Vestmannaeyjabær

What Vestmannaeyjabær does

Vestmannaeyjabær is the municipal government (sveitarfélag) of Vestmannaeyjar, an island archipelago off Iceland's south coast serving approximately 4,940 residents. The municipality delivers the full spectrum of local government functions: municipal administration, primary and secondary education (Grunnskóli and Framhaldsskóli Vestmannaeyja), welfare services for elderly and disabled residents (ranked 1st nationally for service satisfaction), waste collection and recycling, road and snow maintenance, building permits, cultural programming, and port operations through Vestmannaeyjahöfn — the only port between Hornafjörður and Þorlákshöfn. The municipality is internationally recognized for hosting Þjóðhátíð (Iceland's largest outdoor festival, since 1874) and Goslokahátíð, both anchored in the cultural memory of the 1973 Eldheimar eruption.

The municipality's operational infrastructure rests on conventional government IT systems: an electronic-ID-secured citizen portal (Íbúagátt) for permits and service requests, an interactive mapping portal (Kortavefur), and physical service centers including Ráðhúsið (town hall at Kirkjuvegur 50), Þjónustumiðstöð (service center at Heiðarvegur 14), and the harbor office. Waste management is operated in partnership with Terra under a four-category sorting mandate, and dredging at Landeyjahöfn is contracted to Belgana.

Revenue is generated through property taxes (fasteignaskattur), land rent (1% residential, 3.5% commercial), waste collection fees, recycling station fees, port fees from fishing vessels, cargo, cruise ships, and the Herjólfur ferry, building and planning fees, and culture/sports grants. The bæjarsjóður is debt-free with operating surpluses (641 m.kr projected for 2026), and population has grown by approximately 600 residents since 2018. The municipality is governed by a bæjarstjórn (council) and led by bæjarstjórri Íris Róbertsdóttir (appointed June 2026).

Name

Vestmannaeyjabær

Legal name

Vestmannaeyjabær

Website

https://vestmannaeyjar.is

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vestmannaeyjabær is the municipal government of Vestmannaeyjar island in Iceland, serving approximately 4,940 residents with administration, education, welfare, waste management, port operations, building permits, and cultural programming, funded through property taxes, fees, and port revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Other General Government Support (92119), Waste Collection (56211), Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (926120)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Publicly Operated Ferry Authorities (Municipal/Regional) (TLAFALAK), Territorial/Island Health Departments (HLAJAAAE), State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration (BPAIABAK)

Keywords

• Municipal administration
• Public services
• Waste management
• Port operations
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Vestmannaeyjar

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property taxes (Fasteignaskattur): Annual property tax levied on all properties based on property valuation (fasteignamat) set by Húsnæðis- og mannvirkjastofnun as of December 31 each year. One of four components of total property fees (fasteignagjöld).
2. Land rent (Lóðaleiga): Annual land rent based on plot value (lóðarhlutamat). Residential land rent is 1% of plot value; commercial land rent is 3.5% of plot value. Part of total property fees.
3. Waste collection fees (Sorphirðugjald): Fees for household waste collection and recycling station operation, based on number and size of containers and waste type. Billed through property tax system. Sorted waste containers (paper, plastic, food waste) are cheaper than mixed waste.
4. Recycling station fees: Fees for recycling station operations covering collection of metal, glass, and textiles at neighborhood stations.
5. Port fees (Hafnargjöld): Revenue from Vestmannaeyjahöfn port, including fishing vessels, cargo ships, cruise ships, and the Herjólfur ferry to Landeyjahöfn. The only port between Hornafjörður and Þorlákshöfn.
6. Building and planning fees: Fees for building permits, lot allocation, road fees, water/sewage connections, measurement fees, and inspection certificates.
7. Culture and sports subsidies: Cultural, sports, and recreation grants distributed through 'Viltu hafa áhrif' fund supporting events and projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vestmannaeyjabær is the municipal government of the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) archipelago in Iceland. It provides core public services to approximately 4,340 residents including waste collection and recycling, road maintenance and snow clearing, building permit administration, property tax assessment, port and ferry operations, education services, eldercare, cultural programming (Goslokahátíð and Þjóðhátíð festivals), sports facilities, and digital citizen services through the Íbúagátt portal.

Product overview

Vestmannaeyjabær operates a comprehensive municipal service portfolio encompassing digital citizen services (Íbúagátt portal, Kortavefur map system), environmental services (waste collection with four-category household sorting, recycling stations), infrastructure maintenance (roads, snow clearing, drainage), building and planning services, harbor management (Vestmannaeyjahöfn with ferry and commercial port operations), and cultural programming (annual Goslokahátíð and Þjóðhátíð festivals, sports tournaments, cultural grant programs). The municipality also provides property tax administration, service center operations, and sports facilities through the Íþróttamiðstöð. This is a municipal government providing public services rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Íbúagátt (Citizen Portal)
• Byggingarmál (Building Services)
• Sorp og endurvinnsla (Waste Management)
• Snjómokstur (Snow Clearing)
• Fasteignagjöld (Property Taxes)
• Vestmannaeyjahöfn (Port Authority)
• Þjónustumiðstöð (Service Center)
• Kortavefur (Map Portal)
• Goslokahátíð (Eruption Festival)
• Þjóðhátíð (National Festival)
• Orku- og TM mótin (Orka and TM Sports Tournaments)
• Viltu hafa áhrif (Cultural Grants Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of residents satisfied with Vestmannaeyjar as a place to live
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LifeLine HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Wellness partnership for municipal staff health checkups and health promotion programs. Services include health assessments, blood tests, consultations, and personalized recommendations based on four pillars: movement, nutrition, sleep, and mental wellbeing.
• Markaðsstofa Suðurlands (Marketing Bureau of South Iceland)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Cooperation agreement signed December 2024 for joint tourism marketing and promotion of South Iceland as a destination. Vestmannaeyjabær participates in joint marketing initiatives coordinated by Markaðsstofa Suðurlands.
• Eyjagöng ehf.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership agreement signed for tunnel/concession operations or infrastructure development.
• Terra (waste management)coreOthersWaste collection and recycling services provider. Terra operates collection schedules, neighborhood recycling stations, and provides waste management services. Municipal ordinance requires households to separate waste into four categories: paper, plastic, food waste, and mixed waste.
• Belgana (dredging services)minorOthersDredging contractor for Landeyjahöfn port maintenance. Contract signed for three-year dredging operations. Critical for maintaining port accessibility.
• Húsnæðis- og mannvirkjastofnun (HMS) (Housing and Construction Authority)coreOthersCentral government body setting property valuations (fasteignamat) and building standards. Responsible for property registration and construction regulations.
• Laxey (salmon farming)coreOthersMajor aquaculture company operating the largest single investment in Vestmannaeyjar history. First harvest achieved 98% premium grade output. Represents significant new industry pillar for the municipality.
• ÍBV (sports club)minorOthersLocal sports club organizing football tournaments (Orkumótið, TM-mótið) and youth sports. Licensed Þjóðhátíð songs for community theater project.
• Vistka - Fræðslu- og símenntunarmiðstöð Vestmannaeyja (Education and Continuing Education Center)minorOthersLocal education center organizing the 'Viltu hafa áhrif' grant program for culture, sports, and recreation projects. Managed project 'Á Þjóðhátíð ég fer' theater production.
• SUBSEA 7minorOthersSubsea engineering company for civil defense infrastructure installation and undersea cable/pipe laying services.
• Taflfélag Vestmannaeyja (Chess Club)minorOthersSports organization with renewed cooperation agreement with the municipality for 2025.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður: Small Westfjords municipality with similar scale (~950 residents), fishing industry ties, and the challenges of remote Icelandic municipal service delivery. Comparable in operational scale and infrastructure constraints.
• Hornafjarðarbær: Southern Icelandic coastal municipality that operates the neighboring port (Hornafjörður) referenced as a geographic boundary for Vestmannaeyjahöfn's monopoly. Comparable in scale, remote-coastal profile, and service portfolio.
• Norðurþing: Northern Icelandic municipality operating comparable municipal services across multiple communities, with port operations, fishing industry ties, and infrastructure management for a remote-population base.
• Fjarðabyggð: Eastern Iceland municipality with multiple port operations, fishing industry focus, and island-connected communities. Comparable in maritime service portfolio, multi-site municipal administration, and remote community service delivery.
• Akureyrarbær: Iceland's second-largest urban municipality and capital of the north. Operates comparable municipal services including waste collection, port operations, cultural events, education, and eldercare, serving a mid-sized Icelandic population.
• Seyðisfjarðarkaupstaður: Small eastern Icelandic fjord municipality that, like Vestmannaeyjar, hosts a major annual cultural festival (Aldrei fór ég suður) and operates ferry/maritime infrastructure. Highly comparable as a small, festival-anchored remote Icelandic municipality.
• Suðurnesjabær: Southwest Iceland peninsula municipality near the international airport, operating port facilities (Sandgerði), waste management, education, and cultural services for a comparable mid-sized population base.
• Ísafjarðarbær: Remote Westfjords municipality facing similar geographic isolation, small population, maritime dependency, and infrastructure challenges as Vestmannaeyjabær. Comparable scope of services and fiscal profile for a remote Icelandic coastal community.
• Sveitarfélagið Árborg: Southern Iceland municipality comparable in size and service mix, including waste collection, education, cultural programming, and infrastructure for a population of similar scale on the Icelandic south coast.

Broad incumbents

• Reykjavíkurborg: Iceland's capital and largest municipality, providing the full range of municipal services including port operations, waste management, cultural programming, and social services. Comparable as the dominant municipal government player in Iceland's public administration space, though at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Vestmannaeyjabær