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Municipal Web Development

Modern Websites for Cities That Actually Work

Your city website is the front door to government services. We build accessible, mobile-first sites that citizens can actually use -- on open-source platforms that you own and control.

WCAG 2.1 AA compliant. Open-source CMS. No annual SaaS lock-in.
The Problem

Why Most Municipal Websites Fail Citizens

City websites should make government accessible. Instead, most are outdated, inaccessible, and locked into expensive platforms that limit what your team can do.

Built on aging technology

Sites built 5-10 years ago on proprietary platforms cannot meet today's accessibility, mobile, or security standards.

Locked into expensive SaaS

CivicPlus and Granicus charge $15K-$80K per year. You do not own the code. Switching costs are steep.

Not accessible

Most municipal sites have dozens of WCAG failures. ADA Title II enforcement starts April 2027.

Hard to update

Staff need to publish meeting agendas, update hours, and post alerts. If the CMS is difficult, content goes stale.

What We Build

What a Modern Municipal Website Looks Like

WCAG 2.1 AA accessible from day one

Every page, form, and document meets accessibility standards before launch -- not as an afterthought.

Mobile-first responsive design

60%+ of citizens browse on phones. The site works flawlessly on every screen size.

Open-source CMS -- you own everything

WordPress or static architecture. No proprietary lock-in. Your code, your data, your infrastructure.

Department pages with clear service information

Each department gets a structured page with contact details, hours, services, and relevant documents.

Online forms for permits, complaints, and requests

Citizens can submit applications and requests without visiting city hall or calling during business hours.

Meeting calendar with agenda publishing

Council meetings, public hearings, and committee schedules with downloadable agendas and minutes.

Emergency alert banner system

Push critical notices to the top of every page instantly -- weather alerts, road closures, public safety updates.

Multilingual support

English and Spanish by default. Additional languages available based on community demographics.

Document library with accessible PDFs

Searchable document center for ordinances, budgets, plans, and public records -- all meeting accessibility standards.

Staff-friendly content editor with training

Your team can update pages, post news, and publish documents without developer assistance.

Our Process

How We Build Municipal Websites

1

Discover

We review your current site, content inventory, department needs, and citizen feedback. We identify what works and what must change.

2

Design

Clean, accessible design approved by your team. Mobile-first wireframes. Sitemap aligned to how citizens actually look for services.

3

Build

Development on open-source CMS. Full WCAG 2.1 AA conformance. Content migration. Integration with existing systems where needed.

4

Launch

Staff training, documentation, QA testing, soft launch, then full launch. 90-day post-launch support included.

Compare

SMRTLV vs. SaaS Platforms

See how an open-source municipal website stacks up against the legacy platforms most cities are locked into.

Feature SMRTLV CivicPlus / Granicus
Annual cost $0 (you host) $15K-$80K/year
Code ownership You own it Platform owns it
Customization Full Limited by platform
WCAG 2.1 AA Guaranteed Often lacking
Migration Straightforward Complex export
Multilingual Included Extra cost
AI chatbot Available Separate product
Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

WordPress with government-specific themes and hardened security, or static site architecture for maximum performance and security. Both are open-source -- you own everything.
Typical municipal site: 8-16 weeks from kickoff to launch, depending on size and integration complexity.
Yes. We handle full content migration including pages, documents, images, and redirect mapping.
We can recommend hosting providers or work with your IT department's existing infrastructure. Monthly maintenance retainers available from $500/month.
Yes. We can write or rewrite department pages, service descriptions, and FAQ content to be clear, accessible, and optimized for search.

Request a Proposal

Tell us about your municipality and we will outline a plan.

Ready to Give Your Citizens a Website That Works?

Accessible. Open-source. Built for the people you serve.

WCAG 2.1 AA compliant Open-source CMS No vendor lock-in 90-day post-launch support