Marin County's coastal areas are regulated by the Local Coastal Program (LCP) Implementation Plan, codified in Title 20 of the Marin County Code. Development within the Coastal Zone — including West Marin and Bay shoreline — requires a Coastal Permit. BCDC also regulates within 100 feet of the Bay shoreline.
Title 20 of the Marin County Code implements the Local Coastal Program for the Marin County Coastal Zone, covering West Marin towns from Muir Beach through Tomales and parts of Point Reyes. The LCP regulates development, vegetation removal, grading, and shoreline armoring; a Coastal Permit is required for most projects. Separately, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has permit jurisdiction within 100 feet of the Bay shoreline along eastern Marin. BCDC adopted the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan in December 2024 under SB 272, and Marin must complete a local sea-level-rise plan approved by BCDC by 2034.
Construction in the Coastal Zone without a Coastal Permit violates Title 20 and is enforced by CDA with stop-work orders and restoration. BCDC adds civil penalties up to $30,000 per violation for unauthorized Bay shoreline work.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Rafael, CA
§19.20.080(4) prohibits the use of amplified sound in city parks and buildings without a permit. Combined with the citywide §8.13 noise limits, this is the m...
San Rafael, CA
Parking or storing large commercial vehicles in San Rafael residential zones is restricted by zoning, with weight/length thresholds limiting what may be kept...
San Rafael, CA
Driveway approaches in San Rafael require an encroachment permit and must meet city standards; vehicles generally must be parked on an approved paved surface...
San Rafael, CA
RV, trailer and boat storage on residential lots in San Rafael is regulated by zoning, which restricts placement and prohibits living in a parked RV. The cit...
San Rafael, CA
§5.40.040(1) makes it unlawful to repair or wash any motor vehicle on a city street. Routine driveway washing and minor home maintenance are not affected, bu...
San Rafael, CA
Shared boundary fences in California are governed by the Good Neighbor Fence Act (CA Civil Code §841), presuming adjoining owners share the cost equally afte...
See how San Rafael's coastal development rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.