Municipalidad de belen

What Municipalidad de belen does

Municipalidad de Belén is the local government of Cantón de Belén in the province of Heredia, Costa Rica, founded in 1907 (119 years of cantonal history as of 2026). It operates as a public government entity under the national Gobierno de Costa Rica, delivering a comprehensive suite of municipal services — Acueducto Municipal water supply, Alcantarillado Sanitario sewage, Recolección Residuos Sólidos waste collection, Policía Municipal and Policía de Tránsito, Cementerio Municipal, and Biblioteca Municipal — to the residents and businesses of the canton. The current Alcaldesa is Zeneida Chaves Fernández.

The municipality is anchored by a digital service platform built around the official portal (belen.go.cr), a Digital Procedures System (tramites.belen.go.cr) with 4identity digital-signature authentication, and an online payment gateway integrated with Banco Nacional de Costa Rica via VPOS. Back-office operations rely on ArcGIS for multifunctional cadastre, OTRS for service-ombudsman ticketing, and the INFOS Group digital-forms system. The portal is built to WCAG 2.0 / INTE ISO/IEC 40500:2017 accessibility standards. The municipality pioneered Costa Rica's first municipal Environmental Unit in 1997 and maintains dedicated programming in sustainable mobility (CMUS formalized January 2019), climate-change governance (Cantonal Climate Change Commission since April 2014), and environmental education (Aula en el Bosque and the Aulas Ambientales inaugurated February 2026).

Revenue is generated through service tariffs (water, sewage, waste collection, cemetery), local taxes, business permits, and central-government transfers, rather than disclosed commercial pricing. The organization employs 136 people and operates from headquarters in Belén. Its strategic positioning centers on being recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in environmental management and sustainable mobility among Costa Rican municipalities, evidenced by a 4-star rating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and active participation in the EU-funded MUEVE project (€5.188M, 2020–2025, covering 15 GAM cantons), the Global Covenant of Mayors, the Green Climate Fund's Plan-A via PNUMA, and the Zero Carbon Building Accelerator with Green Building Council Costa Rica.

Name

Municipalidad de belen

Legal name

Municipalidad de Belén

Website

https://belen.go.cr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Municipalidad de Belén is the local government of Cantón de Belén in Heredia, Costa Rica, providing municipal services — water, sewage, waste, police, cemetery, and library — to cantonal residents and businesses via a digital portal and decentralized service network, with recognized leadership in environmental management and sustainable mobility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government and Public Administration Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Municipal public services
• Water supply services
• Waste management services
• Urban planning permits
• Local government administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Belén

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Municipalidad de Belén is the local government of Cantón de Belén in Heredia, Costa Rica, delivering essential public administration services to cantonal residents and local businesses. Its core offerings encompass water supply (Acueducto Municipal), sanitary sewer services (Alcantarillado Sanitario), solid waste collection and recycling, municipal and traffic policing, cemetery management, public library services, urban development and construction permitting, and an online payments and digital procedures portal (tramites.belen.go.cr) accessible via the official website at belen.go.cr.

Product overview

The Municipalidad de Belén is a Costa Rican municipal government offering a comprehensive digital portal for civic services. The core offering consists of the main municipal website (www.belen.go.cr) integrated with a digital procedures system (tramites.belen.go.cr) enabling online transactions, permits, and digital signatures. The municipality provides essential public services including water supply (Acueducto), sanitary sewer (Alcantarillado), solid waste collection (Recolección Residuos), municipal police, traffic police, cemetery, and public library services. Additionally, the municipality operates development programs in social welfare (Desarrollo Social), urban planning (Desarrollo Urbano), and environmental management (Desarrollo Ambiental), with specialized initiatives like the CMUS sustainable mobility committee and the Aula en el Bosque environmental education program. Online payment processing is handled through VPOS integration with Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acueducto Municipal Municipal water supply service providing potable water distribution and management for the residents of Belén Canton in Heredia, Costa Rica.
• Alcantarillado Sanitario Sanitary sewer system management and maintenance services for households and businesses within the municipality.
• Recolección de Residuos Sólidos Municipal solid waste collection and recycling service that includes composting programs and environmental education components for cantonal residents.
• Policía Municipal Municipal police service providing security and public order within the cantón.
• Policía de Tránsito Traffic police service responsible for traffic control, enforcement, and road safety in Cantón de Belén.
• Cementerio Municipal Municipal cemetery services providing burial plot management and related services for cantonal residents.
• Biblioteca Municipal Municipal public library services providing educational resources and community programs for cantonal residents.
• Contraloría de Servicios Service ombudsman office providing citizen feedback mechanisms, complaint registration, request tracking, and live chat support for municipal services.
• Bolsa de Empleo Municipal employment exchange program connecting job seekers with employers and providing vocational training opportunities within the cantón.
• Desarrollo Social Social development programs including gender equality initiatives, employment support, scholarships, artistic training, and community health services for cantonal residents.
• Desarrollo Urbano Urban development services including municipal regulatory planning, public infrastructure, construction permits, and property valuation for the cantón.
• Desarrollo Ambiental Environmental management service covering climate change strategy, cantonal greening programs, integral waste management, and environmental education with certified classrooms.
• Comité de Movilidad Urbana Sostenible (CMUS) Sustainable urban mobility committee promoting active transportation through bicycle infrastructure, cicloparqueos (bike parking), educational videos, and training programs for citizens.
• Programa Aula en el Bosque Environmental education program conducted in forest settings for school children, teaching conservation through hands-on learning experiences aligned with the national science curriculum.
• Sistema de Trámites Digitales Digital procedures portal enabling citizens to submit municipal requests, permits, and administrative paperwork online, with digital signature authentication for official procedures and document signing.
• Pago en Línea Online payment system for municipal services, taxes, and fees using secure VPOS payment gateway integration with Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.
• Sistema de Datos Abiertos Open data portal providing municipal statistics and information for transparency and public access to government data.

Quantifiable outcome

• 119 years of cantonal history demonstrating institutional longevity
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Unión Nacional de Gobiernos Locales (UNGL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Executing entity of MUEVE project (Sustainable Mobility, Urbanism, Equipment, Public Space Valuation, and Greening and Equity) funded by EU with €5.188 million. Project runs 2020-2025.
• VNG International (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Consortium partner in MUEVE project alongside UNGL. Represents Dutch municipalities association providing international expertise for sustainable urban development.
• Fomento San Sebastián (Spain)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Spanish consortium partner in MUEVE project contributing expertise in sustainable urban development and public space enhancement from European best practices.
• Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Formal collaboration since 2014 where the municipality serves as a collaborating center for INA environmental courses. Over 300 people trained. Municipal staff certified to teach INA courses.
• Universidad Nacional (UNA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Since March 2014, UNA's School of Environmental Sciences collaborates on the participatory climate change strategy project, forming the Cantonal Climate Change Commission with over 20 members.
• World Resources Institute (WRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on environmental sustainability initiatives and climate action programs. WRI provides technical expertise and global frameworks for sustainable urban development and climate resilience.
• Green Building Council Costa Rica (GBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint participation in Zero Carbon Building Accelerator (ZCBA) program alongside municipalities of Moravia, Curridabat, and Santa Ana. Focus on sustainable building practices and environmental certification.
• Universidad Latina (ULatina)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for environmental research, fauna monitoring, and community environmental education programs. Students and faculty collaborate on cantonal environmental initiatives.
• Pacto Global de Alcaldes por el Clima y la Energía (GCoM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance of cities committed to fighting climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resilience to climate impacts. Municipality commits to climate action targets.
• SINAC (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on conservation matters including Área de Conservación Cordillera Volcánica Central and Subcommission of Heredia-Tárcoles for river basin management.
• Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía (MINAE)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational government ministry collaborating on climate change policies, environmental regulation, and Plan-A territorial resilience program with PNUMA support.
• Ministerio de SaludmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on health-related environmental issues and community health programs through Área Rectora Belén-Flores office.
• Red Intercantonal de Movilidad Activa (RIMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of municipal technicians from GAM cantons working on active mobility policies, infrastructure, and promotion. Includes 12+ municipalities and national institutions.
• Centro Regional de Crecimiento Verde y Cambio ClimáticomoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional center supporting the Red de Ciudades y Alcaldías por la Democracia, consolidating political and environmental dialogue among Latin American municipalities.
• Instituto de Fomento y Asesoría Municipal (IFAM)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational institution supporting municipal development participating in RIMA network for technical capacity building in mobility matters.
• Instituto Nacional de Vivienda y Urbanismo (INVU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational housing and urban development institute participating in RIMA mobility network.
• Consejo Nacional de Personas con Discapacidad (CONAPDIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational disability council participating in RIMA to ensure accessibility considerations in active mobility planning.
• Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transporte (MOPT)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational transport ministry participating in RIMA network and providing regulatory framework for cycling infrastructure and mobility planning.
• CNFL (Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational electricity company participating in biological corridor committee for Cubujuquí inter-urban corridor alongside 9 municipalities and other organizations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/municipalidad.belen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/municipalidad-de-belen

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 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 Municipalidad de belen