XooCode(){

GovernmentBuilding

GovernmentBuilding is a direct CivicStructure subtype and the parent of CityHall, Courthouse, Embassy, LegislativeBuilding, and DefenceEstablishment. It has no unique properties; use the most specific subtype you can, and fall back to GovernmentBuilding only for facilities that do not fit one of the five (regional administrative offices, public-works buildings, licensing centres).

The inherited CivicStructure / Place properties do the work:

  • openingHours or openingHoursSpecification: the single most-searched attribute on government buildings.
  • address, geo, telephone, url.
  • publicAccess (Boolean): whether the building is open to the public (most are, but secure facilities are not).
  • isAccessibleForFree (Boolean): government buildings default to true.
  • amenityFeature: accessibility features, security screening, public counters, parking.

Full example of schema.org/GovernmentBuilding json-ld markup

The markup is verified as valid with Rich Results Test from Google.

Highlight legend:Required by GoogleRecommendedOptional
schema.org/GovernmentBuilding
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "GovernmentBuilding",
  "@id": "https://dunmore.gov.example/services-centre",
  "name": "Dunmore Municipal Services Centre",
  "url": "https://dunmore.gov.example/services-centre",
  "description": "Combined licensing, permits, and municipal tax-collection office for the Borough of Dunmore. Drivers' licences, building permits, dog licences, property-tax payments.",
  "telephone": "+1-570-555-0050",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "400 North Blakely Street",
    "addressLocality": "Dunmore",
    "addressRegion": "PA",
    "postalCode": "18512",
    "addressCountry": "US"
  },
  "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 41.4252, "longitude": -75.6312 },
  "publicAccess": true,
  "isAccessibleForFree": true,
  "openingHoursSpecification": [
    { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": ["Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday"], "opens": "08:00", "closes": "16:30" }
  ],
  "amenityFeature": [
    { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Wheelchair accessible", "value": true },
    { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Public restrooms", "value": true },
    { "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification", "name": "Metered street parking", "value": true }
  ],
  "parentOrganization": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Borough of Dunmore" }
}
</script>

Why this type matters for local search

Queries like "passport office near me" and "DMV hours" are high-intent and heavily localised. Pages that publish structured GovernmentBuilding (or subtype) data with complete hours and a verifiable address outrank prose-only counterparts in Google's local pack for civic queries.

Minimal valid version

The smallest markup that still produces a valid GovernmentBuilding entity. Use it as the floor. Reach for the advanced example above when you want search engines and AI agents to understand more about your content.

schema.org/GovernmentBuilding (minimal)
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "GovernmentBuilding",
  "name": "Dunmore Municipal Services Centre",
  "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "400 North Blakely Street", "addressLocality": "Dunmore", "addressRegion": "PA" },
  "telephone": "+1-570-555-0050"
}
</script>

Google rich results this unlocks

Markup matching this example makes your page eligible for the following Google Search rich results. The primary target drives the required / recommended property classification in the advanced code block above.

  • Local business / civic structure knowledge panelprimary
    Google docs

Common GovernmentBuilding mistakes

Mistakes that pass validation but silently fail to earn rich results or mislead consumers walking the graph. Avoid these and your markup will be ahead of most sites in the wild.

  1. 01

    Generic Place on a government building

    Wrong
    "@type": "Place" on a city services centre
    Right
    GovernmentBuilding (or a specific subtype like CityHall)

    The typed classification lights up civic-search surfaces that plain Place never reaches.

  2. 02

    Missing publicAccess

    Wrong
    GovernmentBuilding with no publicAccess signal
    Right
    publicAccess: true for open buildings; false for secure facilities

    Searchers and map apps read publicAccess to avoid routing people to restricted entrances.

Schema properties in this example

GovernmentBuildingCivicStructurePlacenameurldescriptiontelephoneaddressPostalAddressgeoGeoCoordinatespublicAccessisAccessibleForFreeopeningHoursSpecificationamenityFeatureLocationFeatureSpecificationparentOrganizationGovernmentOrganizationCityHallCourthouseEmbassyLegislativeBuildingDefenceEstablishment

About the example data

The Dunmore Municipal Services Centre, a fictional combined licensing, permits, and tax office downtown.

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