinance, including any amendments currently in force, if available.

Purpose of request: [personal reference / business permit compliance / property due diligence / legal or administrative use / research]

Kindly inform me of the required fees, processing time, and release procedure.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

[Full Name]
[Contact Number]
[Email Address]
[Address]
[Signature, if printed]

Common Problems and What to Do

“We need the ordinance number.”

If you do not know the ordinance number, provide the topic, year, enforcing office, or citation notice. Ask the staff to search by subject matter or refer you to the index of ordinances.

Helpful wording:

I do not have the ordinance number, but I am requesting the ordinance currently used by the city to regulate [subject]. May I request assistance in locating the ordinance by subject or through the ordinance index?

“That office does not have it.”

This often happens when the enforcing office only has a working copy. Ask which office is the official custodian. For city ordinances, the usual custodian is the Sanggunian Secretary.

“Only residents can request.”

For ordinary city ordinances, this is usually questionable because ordinances are public laws. Foreigners, business owners, researchers, property buyers, tenants, and non-residents may have legitimate reasons to request copies. If the office requires identification or a written purpose, provide it, but politely ask for the legal basis if they refuse solely because you are not a resident.

“The ordinance is old and archived.”

Old ordinances may be in bound volumes, microfilm, old PDFs, or storage rooms. Ask whether the city has:

a City Archives section;
a local library;
a legislative tracking system;
annual ordinance books;
minutes of the session where the ordinance was passed.

For old zoning or tax ordinances, also ask for later amendments because the original text may no longer reflect the current rule.

“They will not certify the copy.”

Ask whether certification is unavailable because the record is not in their custody, because the copy came from another office, or because certification must be paid first. A certification should normally come from the legal custodian of the record.

“The city says the request is pending indefinitely.”

Ask for the Citizen’s Charter processing time and request a written update. RA 11032 requires government offices to state processing times, requirements, fees, responsible personnel, and complaint procedures in their Citizen’s Charter. (Supreme Court E-Library)

What Foreigners and Filipinos Abroad Should Know

Foreigners can request copies of city ordinances when they have a legitimate concern, such as business compliance, property leasing, local penalties, immigration-related residence matters, or due diligence. The ordinance itself is normally a public record.

Filipinos abroad can request through:

email to the Sanggunian Secretary;
an authorized representative in the Philippines;
courier release, if the city allows it;
the city’s online portal, if available.

If the ordinance copy will be used abroad, ask the foreign office exactly what it requires. A Philippine city’s certified true copy may still need further authentication, depending on the receiving country or institution. Some foreign offices may ask for an apostille, but apostille requirements usually depend on the type of document, the issuing authority, and the purpose abroad.

For practical purposes, ask the city whether it can issue:

certified true copy;
certification that the ordinance is in force;
certification of no amendment or latest amendment, if needed;
official receipt for certification fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a copy of a city ordinance in the Philippines?

Request it from the Office of the Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlungsod of the city that passed the ordinance. Provide the ordinance number if you know it. If not, describe the topic, year, enforcing office, or incident connected to the ordinance.

Can I request a city ordinance online?

Yes, if the city accepts email, has an online records request system, or has a local FOI mechanism. Some cities also upload ordinances to their official websites. For official use, ask whether the online copy can be certified.

Do I need to be a resident to request a city ordinance?

Usually, no. City ordinances are public local laws. Residents, non-residents, business owners, researchers, property buyers, tenants, and foreigners may request copies, although the office may ask for identification and a basic purpose for logging.

How much does it cost to get a copy?

Fees vary by city. A plain photocopy may cost only per page. A certified true copy usually has an additional certification fee. The fee should be based on the city’s official schedule, and payment should be covered by an official receipt.

How long does it take?

A recent ordinance with a known ordinance number may be released the same day or within a few working days. Older, archived, amended, or voluminous records may take longer. Under RA 11032, the city’s Citizen’s Charter should state the applicable processing time.

What if I do not know the ordinance number?

You can still request by subject. Provide details such as “anti-noise ordinance,” “parking ordinance,” “zoning ordinance for Barangay ___,” or “ordinance cited in traffic ticket no. ___.” Ask the Sanggunian Secretary to search the ordinance index.

What is the difference between an ordinance and a resolution?

An ordinance is generally a local law or regulation with continuing effect. A resolution usually expresses the position, approval, request, or decision of the Sanggunian on a specific matter. Some government actions require ordinances, while others may be done by resolution. If you are unsure, ask for both the ordinance and any related resolution.

Can I get a certified true copy of a city ordinance?

Yes, if the ordinance is a public record in the custody of the Sanggunian Secretary and you pay the prescribed fee. Section 469 of the Local Government Code specifically includes furnishing certified copies of records of public character in the secretary’s custody upon request and payment of prescribed fees. (ChanRobles)

What if the city refuses to give me a copy?

Ask for the reason in writing and the legal basis for the denial. If the record is public and no valid exception applies, you may elevate the matter through the city’s complaints desk, the local chief executive’s office, the Civil Service Commission feedback channels, the Anti-Red Tape Authority process where applicable, or appropriate legal remedies.

Are city ordinances valid if they were not posted or published?

Posting is important for effectivity. Under Section 59 of the Local Government Code, ordinances generally take effect after 10 days from posting unless otherwise stated, and the Secretary to the Sanggunian must cause posting and record the dates of approval and posting. Ordinances with penal sanctions have additional posting and publication requirements under Section 511. (ChanRobles) (ChanRobles)

Key Takeaways

The proper office for requesting a city ordinance is usually the Office of the Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlungsod.
A city ordinance is a public local law, and access is supported by the Constitution, RA 6713, RA 7160, and Supreme Court doctrine on the right to information.
Ask for a certified true copy if you need the ordinance for court, business, property, administrative, or official use.
Provide the ordinance number if available, but you can still request by topic, year, enforcing office, or citation notice.
Always ask whether the ordinance has been amended, repealed, or replaced.
For penal, tax, and zoning ordinances, request related amendments, posting or publication details, implementing rules, maps, or certifications when relevant.
Keep a receiving copy, reference number, email trail, and official receipt so you can follow up properly if there is delay.