Online Payments for Local Government

Government payment web portals for permit and fee payments by credit card

Cities and counties collect fees across permits, inspections, licenses, rentals, and other programs. GovOwl provides online payments for local government, connecting each transaction to the correct permit, inspection, or license record for accurate tracking and reconciliation.

How GovOwl Payments Works

GovOwl Payments is a secure payment layer integrated into the GovOwl platform. Agencies accept online or counter payments, issue receipts, and reconcile deposits from one system without spreadsheets or manual matching. Existing financial systems stay in place while GovOwl handles collection, tracking, and reporting.
Online payment screen

Why It Matters

  • Reduces staff workload
  • Cuts errors in financial reporting
  • Gives residents and businesses simple online payment options
  • Keeps all payments tied to the correct record
  • Improves clarity for finance and audit teams

What Agencies Can Accept

GovOwl supports online payments for:

  • permit applications and renewals
  • inspection and reinspection fees
  • licenses and registrations
  • rental and housing program fees
  • citation or abatement fees (where applicable)
Payments appear instantly on the connected record.
Govowl

Public Payment Portal

Residents and operators can:

  • view fees due
  • pay online
  • download receipts

See: Citizen Self Service Portal

Staff Payment Entry

Staff can record counter payments, mailed checks, and phone payments. Each payment links to the correct permit, license, or case.
Govowl

Fee Schedules & Rules

Supports flat fees, tiered or unit-based fees, late fees, and reinspection fees. Invoices or statements generate automatically when fees are due.

Reconciliation & Reporting

  • daily payment summaries
  • deposit and batch reports
  • exports for finance and accounting systems
All activity includes audit history for internal review.

Security

Payments are processed through PCI-compliant gateways. GovOwl stores operational references only — never sensitive card data.

Related Programs

Permitting | Environmental Health | Citizen Self Service | Online Forms & Workflow Automation

Get Started

Simplify online fee collection, routing, and reconciliation.
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