The City Code contains the day-to-day laws of the city, as defined by the city council.  The City Code is a codified set of documents specifying regulations regarding topics including licensing, health and safety, building and zoning, utilities.

The City Charter defines the structure of the city and is the framework under which the city operates.  The City Charter specifies things like the structure of the city council, including how and when elections are to be held and how candidates are nominated, the powers and duties of the city canager, budget and taxation issues, and the operation of public utilities like water.