Capitola

Local front desk

Start with the task in front of you.

Capitola is incorporated. Start with the city for work inside its limits, while Santa Cruz County still handles property records, taxes, courts, elections, many benefits, and county alerts. Santa Cruz County is the public-health layer.

1. Property

   Assessed value, exemptions, tax bills, and appeals

   Santa Cruz County assessor handles value and exemptions. The clerk of the board handles a formal value appeal. The tax collector handles the bill, payment, and penalties.

   Open the property-tax path →
2. Records

   Deeds, birth and death records, marriage records, and name changes

   Santa Cruz County recorder is the usual deed and public-record door. Vital-record access depends on the record and year. A legal name change or divorce decree can involve Superior Court.

   Open the records path →
3. Property work

   Building permits, ADUs, zoning, code, water, and septic

   Start with the city planning or building office for an address inside Capitola. Start with the county for an address outside local limits.

   Open the local-office path →
4. Housing

   Rent rules, repairs, notices, and eviction papers

   Start with a local rent, housing, or code office if one serves the address. Court papers go to the Superior Court self-help path, and the deadline on the papers keeps running.

   Open the housing path →
5. Household help

   CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, General Assistance, and IHSS

   Santa Cruz County social-services agency is the main local door. Coverage, food, cash aid, and in-home support remain separate programs with separate notices.

   Open the benefits path →
6. Public health

   Vaccines, disease reporting, health records, and local health programs

   Santa Cruz County public health is the local health jurisdiction. Health coverage and benefits still use separate program doors.

   Open the health path →
7. Business

   Business setup, seller's permits, local licenses, and regulated work

   State filings and tax accounts do not replace Capitola zoning, licensing, building, fire, or health approvals for the address.

   Open the business path →
8. Neighborhood services

   Potholes, streetlights, graffiti, trash, and service requests

   For a city-owned street or service inside Capitola, start with the local request system. County roads, Caltrans routes, utilities, private property, and separate service providers use different doors.

   Open the local-office path →
9. School and care

   School enrollment, student records, and child-care checks

   The school district handles assignment and records. County offices can help with some family services, while the state licenses child-care facilities.

   Open the school and care path →
10. Parking

    Residential, guest, overnight, and local parking permits

    A local parking permit is separate from a citation, moving ticket, and toll notice. Match the permit to the address, vehicle, district, or parking facility.

    Open the parking path →
11. Tickets

    Traffic court, parking citations, and toll notices

    Santa Cruz County Superior Court handles traffic court matters. A city or issuing agency handles parking. The toll operator handles toll notices.

    Open the ticket path →
12. Safety

    Emergency alerts, evacuations, smoke, roads, and power

    Use the county or city alert system for local warnings. Follow the local emergency office for evacuation wording, then use the state fire, smoke, road, and utility sources for the matching layer.

    Open the emergency path →