How do I request an API key for Pomona datasets?

Register on the City Open Data portal and follow the portal's account or developer pages to request an API key; if no key option appears, contact the City IT or Open Data administrator via the City contact page.

Are there fees to use the Open Data API?

Access to public datasets is typically provided at no charge; any fees would be stated on the dataset or portal terms—if no fee is listed, it is not specified on the cited pages.

Who do I contact to report abusive API use?

Report abusive or suspicious activity to the City's IT/Open Data administrator or through the Public Records contact; see the City's contact pages for the correct office.

Pomona Open Data API Access Rules - City Bylaw

Technology and Data California 4 Minutes Read · published February 21, 2026

Pomona, California publishes datasets and programmatic access through an official Open Data portal to support transparency and reuse. This article summarizes the city policy and practical rules that govern API access to Pomona datasets, explains who enforces the rules, how to request keys or elevated access, and what steps to take if you need higher limits or to report abuse. For official hosting and portal terms see the city Open Data page Open Data Portal^[1] and the City public records and request procedures Public Records^[2].

Scope and applicability

This guidance applies to machine access to datasets published by the City of Pomona on its Open Data portal. It covers API keys, automated queries, rate limits, acceptable use, attribution, and export or redistribution where the City has published data under particular terms. If the portal is hosted with a third-party provider, that provider's terms may also apply; specific fees or technical limits are set on the portal pages or in portal terms and are not always repeated on the City's summary pages.

Key rules for API access

API keys: the City may require registration or an API key for higher-rate or authenticated access; check the portal for registration steps and key issuance.
Fees: access is typically free for public data unless the portal page or formal policy specifies charges; if no fee is shown, it is not specified on the cited page.
Rate limits and quotas: automated queries may be subject to request-per-minute or per-day caps documented on the portal provider page; if unspecified on the City page, consult the portal provider.
Attribution and reuse: data reuse must follow any stated terms of use or license on the dataset page; if a license is not published, reuse rules are not specified on the cited page.
Prohibited actions: deliberate scraping that impairs service, circumvention of rate limits, or harvesting for restricted datasets is not allowed and may be blocked.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of API access rules is handled by the City department responsible for the Open Data portal and the City IT/Technology team, with referrals to legal or enforcement units for repeated or severe violations. Specific monetary fines for API misuse are not published on the City Open Data or Public Records pages cited; therefore, fines are not specified on the cited page.^[1]^[2]

Typical technical enforcement: temporary or permanent blocking of IP addresses, revocation of API keys, and rate limiting.
Administrative enforcement: warning notices, formal takedown or cease-and-desist letters, or referral to City legal counsel.
Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page.
Escalation: first offence typically handled by warning or key suspension; repeat or continuing offences may prompt stronger technical or legal actions; exact escalation steps are not specified on the cited page.

Inspection and complaints: to report abuse, contact the City IT or Open Data portal administrator via the City's public records or contact pages; appeals or review of enforcement actions are handled through the department that issued the action or through standard administrative appeal routes, if any, referenced on the enforcement notice. Time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited pages and may appear in the notice you receive.

If your API key is revoked, contact the portal administrator promptly to request a review.

Applications & Forms

The City does not always publish a standalone "API access" application form on its general pages; key issuance or elevated access is commonly requested through the Open Data portal account registration or the City IT contact form. If a named form, fee, or deadline exists it will appear on the portal dataset or terms pages; if none is published, no specific form is required or none is officially published on the cited pages.^[1]

Operational best practices

Use caching and respectful polling intervals to avoid triggering rate limits or service degradation.
Schedule large exports during off-peak hours when possible and coordinate with the City if you need bulk access.
Follow dataset-specific license and attribution statements shown on each dataset page.
For questions about specific datasets or access levels, contact the portal administrator or the department publishing the data via City contact pages.

Coordinate ahead for large-scale data transfers to avoid service interruptions.

Action steps

Register an account on the Open Data portal and request an API key if available.
Review dataset terms and rate limits before scheduling automated queries.
If blocked, follow the appeal instructions in the enforcement notice or contact the City IT/Open Data administrator via the public records contact page.

FAQ

How do I request an API key for Pomona datasets?: Register on the City Open Data portal and follow the portal's account or developer pages to request an API key; if no key option appears, contact the City IT or Open Data administrator via the City contact page.^[1]^[2]
Are there fees to use the Open Data API?: Access to public datasets is typically provided at no charge; any fees would be stated on the dataset or portal terms—if no fee is listed, it is not specified on the cited pages.^[1]
Who do I contact to report abusive API use?: Report abusive or suspicious activity to the City's IT/Open Data administrator or through the Public Records contact; see the City's contact pages for the correct office.^[2]

How-To

Locate the dataset on the City Open Data portal and read the dataset page for license and access notes.
Create an account on the portal and apply for an API key if required.
Test queries at low frequency to confirm responses and observe any rate-limit headers.
If you need higher limits, contact the portal administrator with your use case and expected volume.
Preserve attribution and comply with any stated license when redistributing or publishing derived work.

Key Takeaways

Check dataset terms and portal rate limits before building automated jobs.
Register and request an API key if available to avoid blocks.
Use City contact channels for appeals, bulk access requests, or to report abuse.