Agencies & Departments
Agencies and Departments
Adult Protective Services investigates reports and provides support related to elder and dependent adult abuse or neglect, specializing in emergency response, financial abuse investigations and working with diverse populations. Support services may include food, shelter and maintenance of utility services.
The mission of the Division of Agriculture is to fulfill the mandates of the State of California and to provide quality regulatory services to the citizens of Santa Clara County. The Division serves local businesses, protects public health and the environment, and promotes a wholesome and ample food supply. The County Agricultural Commissioner directs the enforcement programs of the local Division of Agriculture.
The mission of the Roads and Airports Department is to operate, maintain, and enhance the County's expressways, unincorporated roads, and two general aviation airports in a safe, timely, and cost-effective manner to meet the needs of the traveling public.
The Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender provides legal representation to indigent clients who are charged with the commission of a criminal offense alleged to have been committed in this county.
The Office also represents minors against whom delinquency petitions have been filed in the Juvenile Courts of Santa Clara County, and clients who are the subject of conservatorship proceedings in the Mental Health departments of the Superior Court.
The Public Defender does not represent people in Family Court, Dependency Court, or Traffic Court.
The County of Santa Clara Animal Services Center is an open-intake shelter that accepts stray and abandoned domestic animals from the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County as well as the cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill. The Animal Services Center provides shelter to homeless pets, reunites lost pets with their families, facilitates pet adoption and provides volunteer opportunities for those looking for the opportunity to improve the lives of pets in our care.
Our field services division investigates complaints of violations of State and County ordinances within the unincorporated areas of the County. We protect pets in the community by investigating animal cruelty and neglect complaints.
Homeowners or business property owners can review their assessed value online, download a parcel map, or confidentially view the market data used to arrive at their assessment; also, they can electronically request an informal review of their assessment.
The mission of the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department is to assist individuals in our community affected by mental illness and serious emotional disturbance to achieve their hopes, dreams and quality of life goals. To accomplish this, services must be delivered in the least restrictive, non-stigmatizing, most accessible environment within a coordinated system of community and self-care, respectful of a person's family and loved ones, language, culture, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity.
The Board of Supervisors oversees the operation of government and laws that concern Santa Clara County. The board consists of five members, each representing a different part of the county.
- District 1 (Gilroy, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill and portions of South San Jose): Sylvia Arenas
- District 2 (East San Jose and downtown): Cindy Chavez
- District 3 (Milpitas, North San Jose and northern Sunnyvale): Otto Lee
- District 4 (Campbell, Santa Clara and West San Jose): Susan Ellenberg
- District 5 (Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga and southern Sunnyvale): Joe Simitian
The Board of Supervisors established a management audit function to perform detailed audits and analyses of County operations, review the annual County budget, analyze major financial issues, and conduct other special studies or projects. The Board currently contracts with a private firm for these management audit services. The Management Auditor is independent from County administration, as well as all departments and programs, and reports directly to the Board.
The Clerk of the Board supports more than 75 Boards and Commissions by processing the Applications and forms necessary to volunteer and serve on these legislative bodies. The Clerk’s office provides meeting support by preparing and publishing Agendas and meeting Minutes and serves as the official record keeper during meetings. The Department also supports current Board Members and Commissioners by overseeing compliance with State-mandated filings and trainings, provides technical support to the meeting bodies, and serves as a liaison between the County's legislative bodies and its constituents.
The Office of Building Inspection ensures that buildings are compliant with current code in order to maintain a safe community standard. This is accomplished with professional plan checking, building inspection and investigation of substandard structures.
The Planning and Development Office provides services related to land use and development, development review, zoning administration and enforcement, geographic information system (GIS) services and historic preservation.
The County of Santa Clara was committed to ensuring a complete count of everyone in our community during the 2020 Census and conducted a multi-year effort to make sure everyone was prepared for the census. One of the key goals of this effort was to make sure each person, even those who have been traditionally hard-to-count (HTC), were heard in the 2020 Census.
The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Santa Clara County is a Commission of the Board of Supervisors created to coordinate the community's efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. 23 appointed Commissioners join Community Advisory Members and other community stakeholders to:
- Provide a forum for interagency cooperation and coordination
- Promote public awareness
- Encourage and facilitate the training of professionals
- Recommend improvements in services to families and victims
- Facilitate funding for local child abuse prevention programs
Offers assistance with establishing court orders for paternity, child support, and medical coverage. The Department locates non-custodial parents and their assets for establishment and enforcement of court orders for child support, collects and distributes child support payments, modifies court orders when appropriate, and enforces the collection of child, spousal, and medical support.
The Clerk of the Board is the official record keeper for the Board of Supervisors and maintains the historical record of actions taken by the Board. The Office supports the Board and constituents by ensuring the governance of the County of Santa Clara is transparent and accessible to the public.
The County Climate Coalition is an effort lead by the County of Santa Clara that calls upon all counties in the U.S. to rally around combatting climate change.
In June 2017, acting on a request by then Board President Dave Cortese, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution affirming the County’s commitment to the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement and establishing what has become the County Climate Coalition. Counties all over the U.S. are invited to join this Coalition as we all work together to solve this climate crisis.
The Code Enforcement Division is an office within the Department of Planning and Development responsible for enforcing County Zoning, Building, and Grading Ordinances for private properties located in unincorporated Santa Clara County. Code Enforcement’s primary purpose is to preserve neighborhood integrity, maintain safe living conditions, and protect the environment through responsive enforcement of County Land Use Ordinances.
The Office of Communications and Public Affairs engages residents and other community stakeholders to explain the County of Santa Clara's policies, programs, services, and to provide statistical and factual information. Working collaboratively with County agencies and departments, the Office of Communications and Public Affairs coordinates media communications, issue management, information dissemination and strategic communications advice.
CEPA enforces State and local laws and ordinances related to pesticide use, agriculture production, equity in the marketplace, animals, weed abatement, recycling and waste diversion, and environmental protection of area waterways.
The Controller-Treasurer Department fulfills the functions of Chief Accounting Officer, Internal Auditor, and Treasurer. The department is organized into the following groups:
- General Accounting
- Cost Management
- Claims
- Payroll
- Tax Apportionment
- Tax Roll Control
- Treasury
The Santa Clara County 9-1-1 Communications Department exists to protect lives, property and the environment by providing the vital connection between the community and emergency responders.
The Santa Clara County Archives is to collect, preserve, and make available the historical records of Santa Clara County government. The Archives’ goals are to be a center for research and information about Santa Clara County and to foster an appreciation and understanding of the county’s history and development.
The Clerk-Recorder's Office records or files authorized documents and maps, collects transfer tax and other fees, and registers all births, deaths, and public marriages occurring within Santa Clara County. Once recorded or filed, the documents and certificates are made available for examination by interested parties. Exact copies are issued upon request.
Additionally, the Clerk-Recorder's Office issues marriage licenses, performs marriage ceremonies, and registers confidential marriages. The office also performs services related to filing of Fictitious Business Name statements, filing of Notary Bonds, registration of professional agents and similar services.
The Office of the County Counsel is the legal counsel for the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive, every County department and agency, and numerous County boards and commissions. The Office provides legal assistance to County departments in addressing a wide range of diverse issues in every area of internal and external service delivery, including but not limited to: land use, tax assessments, labor relations, personnel matters, risk management, health and hospital issues, child dependency and adult protective services, law and justice, public finance, and property management.
The Office is overseen by the County Counsel and legal operations are supervised by six Assistant County Counsel. The Office’s attorneys are counselors in the fullest sense, committed to professionalism and to understanding and furthering the needs and goals of the Board of Supervisors and County agencies and departments.
The Office of the County Executive provides support to the County's Board of Supervisors, the County's various organizations, and to the residents and businesses of the County of Santa Clara. The Office ensures the implementation of legislative mandates and Board policies, while providing analytical support, strategic planning, policy analysis, and budgetary oversight for the County organization. In addition, it seeks to safeguard civil rights, and to educate, inform, and advise both those who administer and those who receive County services.
The Office of Communications and Public Affairs engages residents and other community stakeholders to explain the County of Santa Clara's policies, programs, services, and to provide statistical and factual information. Working collaboratively with County agencies and departments, the Office of Communications and Public Affairs coordinates media communications, issue management, information dissemination and strategic communications advice.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Custody Division is the fifth largest jail system in California, and among the 20 largest systems in the United States. Our jail is among the 100 systems nationwide with an inmate population of more than 1,000. In 2015, the average daily population for the Santa Clara County Correctional facilities was approximately 3,638 inmates a day.
Approximately 48,000 arrestees are booked annually with an average length of stay of about 206 days.
The Custody Bureau consists of several divisions: Main Jail Facility, Elmwood Correctional Facility, Custody Administrative Services, Jail Reforms, Support Services, and Compliance.
Facilities
- Elmwood Men's Correctional Complex
Elmwood Correctional Complex in Milpitas provides care, housing, and retention of approximately 2,600 medium- and minimum-security male inmates. - Elmwood Women's Correctional Complex
The Elmwood Complex Women's Facility, established in 1964, is located in the northeast portion of the Complex. - Main Jail Facility
The Santa Clara County Main Jail Complex is located at 150 West Hedding Street in downtown San Jose and is divided into Main Jail North and Main Jail South.
Supervisor Sylvia Arenas was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in November 2022 after serving six years on the San José City Council.
As a City of San José councilwoman, she devoted her professional career to public service, focusing on making it possible for families and children to have a high quality of life within the community. To do this, she prioritized economic development, public safety and family services.
Through her position on the City Council, she championed issues that affect the everyday lives of San José women and families. She led efforts to reform the city’s response to rising rates of sexual assaults and improve public safety. One of her greatest accomplishments was her launch of the City of San José’s Family Friendly Initiative, which is working to increase access to early education, after school programs, safe housing, family friendly public facilities, and paid family leave. She continues to make strides to support economic development, while working to make our streets safer, better maintained, and less congested.
Before serving on the city council, she received an M.P.A. from the University of San Francisco, and served as a member of the Evergreen Elementary School District Board of Trustees. Her professional experience includes working in youth and early childhood educational agencies. She is a proud long-time resident of Evergreen, where she lives with her husband José, son Andres, and daughter Annaise.
Serving: Gilroy, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Monte Sereno, San Jose (portions)
Cindy Chavez was elected to the Second District seat on the Board of Supervisors in the July 30th runoff election. She represents District 2 which includes many San Jose neighborhoods such as Alum Rock, Northside, Mayfair, Seven Trees, and parts of Willow Glen.
Chavez serves as Chair of the Children, Seniors & Families Committee and as Vice Chair of the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee.
Supervisor Chavez previously served two terms on the San Jose City Council in 1998 and 2002, including two terms as vice mayor. Public safety, improving government services, and developing community based programs to address public safety, education, small business development and neighborhood revitalization were here priorities.
As the former Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and Executive Director of Working Partnerships USA, Supervisor Chavez focused on new collaborations to improve the lives of working families throughout Silicon Valley. Her achievements in public service include ground-breaking health insurance for Santa Clara County’s children, which served as a national model, construction of diverse housing and a city-schools partnership in downtown San Jose.
Chavez was named by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in its surveys of “Influential Women in Business” and served on the Board of the Silicon Valley Women’s Alliance. She was a recipient of the California Assembly’s Housing Leadership Award and the Blue Cross of California’s Community Service Award. Cindy Chavez was voted “Legislator of the Year” by the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club and 2012 Woman of the Year by the California State Assembly.
Chavez has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Jose State University.
She and her husband and son live in the Naglee Park neighborhood of San Jose.
Serving: San Jose, Unincorporated areas
Supervisor Otto Lee was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 2020. Prior to joining the Board, he served on the Sunnyvale Planning Commission and was then elected to serve on the Sunnyvale City Council from 2003 to 2011, including one term as Mayor. He achieved real results on pressing issues and was a leader on environmental causes. He passed the city’s single-use plastic bag ban, installing solar panels on city buildings, encouraged commercial development projects to build with higher green LEED standards and helped raise awareness on climate change. Otto is also a small-business owner, he is the co-founder of an intellectual property law firm in San José, where he has served as lead attorney for more than twenty years. Otto and his wife, Sally, reside in Sunnyvale with their three young daughters.
Serving: Alviso, Milpitas, Portions of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Unincorporated Areas
Susan was elected as 4th District Supervisor for the County of Santa Clara in November 2018. Susan strives to be the change she wants to see in the world. As a School Board Trustee, she has seen that there is more that needs to be done to make our community safe and healthy for everyone. Now, as Supervisor, she will lead efforts to support vulnerable families and individuals, including seniors; advocate for reform in our criminal justice system; work to expand access to early childhood education; promote gender equity; fight to protect the availability of quality health care including mental health services; lead efforts to increase the availability of low-income and affordable housing; and ensure every dollar spent maximizes impact in all of these areas.
Serving: Campbell, Santa Clara, West San Jose
Joe Simitian was elected to the California State Senate in November 2004 to represent the 11th State Senate District. His public service includes stints as a State Assemblymember, member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Mayor of Palo Alto and President of the Palo Alto School Board. He has served as an election observer/supervisor in El Salvador and Bosnia, and participated in refugee relief and resettlement efforts in Albania and Kosovo.
Simitian received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Colorado College. He holds a Master of Arts degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, a Master in City Planning degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall).
Raised in Palo Alto and a graduate of Palo Alto High, Simitian’s roots are in the Midpeninsula. His community involvement includes service on the boards of local organizations such as American Leadership Forum – Silicon Valley, Adolescent Counseling Services and the Clara-Mateo Alliance, and he co-chairs the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Housing Leadership Council.Since serving in the Legislature, Simitian has been widely recognized for his commitment to service and the passion he brings to his job. He has received Legislator of the Year awards from a wide range of organizations, including the California School Boards Association, AeA (the American Electronics Association), the California Library Association and NOW (the National Organization for Women). He regularly receives “100%” environmental ratings from the California League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club and Vote the Coast.
Serving: Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Stanford, Sunnyvale, West San Jose
The District Attorney’s Office was established in 1850. This elected officer was to act as public prosecutor in both District and County Courts. In 1863, the district attorney was required to collaborate with county officials in suppressing gaming. In 1972 he was to serve as legal advisor to the Board of Supervisors. Under the County Charter of 1951, the District Attorney remained an elected office responsible for all criminal prosecutions, investigations of all major cases and maintenance of the Laboratory of Criminalistics.
Today, Santa Clara County is comprised of fifteen cities, including San Jose, and has more than 1.8 million residents who come from all over the world to live in our beautiful, prosperous and diverse valley.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Northern California. The Office has 640 employees, including 196 prosecutors. The Office prosecutes more than 40,000 criminal cases each year including drunk driving, identity theft, fraud, elder abuse, burglary, robbery, sexual assault, domestic violence, gang violence and murder.
The District Attorney's Crime Laboratory is the pre-eminent forensic laboratory in Northern California and analyzes thousands of evidence items each year using the most sophisticated and cutting edge technology.
Driving to Net Zero is a multi-jurisdiction/agency project that provides resources to local governments who are seeking support in the deployment of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and charging infrastructure.
Driving to Net Zero resulted in several pages of recommendations, tools and reports. This website serves a resource to share the final deliverables in an organized website to be utilized by local governments. To help the staff find the resources that are likely the most relevant to their role as it relates to encouraging EV deployment, the County has tagged resources accordingly: Local Planning & Codes, Siting & Installing EVSE, Clean Fleet Planning and Additional Topics.
Driving to Net Zero is a project funded by the Strategic Growth Council Sustainable Communities Planning Grant, Round 3. The project team, led by the County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability includes the cities of Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill as well as Joint Venture Silicon Valley, the Bay Area Climate Collaborative and ICF International. Driving to Net Zero is a continuation of the policies and goals outlined by the predecessor project, Silicon Valley 2.0.
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) engages the whole community in assessing needs and developing strategies to achieve stronger preparedness, prevention, response, and mitigation capabilities within the Santa Clara County Operational Area.
Our office is responsible for supporting first responders including fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical services in emergencies and disasters. We are also responsible for facilitating the coordination of resources from Local and State partners, community based organizations, and faith based organizations to provide community members with relief and supplies in an emergency or disaster.
The Santa Clara EMS System is to evolve a cost-effective, collaborative, and outcome-based EMS delivery system that produces clinically superior and culturally competent care, while achieving high levels of patient satisfaction from the people of Santa Clara County.
The Employee Assistance Program is available for County employees and eligible family members.
The Employee Services Agency is to support County departments by recruiting, training, and retaining a productive, skilled, dedicated and diverse workforce, and by building relationships with departments and employee organizations based on mutual respect and trust.
The Agency acts to meet the changing needs of County employees and their dependents, and to protect County employees, County assets, and to maintain a safe work environment.
The Agency assists the County organization in maintaining a discrimination and harassment free work environment and providing equal opportunity in employment and contracting principles.
The County Employee Wellness Program is program is for County employees and is committed to encouraging the health and well-being of its workforce.
The Employment Connection Center (ECC) is Santa Clara County's one-stop employment resource center, offering employment based services. Our services are designed to meet the needs of job seekers looking to enter the work force, and employers looking to fill positions with their organizations.
The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) enhances the quality of life for those who live and work in Santa Clara County by protecting public health, protecting the environment, educating the public, and implementing and enforcing local, state, and federal environmental laws. DEH includes Consumer Protection, Solid Waste, and Hazardous Materials Divisions. DEH regulates retail food safety, swimming pools, small drinking water systems, onsite wastewater systems, above and underground storage tanks and cleanup, and medical and hazardous materials and waste. Additionally, DEH serves as the Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency.
We work closely with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to coordinate potential threats to the health of the public.
This website is designed to serve as a resource for the general public, regulated businesses, students, and environmental health professionals to respond to general inquiries about the variety of services provided by DEH.
Equal Opportunity Division (EOD) provides comprehensive services to the County Organization in compliance with Federal and State laws, and County Policies. EOD administers a discrimination/harassment complaint process for employees and applicants for employment; administers the County's Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Procedures, and conducts training in the prevention of Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation; Diversity, and Reasonable Accommodation. The Equal Opportunity Division develops the County's Equal Employment Opportunity Plan, and develops and administers the Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program.
EOD also provides Conflict Resolution Services (CRS) for County staff and departments. Our purpose is to support the development of healthy conflict resolution practices at individual, interpersonal and institutional levels. Through our program, we contribute to a harmonious work environment where staff can be happier, healthier and productive within our roles and as a team. We offer training, facilitated conflict resolution sessions, healing circles, staff coaching, management consulting, and on-going engagements for departments experiencing high levels of conflict and in need of longer-term assistance.
The County of Santa Clara Division of Equity and Social Justice (DESJ) is comprised of seven different offices within the Office of the County Executive. These Offices include the Office of Women’s Policy, Office of Gender Based Violence Prevention, Office of Cultural Competency, Office of Immigrant Relations, Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement, Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Affairs, and the Office of the Census.
The Facilities and Fleet (FAF) Department serves as an internal resource organization, providing a full range of services to County departments and agencies, who offer vital resources and programs, to the public. FAF consists of capital planning, design, construction management operational management, Project management, lifecycle maintenance/repair of all vehicles and equipment, building security, and a wide mail and parcel processing/distribution system.
The Finance Agency manages the County’s payments and collections, financial resources, accounting systems, and public and vital records. The Agency houses three departments: Controller-Treasurer, Tax and Collections, and Clerk-Recorder.
Santa Clara County Fire Department is an internationally accredited emergency services agency serving the largest county in Northern California. We provide emergency response to over 226,000 residents in the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Redwood Estates, Saratoga and adjacent unincorporated areas.
The County Fire Marshal’s Office is responsible for fire prevention activities in most unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, however there are a few areas where our responsibilities are shared and/or deferred to other agencies for various reasons. Since it is often difficult to determine exactly which agency you should be contacting for your project or issue, we have tried to simplify the process by including helpful information and links to the other agencies you might need. If you cannot determine who you should be in contact with, please feel free to contact the office at (408) 299-5760, and the staff will assist you.
Although the Santa Clara County Fire Department (also known as the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District) is not an actual division of the County of Santa Clara, it is tied closely to the Board of Supervisors, which serves as its Board of Commissioners. In 1987, the County entered into a contract with the Santa Clara County Fire Department for the administration of the County Fire Marshal’s Office. The County Code assigned the title of “County Fire Marshal” to the Chief of the Fire Department, and the Fire Department provides staff to cover the duties performed by the Office.
The Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention was established in September 2019 to improve collaboration and coordination across County stakeholders in order to improve long-term outcomes for survivors of violence. To achieve success, we work with county departments and service providers to create a shared vision that aligns key outcomes across support, prevention and response systems. The Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention is committed to ensuring that the voices of survivors are central to establishing trauma-informed and survivor-centered policies and practices.
Santa Clara County Geographic Information Services works together with other governmental agencies in a sustained effort to provide enhanced access to high quality geographic information in pursuit of better public service.
The Government Fellowship Program was developed to engage students enrolled in post-secondary educational institutions by placing them in County Agencies, Departments and Board Offices that are developing and implementing high priority policies and initiatives or that have high demand job classifications. The goal of the Program is to create a mutually beneficial experience for both students and the County by matching students with County departments based on the students’ interests, skills, and future career goals, so that the students will seriously consider a career in the County.
The Hazardous Materials Compliance Division (HMCD) was established in 1983 with the adoption of the local Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance (HMSO), which regulates the storage of hazardous materials both above and below ground. This ordinance, the first of its kind in the state, has several key provisions that when implemented by businesses, provides protection of public health and the environment.
The County of Santa Clara Health System is our local healthcare safety net and provider of comprehensive care, service, and program to the residents of our county. The Health System includes the Behavioral Health Services Department, Public Health Department, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center hospital and clinics, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital, Emergency Medical Services Agency, Custody Health Services Department, and Valley Health Plan. We are dedicated to the health and well-being of all communities in Santa Clara County.
The Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program is funded by participating cities and the County of Santa Clara. (Out-of-County HHW programs)
Household hazardous waste is unwanted household products labeled as flammable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive. Common products include auto fluids, batteries, electronics, fluorescent and LED lightbulbs, garden chemicals, household cleaners, paint, and many other products that require proper disposal to prevent harm to humans and the environment.
The Office of Immigrant Relations has served as a leading resource that has helped local governments and other entities to understand the issues, needs, and contributions of immigrants. The Office has worked with local agencies on immigrant integration programs and to prepare hundreds of community members for civic engagement and cross-cultural understanding. Over 132,000 residents have benefited from the citizenship services that Santa Clara County funds through the Citizenship Collaborative.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an integrated, systematic approach to managing pests. Public agencies must invest time and money to increase employee knowledge of pest ecology and biology and reduced-risk control strategies. The implementation of IPM programs for pest control in public agencies will reduce the amount of pesticide introduced into the environment. Employees of public agencies require experience in maintaining diverse ecosystems while dealing with many different types of pests.
The County of Santa Clara is committed to providing employees with opportunities to participate in developmental programs and/or classes for professional development, career enhancement and personal growth. Learning & Employee Development (LED) coordinates trainings on a quarterly basis to enhance your knowledge, skills, and professional competencies.
As a government office, we are committed to creating strong bridges throughout Santa Clara County that affirm and embrace the whole person, especially LGBTQ individuals and their families. We strive to create inclusive systems of support that respond to the critical, often diverse and complex, needs of over 1.9 million residents of this county, with a special focus on LGBTQ communities who have been largely underserved. We are working to create a social climate with institutional backing that offers multiple pathways for LGBTQ individual and communities to thrive here and everywhere.
The top-ranked Santa Clara County Library District offers eight locations and provides literacy and tutoring services, adult and children’s reading programs, a bookmobile, employment resources, and research tools.
Leading difficult conversations and resolving conflict for County of Santa Clara employees, departments, agencies and community members since 1977.
What we do for you:
We Listen – By hearing all concerns with thoughtful attention in order to gain insight into the underlying needs of all parties.
We Convene – By bringing the necessary people together to discuss perspectives.
We Consult – By drawing upon our extensive experience as career professional neutrals, OMOS will assist you with understanding the conflict dynamics, gathering decision-making information, and identifying options for durable solutions.
We Customize – By tailoring our full spectrum of services, OMOS will work with you to meet your unique needs.
To serve the community by conducting objective medicolegal death investigations in a compassionate manner into all deaths which fall under the jurisdiction of the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office.
The latest news announcements and updates from the Emergency Operations Center and Public Health Department related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Known for quality, compassionate care, O’Connor Hospital is a nationally recognized, 358-bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to more than 1 million residents of San Jose. O’Connor Hospital was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in Santa Clara County. Whether for the birth of a baby or a life-saving surgery, our reputation for medical excellence, superior skill and advanced technology precedes us.
The County of Santa Clara owns and operates a Hospitals and Clinics Delivery System that includes Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, and St. Louise Regional Hospital. The hospitals and clinics are operated by the County under a consolidated license from the California Department of Public Health. The Hospitals and Clinics Delivery System is part of the broader County of Santa Clara Health System.
OSEC's mission is to oversee and develop policies regarding the environmental health and safety programs of Santa Clara County. OSEC assists in the training of County employees, the development of programs, and the impartial investigation of issues. OSEC evaluates and responds to the diverse needs of all agencies/departments and monitors activities to protect County employees and the public we serve.
The County’s 49,000 acre system of urban and mountain parks, trails, lakes, streams and open space is one of the most diverse recreational amenities in all of California. Activities abound throughout 29 County parks including hiking, biking, horseback riding, archery, boating, motor cross, camping and picnicking
The Department of Planning and Development balances the needs for regional development with the safety and needs of the community and its residents. We meet these needs by adopting and enforcing community standards, ordinances, and codes approved by the Board of Supervisors. We issue and monitor permits for various activities, from parades to building to mining, to ensure compliance with these standards. We also investigate any reported violations of these codes.
The County of Santa Clara, also referred to as Silicon Valley, is located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay and encompasses about 1,312 square miles. The County's population is over 1.75 million as of 2010 and is one of the largest in the state (following Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange Counties). Its population constitutes about one fourth of the Bay Area's total population. There are 15 cities ranging from Palo Alto to the north to Gilroy in the south. San Jose is the largest city in the County, with a population of nearly 900,000, and is the administrative site of County Government. The County of Santa Clara has a culture rich in its history and ethnic diversity (over 100 languages and dialects are spoken). Immigrants constitute one third of the County’s population. The County is home to three major universities (Stanford University, Santa Clara University and San Jose State University) and is home to the San Jose Earthquakes and San Jose Sharks professional sports team.
The County Privacy Office is to serve the County of Santa Clara by helping to ensure that privacy is safeguarded and treated with integrity and respect. We believe that the relationships with our stakeholders and commitment to public service are fundamental to building the trust essential to embed privacy by design, assess risk, and provide guidance and training. Through our focus on privacy in technology and developing public-private partnerships, we strive to balance the County’s need to collect and process personal information with its responsibility to protect it.
Santa Clara County Probation Department strives to promote community safety by implementing proven strategies which enhance and support:
- Positive change in our clients, families and neighborhoods.
- Reparation of the harm caused by criminal behavior; and
- Exemplary conditions of secure care.
The Procurement Department is dedicated to customer service as it provides contracting and procurement services to support the operations of all County departments. The County procures a myriad of goods and services to support County functions and provide essential services to the community. Below is a snapshot of current acquisitions and future anticipated needs.
The Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender is comprised of approximately 240 employees, including 121 attorneys, 30 investigators, 31 paralegals and 58 clerical and support staff who are committed to providing quality legal representation to our clients.
We are organized, under Public Defender Molly O'Neal, into two separate legal entities (the Public Defender and Alternate Defender Offices) in five separate geographical locations.
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department works to prevent disease and injury, promote healthy lifestyles, create healthy environments, and advocate for policy and systems changes that advance department priorities. We care deeply about our mission and work daily to achieve our vision that all people thrive in healthy and safe communities.
The County of Santa Clara Recycling and Waste Reduction Division (RWRD) administers the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program and Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Program. The HHW Program provides FREE drop-off of household hazardous waste through temporary events and a permanent facility for all cities in the County (except Palo Alto, which has its own program). IWM serves as the Fiscal Agent and the City of Morgan Hill serves as the Administrator and Contracting Agent for the Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Implementation Committee (IC), and Subcommittees on behalf of the Cities within Santa Clara County. IWM also oversees a variety of Countywide Programs as listed below and manages residential and commercial garbage and recycling contracts for Unincorporated Santa Clara County.
A centralized location for formerly incarcerated and custodial individuals seeking to receive referrals and services such as assessment, alcohol and drug treatment, mental health services, counseling, peer mentoring, housing information, employment, General Assistance/CalFresh benefits, Medi-Cal enrollment, health referrals, and clothes closet.
The Registrar of Voters conducts all elections.
The Roads and Airports Department is primarily funded by state and federal gasoline taxes and a portion of these taxes is returned directly to the County in amounts determined by statutory formulas. In addition to this funding, some of special road and infrastructure development projects are funded through grant programs. The Airports Division of Roads and Airport Department, is funded through the Airport Enterprise Fund which consists of the revenue generated from aircraft storage revenue. In addition to this funding, some special airport projects are funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Caltrans.
The Roads and Airports department is comprised of 4 divisions; Administration Services, Infrastructure Development, Road Maintenance and Airport Operations. Each division plays a key role to provide the traveling public with safe County roads by ensuring that the County maintained roads and airports are well maintained and meet the increasing demand of all types of users who travel in the Santa Clara County Roads system.
The Valley Medical Center Foundation (VMC Foundation) is an independent, community-driven 501c3 nonprofit organization founded to support and protect Silicon Valley's most vital public healthcare institution – Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospital & Clinics. In partnership with SCVMC, the VMC Foundation raises philanthropic dollars to improve existing services, pioneer new models of care, and advance the cause of high quality healthcare for all.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospital and Clinics (SCVMC) is an integral part of the public healthcare delivery system in Santa Clara County, emphasizing quality care, research, teaching, innovation, and most importantly, a focus on a positive patient experience. Our mission has been to provide high quality accessible healthcare and excellent service to all persons in Santa Clara County regardless of their social-economic status and ability to pay.
Santa Clara County’s Technology Innovation Lab's first and foremost goal is to create value through innovation to residents and employees, using the current and emerging information and operational technologies.
The Sheriff's Office is divided into 4 major bureaus: Administrative Services, Enforcement, Custody, and Support Services.
The County of Santa Clara encourages the creation of Sister-County affiliations to promote friendship and understanding and to build bridges with countries of origin for various ethnic populations residing in the County. Such relationships enhance the region's international profile; encourage mutual understanding; and foster cultural, educational, technological and business exchanges between people of Santa Clara County and the people of our Sister communities.
The County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency's mission is to provide resources and opportunities in a culturally responsive manner to enhance the quality of life in our community by protecting, educating, and empowering individuals and families. Our vision is to serve, empower, and transform.
The County of Santa Clara Solid Waste Programs mission is to preserve and enhance the health, safety and well-being of the community while providing quality service in solid waste enforcement, medical waste management, and pumper vehicle registration programs, and by assisting the public in the resolution of solid waste problems.
Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties by offering a wide range of high-quality inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. Affectionately known as South County’s community hospital, St. Louise has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, St. Louise is one of the largest employers in the community and CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter transport is available on the premises. We are particularly proud of our virtually flawless Joint Commission inspections. Whether for maternity care, surgery or a medical emergency, the hospital’s reputation for quality, compassionate care is renowned in the region.
The Superior Court in Santa Clara County serves the public by providing equal justice for all in a fair, accessible, effective, efficient, and courteous manner: by resolving disputes under the law; by applying the law consistently, impartially and independently; and by instilling public trust and confidence in the Court.
The Office of Supportive Housing’s (OSH) mission is to increase the supply of housing and supportive housing that is affordable and available to extremely low income and /or special needs households. OSH supports the County mission of promoting a healthy, safe, and prosperous community by ending and preventing homelessness.
In 2010, the County Board of Supervisors formalized the commitment to establish an Office of Sustainability (OOS) with policy goals to:
- Promoting a vibrant economy.
- Fostering a health environment, protecting resources, and/or protecting public health, safety and recreation.
- Enhancing social equity and safety by improving neighborhood access to education, health service, housing, and food.
- Reflecting a balanced approach and emphasis on shared interests in public policy and programs.
OOS pursues this mission with sustainability programming; fostering interdepartmental coordination; providing capacity building and technical assistance; building networks for collective action across sectors and jurisdictions; and educating, engaging, and empowering action among County employees and community members.
This informational outreach is the go-to resource to assist Santa Clara County residents and businesses in adopting sustainable landscaping best practices through education, training and technical assistance.
The Department of Tax and Collections is responsible for maximizing revenue collections to support services and programs for County residents, school
districts, and other public agencies.
Working with other County departments and local government customers, the County’s IT department develops and delivers innovative, cost-effective technology solutions that aim to enhance the quality of life for the residents of the County of Santa Clara.
Valley Health Plan (VHP) was licensed in 1985 to provide a choice for County of Santa Clara employees and grew to 4,500 members by 1995. We are now a health plan choice for medical care for employer groups, Covered California, and VHP's Individual & Family Plan.
It is through our mission, vision and values that we provide quality service and affordable health plan options to our members.
Free-of-charge programs and services include: mosquito inspection and control; free delivery of mosquito fish; inspection and advice for rats and mice; insect identification; wildlife advice and inspection; and community education. Report vector related problems, or receive notification of fogging operations.
The Veterans Service Representatives are assisting Santa Clara County Veterans and dependents with processing applications to the State and Federal VA for benefits,we are conducting these meetings both in-person as well as using alternative methods via phone, mail, and email options.
The Vietnamese American Service Center (VASC) is a 37,000 sq. ft. County facility serving as a one-stop hub for the County’s health and human services, facilitating service delivery and client engagement in a culturally competent and language-accessible manner. Services include a Behavioral Health Clinic, Valley Health Center, Dental Clinic, Pharmacy, social services, senior nutrition program, on-site child supervision, a suite of community programming to promote wellness, and more.
Santa Clara County's Watershed Protection Division (WPD) protects local waterways like creeks and rivers, and the reservoirs and bays by preventing pollution from stormwater runoff. We use an integrative approach to achieve water quality and environmental protection.
The Santa Clara County - Weed Abatement Program and your City are working together to protect and educate your community. The purpose of the Weed Abatement Program is to prevent fire hazards created by vegetative growth and the accumulation of combustible debris through voluntary compliance.
The County's Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency - Weed Abatement Program inspects parcels that have been declared a public nuisance and included in the program throughout the year. Abatement work is ordered by an inspector on properties when the minimum fire safety standards have not been satisfied, or if the owner has requested that the county contractor perform the necessary work. The abatement charges for any work performed by the contractor and a county administrative fee are included on your property tax statement as a special assessment.
The service mission of Weights and Measures is to protect the buyer and seller in all monetary transactions that use weight, measure or count.
The County of Santa Clara is committed to professionalism, integrity, honesty, and customer service. As part of its commitment, the County has established the 24/7 Whistleblower Program, which provides the public and County employees with an opportunity to submit reports regarding violations of laws, regulations, and rules governing the conduct of County officers and employees; practices in County government that are wasteful and inefficient; or the misuse of County government funds.
The Office of Women’s Policy (OWP) is a special department within the Office of the County Executive’s Equity & Social Justice Division, serving as a bridge between County and community to ensure the voice of women and girls is present in local decision-making. Developed in the spirit of collaboration between the County and the community in 1998, the Office of Women’s Policy is a leading voice in Silicon Valley on the needs of women and girls.