In the United States, a city (or municipal) identification card is a form of identification card issued by a municipality, such as a city, rather than a state or federal government. Under federal law, cities may issue their own identification cards as they see fit, and do not have to consider the immigration or criminal status of an applicant before doing so.New Haven, Connecticut issued the first municipal identification cards in the United States, the Elm City Resident Card, in 2007. On January 15, 2009, the city/county of San Francisco launched the SF City ID Card, a municipal identification card program modeled after New Haven's. Other cities that issue identification cards include Asbury Park, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. (DC One Card). In Mercer County, New Jersey, a community ID card is being issued by a local non profit organization with the endorsement of various law enforcement agencies.
On August 31, 2016 the city council of Phoenix, Arizona voted 5 to 4 to create a city identification card that would be available to undocumented immigrants. The cards will be available in February 2017.
On November 8, 2012, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12 to 1 to solicit proposals for a municipal identification card. It will be modeled on the Oakland City ID system.
The city of Oakland, California, has debated a proposed municipal identification system, which would include a debit card function, for all city residents, regardless of immigration status, a move backed by the Oakland City ID Card Coalition. On September 13, 2011, the Oakland City Council decided to wait for a cost and feasibility study to be completed by late October before proceeding, hoping to begin issuing ID cards in 2012, barring any unforeseen circumstances. This, however, extended into 2012, with the City Council voting in favor of the final portion of the program on October 16, 2012. The first cards of the program are slated to be issued on February 1