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  • About Us
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  • Events & News
    • Chamber Events Calendar >
      • Business After Hours
      • Business Expo >
        • Biz Expo: Exhibitors
        • Biz Expo: Sponsors
        • Biz Expo: Attendees
      • Annual Membership Meeting
      • Recognition Awards Gala >
        • Awards: Awards Gala
        • Sponsors: Awards Gala
        • Community Tables: Awards Gala
        • Entertainment: Awards Gala
      • Ribbon Cutting
    • Community Calendar
    • Chamber News
    • Chamber Travel
    • Member News
  • Visit & Live
    • Local Annual Events
    • Community Events
    • Community Services
  • Resources
    • Emergency Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Inflation Reduction Act
    • Black Owned Santa Cruz
    • Rise Together Business Directory
    • Business Intelligence
    • Learning & Consulting Resources
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    • Starting Your Business
    • Employment Stats
  • Advocacy
    • Racial Equality Statement
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    • Local Government Scorecard
    • Community Leadership Visits
    • Core Economic Issues
    • Projects & Policies
    • Santa Cruz County Governments
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Santa Cruz County governments

Santa Cruz County Governments

Santa Cruz County, like all California counties, is a subdivision  of state government charged with providing for the health and welfare of the people within the county. As such it supports the court system and district attorneys, the delivery of social services, enforcement of health and safety legislation, law enforcement throughout the County (the sheriff's office), all land records, tax assessment and collection, and administers all elections. For unincorporated areas of the County, the County also provides land use planning, parks, public works, and economic development services and regulation. 

There are four incorporated cities in Santa Cruz County, each with their own local government, police, land use planning, public works and economic development departments. These cities are Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola, and Scotts Valley. ​

 County of Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz County is atypical in California. About one-half of all residents reside in unincorporated areas of the County. The second-smallest county in California, Santa Cruz County is long and narrow with most of its borders either beaches or mountains; as a result, an uncommon proportion of the County is dedicated to parks and recreation. Agriculture has been a major industry in the County since its founding.  Coupled with the County's nexus to Silicon Valley industries, a strong and growing visitor-serving sector, and the strength and continuing growth of the University of California Santa Cruz, the County continues to adjust the delicate balance of needs and values of local residents and local enterprises.

Key Offices and Contacts

City Governments

State Government and Agencies

Sheriff's Office
5200 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-454-7682

Santa Cruz County Fire Department
Cal Fire/County Fire Headquarters
6059 Highway 9, Felton, CA 95018
Phone: 831-335-5353
FOR EMERGENCIES PLEASE DIAL 911

Economic Development
County of Santa Cruz
701 Ocean St, 5th Floor, Room 520
Santa Cruz, Ca 95060
831-454-2397 Direct

Planning Department
Phone: (831) 454-2580
​

Board of Supervisors
701 Ocean Street, Room 500
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: (831) 454-2200
Fax: (831) 454-3262
County of Santa Cruz      
701 Ocean Street Room 210
Santa Cruz, CA 95060  
(831)-454-2060       
​                                                     

City of Santa Cruz

809 Center Street        
Santa Cruz, CA 95060     
(831)-420-5030       ​                                                     

City of Capitola 

420 Capitola Avenue
Capitola, CA 95010
(831)-475-7300

City of Scotts Valley
One Civic Center Drive  
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 
(831)-440-5602 ​                                                         

City of Watsonville

250 Main Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
​(831)-768-3030
State of California Home Page

California State Assembly

California Legislative Information

​
Santa Cruz Superior Court
Santa Cruz Courthouse:
701 Ocean Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Public Agency Risk Sharing Authority of California
1525 Response Rd, Ste. 1
Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: (916)927-7727
Fax: (916)927-3075

League of California Cities 
1400 K Street Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916)658-8200
Fax: (916) 658-8240

City of Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz is known for its moderate climate, natural environment, coastline, redwood forests, alternative community lifestyles, and socially liberal leanings. It is also home to the University of California, Santa Cruz, a premier research institution and educational hub, as well as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an oceanfront amusement park operating continuously since 1907.

Key Offices and Contacts

Police Department
155 Center Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831-420-5800
Public Lobby Hours:
Open Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Friday

Fire Department
230 Walnut Ave.                
Santa Cruz, CA 95060       
831-420-5280 
Office Hours: 
Monday - Thursday 
8:00 am - 12:00 pm 
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm 
Closed Fridays    

Economic Development
337 Locust St. Santa Cruz, CA
831.420.5150

Planning and Community Development
809 Center Street, Room 107
Santa Cruz, California 95060
Phone: 831-420-5100 • Fax: 831-420-5101

City Council 

809 Center Street, Room 10 
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 
831-420-5020 

Council Members
Second and Fourth Tuesday of Each Month 
2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers ​


City of Capitola

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The original settlement now known as Capitola grew out of what was then called Soquel Landing. Soquel Landing got its name from a wharf located at the mouth of Soquel Creek. This wharf, which dates back to the 1850s, served as an outlet for the produce and lumber grown in the interior. Capitola is known as the oldest beach resort on the West Coast.
Capitola is a popular tourist town because of its trendy shops and restaurants on the shore directly connecting to a fishing wharf and its large, sandy beach. 

​Key Offices and Contacts

Police Department
422 Capitola Ave
Capitola, California 95010
(831) 475-4242

Fire Department
930 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: (831) 479-6842   Fax: (831) 479-6847


Economic Development
420 Capitola Ave, Capitola CA 95010
Phone: (831) 475-7300
Fax: (831) 479-8879


Planning Department
Planning Commission
City Hall
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

​City Council/Council Members
420 Capitola Ave, Capitola, CA 95010
Ph: 831.475-7300
Fax: 831.464-8659

City of Scotts Valley

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From its early years as a stop on the stage route across the mountains, the Scotts Valley area has provided services to travelers. With the growing popularity of the automobile in the early 20th century, the area became commercialized and tourism developed as a local industry. Scotts Valley is named for John Scott, who discovered gold at Scott’s Bar. It is home to several parks, great places to eat, and a fun resting stop just outside of the city of Santa Cruz. 

​Key Offices and Contacts

Police Department
1 Civic Center Dr
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Emergency: 9-1-1
Business: 831-440-5670

Fire Department
Scotts Valley Fire Station 1 
7 Erba Lane
Scotts Valley, Ca 95066
(831) 438-0211 Fax (831) 438-0383

Scotts Valley Fire Station 2 

251 Glenwood Dr. 
Scotts Valley, Ca 95066
(831) 438-0211 Fax (831) 438-0383

Planning Department
831-440-5630
FAX: 831-438-2793
​
City Council/Council Members
831-440-5602
First and Third Wednesday of each month
Meetings begin at 6:00 pm and are held in the City Council Chambers

City of Watsonville

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Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host of other vegetables. Watsonville is home to people of varied ethnic backgrounds. There is a large Hispanic population, as well as groups of Croatians, Portuguese, Filipino, Caucasian, Sikhs, and Japanese that live and work in the city.​

Key Offices and Contacts

​Police Department
Emergency: 911
File a report: 831.471.1151
Police Records:  831.768.3370
Hours:  M - F, 8 am - 5 pm

Fire Department
Emergency:911
Non-Emergency Calls: 831-471-1170
Administration: 831-768-3200

Economic Development
Community Development Department
250 Main Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
831-768-3050
Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm


Planning Department
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday &:
7:30am - 4:00pm
831-768-3050
831-728-6154


​City Council/Council Members
275 Main St., Suite 400 (4th Floor)
Watsonville, CA 95076
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Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce
7960 Soquel Drive, Ste B112
Aptos, CA 95003
Phone: (831) 457-3713