County of San Mateo

What County of San Mateo does

The County of San Mateo is a charter county of the State of California that delivers local government services to residents, businesses, and visitors across 20 incorporated cities, 22 independent special districts, and 33 active county-governed special districts in the San Francisco Bay Area. With 5,001-10,000 employees organized across more than 25 departments (Health, Human Services Agency, Sheriff's Office, San Mateo County Fire, Public Works, Planning and Building, Housing, Probation, Library, Parks, Sustainability, Technology Services, Public Safety Communications, and others), the County provides tax collection, permitting, licensing, public safety, public health, social services, emergency management, elections, and civic engagement programs. Operational leadership sits with County Executive Mike Callagy; elected officials include Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Mark Church, District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe, Treasurer-Tax Collector Sandie Arnott, and the Sheriff's Office following the October 14, 2025 removal of Christina Corpus. The Board of Supervisors approved a $5.2 billion budget for FY2026 alongside a $10 million child care investment while explicitly planning for uncertainty in state and federal funding.

The County operates a hub-and-spoke digital architecture with smcgov.org as the central public-facing portal routing residents, businesses, and vendors to specialized systems: Accela Citizen Access for building permits, OpenGov Procurement for eProcurement (replacing legacy Public Purchase in 2025), Legistar (Granicus) for board meeting transparency, GovDelivery for subscription notifications, ArcGIS Online for GIS/mapping, and Municode for codified ordinances. Internal operations run on Workday HRIS for payroll/personnel/benefits, a SharePoint-based ERIN intranet with Okta single sign-on, Yammer for internal collaboration, and Zoom for public meetings. Key technology-adjacent innovations include a tiered Local Business Preference framework (5%/8%/10% bid discounts for local/local small/local micro vendors, effective July 2025), a permanent Living Wage Ordinance for service contractors (escalating from $14.00 in 2017 to $20.90 effective July 1, 2026), the Whistleblower Program (Reportline hotline since December 2013), the Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office (ICAC, since July 2024), and the Civics 101 Academy civic education program.

The County's "revenue model" is tax-and-fee-funded public service delivery rather than commercial monetization. Funding sources include recurring property taxes, local sales taxes (including the Measure K half-cent sales tax), transient occupancy tax, business license fees, vehicle rental license fees, recurring and one-time permit and plan-review fees (via Accela), intergovernmental state and federal allocations (including ARPA), Measure K Reserves, and grants. Vendor pricing models include annual property/business license/tax assessments, pay-as-you-go permit fees through Accela, and preference-based procurement pricing under the Local Business Preference framework. Distribution combines in-person service at the Redwood City County Center campus, self-service web portals, libraries, parks, Public Safety Communications (911), partner agencies (C/CAG, LAFCo, SFPUC, Mosquito and Vector Control District, HIP Housing, Silicon Valley Community Foundation), and a network of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that deliver contracted services.

Name

County of San Mateo

Legal name

County of San Mateo

Website

https://smcgov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The County of San Mateo is a California charter county providing local government services to ~770,000 residents, 20 cities, and 22 independent special districts through 25+ departments, funded by property/sales taxes and fees, with a $5.2 billion FY2026 budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Administration

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Fire Protection (922160), Police Protection (922120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB), Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• County government services
• Property tax collection
• Building permitting services
• Public safety administration
• Human services programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Recurring ad valorem taxes on real property and unsecured property, plus tax lien collections, administered by the Tax Collector-Treasurer.
2. Local Sales Tax: Sales tax levied on retail purchases in the unincorporated county. The Board of Supervisors is considering a proposal to increase the local sales tax to enhance funding for regional projects and services.
3. Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT): Tax on short-term lodging stays in unincorporated areas, administered by Revenue Services.
4. Business License Fees: Annual fees assessed to businesses operating in unincorporated areas, plus Business License Fee, Vehicle Rental License Fee, and Section 8 Housing Provider compliance.
5. Permit and Plan-Review Fees: One-time and recurring fees for building permits, planning reviews, ADUs, code compliance, design review and inspections, collected through the Accela Citizen Access portal.
6. Measure K Reserves and Local Sales Tax Measures: Discretionary local-funding measures (e.g., Measure K) used to fund community priorities such as the $500,000 emergency generator for Pescadero Elementary School and a $10 million investment in child care.
7. State and Federal Funding (incl. ARPA): Intergovernmental revenues from state and federal sources, including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The $5.2 billion budget was approved while planning for uncertainty over state and federal funding.
8. Procurement Goods and Services Spend (managed): As a government buyer, the County does not earn revenue on procurement; rather it contracts for goods and services from vendors under Living Wage Ordinance and Local Business Preference rules, with single-audit and procurement compliance oversight.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The County of San Mateo is a charter county of the State of California that delivers essential local government services to residents, businesses, and visitors of San Mateo County. Its core offerings include tax collection (property, business license, transient occupancy), building and planning permitting, public safety and emergency services (911, Sheriff, Fire, Emergency Management), health and human services (financial/food assistance, child support, Section 8 housing, behavioral health), procurement of goods and services, public records and vital records, parks and libraries, and civic engagement programs. Operational delivery is supported by self-service web portals (Accela, OpenGov, Legistar, GovDelivery, Municode) and the centralized County Center campus in Redwood City.

Product overview

The County of San Mateo operates a platform-plus-modules public services architecture rather than a single unified product. The core is the smcgov.org public website, which serves as the integration hub routing residents, businesses, and vendors to specialized sub-products: Accela Citizen Access for Building Permits, OpenGov Procurement for eProcurement, Legistar for Board meeting transparency, GovDelivery for subscription notifications, ArcGIS Online for mapping, and Municode for codified ordinances. Alongside these digital services, the County delivers civic engagement programs such as the Whistleblower Program (Reportline Hotline), Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office, Civics 101 Academy, Youth Commission, LAFCo, and Sustainability Department programs. Internal platforms such as Workday (HRIS), SharePoint (ERIN intranet), Yammer, and Okta underpin employee-facing operations but are not part of the public-facing product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SamCERA: San Mateo County Employees Retirement Association, providing retirement benefits to County employees.
• Measure K
• San Mateo County Youth Commission (SMCYC)
• Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office (ICAC)
• County of San Mateo Whistleblower Program

Products and services

• Property Tax Administration
• Building and Planning Permitting Services (Accela Citizen Access)
• Vendor eProcurement Services (OpenGov Procurement)
• Business License and Transient Occupancy Tax Services
• Vital Records and Public Records Services
• Public Safety and Emergency Services (911, Sheriff, Fire, Emergency Management)
• Health and Behavioral Health Services (San Mateo County Health)
• Human Services Agency Programs (Financial Assistance, Food Assistance, Child Support, Veterans)
• Section 8 Housing Voucher Program
• Whistleblower Program (Reportline Hotline)
• Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office (ICAC)
• Library and Parks Services

Quantifiable outcome

• $5.2 billion approved budget while planning for state and federal funding uncertainty
• +5 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic / programmatic, flagship platform vendor, core hris, health benefits partner, regional governance partner, regional infrastructure partner, special district partner, environmental partner, programmatic partner, service-delivery partner, philanthropic partner, cultural partner, venue / event partner, tourism marketing partner and compliance framework.

• UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings)strategic / programmaticStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026UC Law San Francisco has partnered with the City and County of San Francisco, San Mateo County, and Bay Area Rapid Transit to offer tuition discounts for public-sector employees pursuing a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree. The program is designed for government workers whose roles intersect with law and policy but who do not need to become licensed attorneys. Graduates and current students report that the training has helped them navigate statutes, analyze legal questions, and make more informed recommendations.
• OpenGovflagship platform vendorTechnology or IntegrationSan Mateo County has partnered with OpenGov and transitioned from Public Purchase to OpenGov Procurement for countywide solicitations. OpenGov Procurement is used for publication of solicitations, vendor registration, subscription to categories, follow-up on amendments/addenda, Q&A, and electronic submission. Replaces the legacy Public Purchase platform.
• Workdaycore hrisTechnology or IntegrationWorkday is San Mateo County's Human Resources Information System (HRIS) used for payroll, personnel and benefits. Employees log into Workday to update personal/emergency contacts, view/download payslips and electronic W-2/1095s, view/edit tax withholdings, direct deposit, benefit selections, employee directory, and performance evaluation goals. Login issues routed to ISD Help Desk (650-363-4108 RWC, 650-573-3400 San Mateo Medical Center).
• Blue Shield of California and Kaiser Permanentehealth benefits partnerOthersForms 1095-B are issued by Blue Shield of California or Kaiser Permanente to County employees covered under the County's health plan; Form 1095-C is issued by the County's Benefits Division to benefits-eligible employees. Employees may opt to receive the 1095-C electronically through Workday.
• City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG)regional governance partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerC/CAG is listed as a partner agency of the County of San Mateo, supporting regional coordination of transportation, land use, and other shared government concerns.
• San Mateo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo)regional governance partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAFCo is an independent commission with jurisdiction over the boundaries of the 20 cities, 22 independent special districts, and many of the 33 active county-governed special districts serving San Mateo County. Executive Officer: Rob Bartoli.
• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Water System Improvement Programregional infrastructure partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency supporting regional water infrastructure and water system improvement programs in San Mateo County.
• San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control Districtspecial district partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent special district providing vector control services across San Mateo County, listed as a partner agency.
• San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program (Flows to Bay)environmental partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency supporting water pollution prevention across the county.
• UC Cooperative Extensionprogrammatic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency linking San Mateo County residents to UC programs in agriculture, 4-H youth development, nutrition, and natural resources.
• HIP Housing (Human Investment Project)service-delivery partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNonprofit partner supporting housing access and self-sufficiency programs in San Mateo County.
• Silicon Valley Community Foundationphilanthropic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional philanthropic partner supporting San Mateo County community initiatives.
• San Mateo County Historical Associationcultural partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency preserving and sharing the history of San Mateo County.
• San Mateo County Event Centervenue / event partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency operating a major event and exposition venue in San Mateo County.
• San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureautourism marketing partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner agency promoting tourism, conventions, and visitation to San Mateo County.
• Section 508 (U.S. federal accessibility standard)compliance frameworkOthersSan Mateo County commits to making electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities in conformance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• County of Santa Clara: Adjacent Bay Area county of comparable scale (~1.9M residents) delivering the same portfolio of public administration, health, human services, public safety, permitting and procurement services to a similar high-cost, technology-rich population. Directly comparable on governance structure, fiscal profile, and service mix.
• County of Alameda: Bay Area county of similar population (~1.7M) providing directly comparable services (Health, Sheriff, Fire, Public Works, Planning, Procurement) with overlapping procurement, public-safety oversight, and human-services mandates. Useful peer on fiscal scale and operational model.
• City and County of San Francisco: Consolidated city-county government on the San Mateo County border, delivering municipal and county services to ~810K residents. Comparable on integrated service delivery, public-safety structure, housing/homelessness mandate, and Bay Area operating environment.
• County of Contra Costa: East Bay county of comparable size (~1.2M residents) with the same core departments (Health, Sheriff, Public Works, Planning, Human Services, Probation) and similar dependence on property tax and intergovernmental revenue. Directly comparable on governance and service mix.
• County of Marin: Smaller Bay Area county (~260K residents) operating an analogous county-government structure with focus on coastal/rural unincorporated areas — the closest geographic peer on unincorporated-area service delivery and infrastructure-resilience challenges.
• County of Sacramento: California county of comparable scale (~1.6M residents) operating analogous public-administration functions (Health, Sheriff, Public Works, Planning, Human Services, Probation) and a similar mix of urban core and unincorporated communities.
• County of Sonoma: Northern California county (~500K residents) with comparable mix of urban incorporated areas and rural unincorporated communities, providing the same core county services — relevant peer for benchmarking service-delivery models outside the immediate Bay Area.

Broad incumbents

• County of Los Angeles: Much larger California county (~10M residents) operating a comprehensive portfolio of health, sheriff, fire, public works, and human services at scale. Relevant as a broad incumbent peer for benchmarking large-county operations, but structurally far larger than San Mateo.
• City of Seattle: Pacific coast municipal government of comparable population (~750K) delivering a similar consolidated portfolio of public services. Comparable as a peer on digital-service investment, procurement modernization, and progressive social-policy implementation.

Regional players

• City of San Jose: Largest city in San Mateo County's region (~1M residents), operating municipal services within San Mateo County's geography. Useful regional peer for benchmarking service-delivery coordination, procurement scale, and digital service investment in the same Bay Area market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@smcgov
• Instagraminstagram.com/smc.youthcommission
• Xx.com/sanmateoco

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about County of San Mateo