City of San Rafael

What City of San Rafael does

The City of San Rafael is a municipal government entity incorporated in 1856, serving as the county seat of Marin County, California, under a council-manager form of government with an elected City Council. It provides municipal services to residents, businesses, and visitors of the city, including public safety (fire and police), public works and infrastructure maintenance (including 132 miles of sewage pipelines through the San Rafael Sanitation District), planning and development services, recreation facilities (Terra Linda Community Pool, parks, community centers), library services, and community development programs. The city administers federal CDBG funding ($508,032 for FY 2026-2027) in partnership with Marin County and HUD, supporting affordable housing developers such as Eden Housing, social service nonprofits such as Homeward Bound of Marin, and accessibility programs.

The city's revenue is generated through municipal taxes and fees (business licenses, building permits, the Special Library Parcel Tax), federal and state pass-through funding, and facility-based charges. Its technology infrastructure is built on the ProudCity civic platform for web service delivery, with ArcGIS Experience Builder powering the Major Planning Projects portal, integrated with Alert Marin and Nixle for emergency notifications, and broadcast through Facebook, Instagram, X, Nextdoor, YouTube, and LinkedIn channels. The city is pursuing multiple large development projects including the Kaiser Permanente hospital modernization at 99 Montecillo Road, the 25 Loch Lomond multi-family development, and several hundred units of new housing under appeal. Recent operational restructuring includes a separation agreement transferring sanitation district management to the Central Marin Sanitation Agency and the hire of Lou Kirk as Assistant Director of Community and Economic Development / Chief Building Official.

The customer base comprises residents, local businesses, developers, and visitors served across primary segments of low- and moderate-income residents (CDBG-funded programs), local businesses (licensing and permitting), and the general public (recreation, public safety, civic engagement). The city maintains 251–500 employees and operates from City Hall at 1400 Fifth Avenue with additional facilities including the Terra Linda Community Pool, Planning Division offices, and community recreation sites throughout the jurisdiction.

Name

City of San Rafael

Legal name

City of San Rafael

Website

https://cityofsanrafael.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The City of San Rafael is a municipal government and Marin County seat providing public safety, public works, planning, recreation, library, and community development services to its residents and businesses. It operates under a council-manager form of government with 251–500 employees, administering federal CDBG funding and overseeing major affordable housing and infrastructure projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Fire Protection (922160), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public safety services
• Community development programs
• Recreation and library services
• Urban planning and permitting

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Federal funds administered in partnership with Marin County to support community projects that expand affordable housing, improve local facilities, and provide essential services to low- and moderate-income residents. For FY 2026-2027, San Rafael receives $508,032 in CDBG funds.
2. Municipal Taxes and Fees: The city generates revenue through various taxes and fees including business licenses, building permits, and special parcel taxes such as the Special Library Services Parcel Tax.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The City of San Rafael is a municipal government that provides residents, businesses, and visitors with public safety (fire, police), public works, planning and development, recreation, library, and community development services. It also administers federal funding programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in partnership with Marin County and operates civic engagement channels including public meetings and emergency alert systems.

Product overview

The City of San Rafael's website serves as a comprehensive digital portal providing municipal services to residents. The city's online offerings include recreational facilities (Terra Linda Community Pool with aquatic programs), public safety services (Alert Marin emergency notifications, Nixle alerts), civic participation tools (public meetings broadcasts, planning project portals), and community development programs (CDBG funding allocations). The website is powered by ProudCity civic technology platform and integrates with ArcGIS for interactive planning maps, YouTube for meeting broadcasts, and various social media platforms for community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• San Rafael Fire Department: City department responsible for fire protection and emergency services
• San Rafael Police Department
• San Rafael Library and Recreation

Products and services

• Terra Linda Community Pool An eight-lane, 25-yard outdoor pool facility located in Terra Linda Park, offering lap swim, recreation swim, toddler pool access, swim lessons, aquatic fitness programs, and seasonal inflatable activities for residents and visitors.
• Alert Marin Emergency Notification System Emergency notification system delivering critical information about disasters including severe weather, flooding, wildfire, earthquakes, missing persons, and evacuations to San Rafael residents via phone, mobile, email, and text messages.
• Major Planning Projects Portal Interactive map and listing of significant development proposals currently under review in San Rafael, featuring an ArcGIS-powered map showing project locations across North San Rafael, Downtown, and Loch Lomond areas for residents and stakeholders.
• Public Meetings and Civic Participation Services Online portal providing access to City Council meetings, board and commission meetings, agendas, minutes, and YouTube broadcasts, with interpretation request services for participation in local governance.
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Federally-funded program administered in partnership with Marin County supporting affordable housing, facility improvements, and essential services for low- and moderate-income residents; the city receives approximately $508,032 annually in CDBG funds.

Quantifiable outcome

• 132 miles of sewage pipeline maintained through San Rafael Sanitation District
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Central Marin Sanitation AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2026Following approximately three years of negotiations, San Rafael city and the San Rafael Sanitation District have approved a separation agreement transferring management responsibilities to the Central Marin Sanitation Agency. The agency will assume functions previously handled by the city including hiring employees and administrative support to modernize the district's operational structure.
• Marin CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Administered in partnership with Marin County, federal CDBG funds support community projects that expand affordable housing, improve local facilities, and provide essential services to low- and moderate-income residents. The approved recommendations are presented to the Marin County Board of Supervisors for inclusion in the countywide CDBG funding plan submitted to HUD.
• Canal AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanal Alliance is a lead partner in the Nuestro Canal Nuestro Futuro (NCNF) Community Vision process and serves as community partner for the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan, helping ensure coordination between planning efforts and reducing community planning fatigue.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Daly City: Bay Area mid-sized municipal government providing similar comprehensive services, with comparable residential population, ethnic diversity, and reliance on regional housing and infrastructure partnerships.
• City of Berkeley: Mid-sized California municipal government with comparable scope of services (planning, housing, public safety, recreation). Similar reliance on CDBG and state funds, with similar urban-density planning demands.
• City of Redwood City: Mid-sized Bay Area municipal government operating planning, housing, recreation, and public safety services. Directly comparable in scale, demographic mix, and California municipal governance style.
• City of Palo Alto: Northern California mid-sized city with similar comprehensive municipal functions, including planning, housing, utilities coordination, and emergency services. Comparable governance structure and resident base.
• City of Novato: Immediate geographic neighbor within Marin County, California. Comparable mid-sized municipal government providing planning, public safety, recreation, and housing services to a similar Bay Area suburban population.
• City of San Leandro: Bay Area mid-sized municipal government providing directly comparable planning, public safety, recreation, and community development services. Similar scale and operating model among California cities.
• City of Santa Rosa: Mid-large California city providing comprehensive municipal services including fire, police, planning, housing, recreation, and CDBG administration. Highly comparable as San Rafael's new CED Assistant Director (Lou Kirk) was hired directly from Santa Rosa.
• City of Mountain View: Mid-sized California city providing similar comprehensive municipal services with comparable budget, staff size, and demographic profile. Operates planning division, housing programs, and emergency notification systems analogous to San Rafael's.
• City of San Mateo: Bay Area mid-sized municipal government offering directly comparable services including planning, affordable housing, public safety, and recreation. Similar scale of budget and headcount.

Broad incumbents

• County of Marin: County government of which San Rafael is the county seat. Operates overlapping CDBG administration with the city and broader regional services; relevant because of joint program delivery and funding collaboration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityofsanrafael
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaQDlHi5fD6sByZUw5FOg9A
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityofSanRafael
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-san-rafael
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecityofsanrafael

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 San Rafael