City of Huntington Beach

What City of Huntington Beach does

The City of Huntington Beach is a municipal government entity incorporated in 1909 and headquartered at 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, California. It operates as a chartered city under California state law, governed by an elected City Council and an appointed City Manager, delivering core municipal services to approximately 200,000+ residents and 1,000+ registered local businesses. Its service portfolio spans water and sewer utilities, trash and recycling, police and fire protection (including Marine Safety), parks and recreation, library services, permitting and licensing, code enforcement, and community development.

The city's operating platform includes a multilingual website supporting 73 languages with ADA-compliant accessibility tooling, an enhanced online utility portal (MyMeter) launched June 15, 2025 for 24/7 account management of water, sewer, trash, ambulance, and FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) billing, a self-service Permit Center Portal for building and planning approvals, and HBTV cablecast for government programming. Economic-development infrastructure includes Streamline Surf City (dedicated permitting specialists), the Surf City Small Business Digital Grant Program (with the OC/IEM SBDC), the Opportunity Zone program along Warner and Talbert Avenue corridors, the Orange County Recycling Market Development Zone (joined late 2015, offering up to $2M loans at 1-4% interest), Sustainable Business Certification under the California Green Business Network, Mayor's Spotlight Awards, the Minute with the Mayor video series (2024), and a Business Visit retention program. The city also holds an exclusive partnership with Archer Aviation (announced 2025-12-17) to position Huntington Beach as an Advanced Air Mobility hub supporting air taxi operations around the 2028 LA Olympic Games under the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.

Revenue mechanics are tax- and fee-based rather than commercial: municipal billing (utilities, ambulance, FOG), business licensing, permit fees, parking, and franchise fees generate operating funds, supplemented by sales tax sharing agreements on a case-by-case incentive basis. Distribution runs through the website portal and MyMeter (self-serve), the Streamline Surf City concierge team and Business Visit Program (direct enterprise-style engagement with businesses), and partnership channels including the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce (1,000+ members, 90+ years operating) and Visit Huntington Beach tourism bureau. The customer base is segmented horizontally across City Residents (primary), Local Businesses (primary), and Visitors/Tourists (secondary under the 'Surf City USA' destination brand).

Name

City of Huntington Beach

Legal name

City of Huntington Beach

Website

https://huntingtonbeachca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The City of Huntington Beach is a municipal government in Orange County, California, serving ~200,000+ residents and 1,000+ local businesses with utility services, public safety, permitting, licensing, and economic development programs delivered through digital portals and dedicated specialist teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Utility billing services
• Permit and licensing services
• Public safety services
• Economic development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntington Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The City of Huntington Beach is a municipal government entity that provides a comprehensive portfolio of public services to approximately 200,000+ residents, local businesses, and visitors. Core offerings include public safety (police, fire, marine safety), utility services (water, sewer, trash, recycling, ambulance), parks and recreation, library services, community development, business licensing, permitting, and economic development programs. Digital service delivery is anchored by the MyMeter online utility portal enabling 24/7 account management for municipal billing.

Product overview

The City of Huntington Beach operates as a municipal government providing a portfolio of interconnected services to residents and businesses. The core offering includes the MyMeter online utility portal for municipal bill management (water, sewer, trash, ambulance, FOG), combined with business development programs such as the Surf City Small Business Digital Grant Program, Streamline Surf City permitting assistance, and the Opportunity Zone and RMDZ incentive programs. Additional services include the Mayor's Spotlight Awards for business recognition, the Minute with the Mayor video series for local business promotion, Sustainable Business Certification for environmental practices, Sales Tax Sharing Agreements as growth incentives, and the Business Visit Program for retention support. The city's government services span permits, licensing, code enforcement, parks and recreation, library services, fire protection, police services, and public works infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Minute with the Mayor: A video series spotlighting Huntington Beach businesses by highlighting entrepreneurs, storefronts, products, and local operators that drive the local economy
• Surf City Small Business Digital Grant Program
• Mayor's Spotlight Awards
• MyMeter
• Streamline Surf City
• Sustainable Business Certification Program

Products and services

• MyMeter Online Utility Portal A modern online utility portal enabling Huntington Beach residents to manage municipal service bills for water, sewer, trash, ambulance services, and FOG, featuring 24/7 secure access, bill payment, usage tracking, eBills, AutoPay, and instant alerts.
• Water and Sewer Utility Services Core municipal utility service providing water supply and sewer management to Huntington Beach residents and businesses through the Public Works Department.
• Trash and Recycling Services Municipal solid waste management and recycling collection services for residents and businesses of Huntington Beach.
• Permit Center Services Online and in-person permit center providing building, planning, and development permit services through the engage.huntingtonbeachca.gov portal.
• Business Licensing Municipal business license issuance and regulation for businesses operating within Huntington Beach city limits.
• Streamline Surf City A business support service offering assistance from conception planning to Certificate of Occupancy, including entitlements, plan review, inspection, and business licensing support through dedicated Streamline Specialists.
• Surf City Small Business Digital Grant Program A digital grant program in partnership with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center providing training, one-on-one advising, and $1,000 digital marketing grants to 15 selected local businesses.
• Opportunity Zone Program An economic development initiative offering tax incentives in designated economically distressed areas along the Warner Avenue and Talbert Avenue corridors between Beach Boulevard and Goldenwest Street to encourage private investment and long-term development.
• Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) Program An economic development program utilizing recyclable materials to fuel new businesses and expand existing ones, offering loans up to $2 million or 75% of project costs at 1-4% interest rates, plus technical assistance and free marketing for eligible businesses.
• Sustainable Business Certification Program A voluntary certification program as part of the California Green Business Network, helping businesses in Office, Retail, and Restaurant sectors integrate sustainable and profitable environmental practices.
• Sales Tax Sharing Agreements Business incentive program where the City shares its portion of sales taxes with companies on a case-by-case basis to help them expand and prosper in Huntington Beach.
• Business Visit Program A business retention initiative where City staff visit business owners to discuss operations, opportunities, challenges, and answer questions or concerns, enhancing communication and improving the business environment.
• Parks and Recreation Services Public parks, sports facilities, beach access, and recreation programs serving Huntington Beach residents and visitors, including field reservations and the SANDS programs registration system.
• Library Services Public library services including catalog access, events, youth programs, and community resources for Huntington Beach residents.
• Fire and Emergency Services Fire protection, emergency management, community risk reduction, marine safety, and FireMed subscription services for Huntington Beach residents and businesses.
• Police Services Law enforcement, crime prevention, community programs, and public information services provided by the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Archer AviationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2025Exclusive partnership with Archer Aviation to support air taxi operations around the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Huntington Beach is one of multiple cities across California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and New York where Archer has submitted applications to the White House's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), a federal initiative led by the DOT and FAA to accelerate air taxi operations beginning as soon as next year. This partnership positions Huntington Beach as a future hub for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) services.
• Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SBDC for the Surf City Small Business Digital Grant Program, providing training, one-on-one advising, and $1,000 digital marketing grants to 15 selected local businesses. SBDC provides expert consulting, effective training, and access to resources to stimulate economic growth in Orange County.
• Huntington Beach Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Chamber has been a leader in economic growth for over 90 years with 1,000+ business members. It serves as a catalyst for programs and services that promote a favorable business climate, improve quality of life, and support business growth and development in Huntington Beach.
• Visit Huntington BeachcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism marketing organization positioning 'Surf City USA' as the preferred California beach destination to maximize overnight visitor spending, destination development, and quality of life. Programs include media relations, marketing, advertising, group and travel trade sales, publications, information services, Film Commission, and Sports Commission.
• Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses through education and mentorship. Supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE delivers services at no charge or low cost to Huntington Beach businesses.
• Orange County Business CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCBC works to enhance Orange County's economic development and prosperity through a proactive advocacy program for business interests, focusing on infrastructure, workforce development, economic development, and workforce housing.
• Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Opportunities (CIELO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides one-on-one coaching, mentoring, and training for entrepreneurs developing business ideas. CIELO strategically invests in local ventures that bring innovation and economic growth to the region.
• California Green Business NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Huntington Beach Sustainable Business Certification Program is part of this network, fostering a cleaner environment by helping businesses integrate sustainable and profitable environmental practices. Currently at funding limit for new participants; program may resume in July 2025.
• Orange County Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development program utilizing recyclable materials to fuel new businesses, expand existing ones, create jobs, and divert waste from landfills. Huntington Beach became an RMDZ in late 2015. Benefits include loans up to $2 million or 75% of project costs at 1-4% interest rates, plus technical assistance and free marketing.
• U.S. Department of the Treasury (Opportunity Zones)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpportunity Zones are economically distressed areas designated by the state and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Huntington Beach's Opportunity Zone is located along Warner Avenue and Talbert Avenue corridors between Beach Boulevard and Goldenwest Street, offering preferential tax treatment to encourage private investment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Oceanside: Southern California beach city with comparable harbor, beach services, and small-business retention/expansion programs. Peer for surf-tourism economic development comparisons.
• City of Long Beach: Large coastal California municipal government with similar public safety, utilities, and economic development portfolios. Comparable in operating scope and resident base, with overlapping port/marine and tourism functions relevant to Huntington Beach's coastal identity.
• City of Santa Monica: California beachfront city with a strong tourism brand, comparable public works, sustainability programs, and digital resident services. Useful peer for benchmarking coastal tourism-driven municipal economics.
• City of Carlsbad: California coastal city with comparable tourism, beaches, and small-business programs. Similar population scale and coastal-municipal operating profile make it a strong peer for performance benchmarking.
• City of Newport Beach: Adjacent Orange County coastal city with shared beach, marine safety, and harbor commission functions. Directly comparable on coastal public safety, water/sewer utilities, and small-business permitting programs.
• City of Costa Mesa: Neighboring Orange County city with overlapping economic development programs, business assistance, and permitting functions. Comparable municipal structure and resident/business mix in the same county ecosystem.

Others

• Orange County/Inland Empire SBDC: Direct delivery partner for the Surf City Small Business Digital Grant Program and a model for small business technical assistance. Useful peer for benchmarking municipal-SBDC partnership structures.
• Visit Huntington Beach: City-affiliated destination marketing organization (DMO) that directly runs tourism marketing, Film Commission, and Sports Commission programs for Huntington Beach. Operational peer for tourism/marketing function benchmarking.

Broad incumbents

• City of San Diego: Large-scale California coastal city with a much broader budget and portfolio, but overlapping beaches, marine safety, tourism bureau, and economic development structure. Acts as a larger-scale reference point for surf/tourism city operations.
• City of Anaheim: Large Orange County city with broader economic development toolkit including Opportunity Zones, business incentives, and tourism (Disneyland-adjacent). Useful for peer comparison on large-scale incentive structuring and partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CityofHBPIO
• Facebookfacebook.com/cityofhb
• InstagramInstagram.com/cityofhb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityofhuntingtonbeach

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 City of Huntington Beach