Marin City, CA Homes for Sale & Real Estate
Marin City, California is an unincorporated community in southern Marin County, beside Highway 101 next to Richardson Bay, just north of Sausalito, with the ZIP code 94965. Because it is not a city, Marin County handles its planning, zoning and building permits, and the county’s 1992 Marin City Community Plan sets local land-use policy. For property buyers, the local questions are mostly practical: flooding on Donahue Street during storms and high tides, the sanitary district’s rules, county short-term rental rules and the documents that come with a condominium or townhome.
Marin City shares its ZIP code and many services with Sausalito, which leads some buyers to assume the city’s rules apply. They don’t: an address in Marin City follows county rules, while the City of Sausalito next door has its own municipal code. This guide sets out what that means for buying or selling here, as checked against county and agency sources in October 2026.
Marin City homes for sale
Marin City market report
Marin City at a glance
| Item | Marin City | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Government | Unincorporated Marin County; county planning, zoning and building permits | Marin County Flood Control District; Marin County Community Development Agency |
| Land-use plan | Marin City Community Plan (1992) | Marin County Community Development Agency |
| ZIP code | 94965 (shared with Sausalito) | State CEQA filing for Golden Gate Village |
| Sewer | Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District | District name; confirm service for the address |
| Transfer tax | County only: $0.55 per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000); no city tax | Marin County Assessor-Recorder (updated October 23, 2026) |
| Flood control | Marin County Flood Control Zone 3 (Richardson Bay); Donahue Street portable pump station | Marin County Flood Control District |
| Transit | Marin City Hub at Donahue Street and Terners Drive | Golden Gate Transit |
For the county-wide picture, including prices in every Marin town, start with our Marin County real estate guide.
Where Marin City is and how it is laid out
Donahue Street is the main street through Marin City and the one named in the county’s flood work. Its landmarks include the Gateway Shopping Center, the Marin City Transit Hub at Donahue Street and Terners Drive, and Marin City Pond, which lies northeast of the shopping center near the point where the county’s new storm drain line discharges to Richardson Bay.
Drake Avenue and Cole Drive serve Golden Gate Village, the Marin Housing Authority’s affordable housing community. A state CEQA filing from April 2025 describes it as 296 units in 29 buildings on about 31.39 acres at 101-429 Drake Avenue and 1-99 Cole Drive. The same filing describes a revitalization project that would rehabilitate the existing buildings and either subdivide the site into three parcels or lease parts of it, with no new buildings or units proposed.
Privately owned homes in Marin City come in more than one ownership form. Before you write an offer, read the preliminary title report and the listing’s property type to see whether a home is a condominium, a townhome in a planned development with its own lot, or a detached house, because each carries different documents and different association obligations.
Planning, zoning and permits
Marin County’s Community Development Agency lists the Marin City Community Plan among its community and area plans, describing it as land use and development policies for the Marin City area. The plan dates from 1992, so read it alongside the current countywide plan and zoning code rather than on its own.
In practice, a buyer planning work on a Marin City home deals with the county, not the City of Sausalito, for building permits, zoning questions and any design review. Ask the county for the permit history of the address, and compare it with what the listing shows. Unpermitted additions or converted garages are easier to price before you remove contingencies than after.
Flooding on Donahue Street
Flooding is the most specific hazard in Marin City. The Marin County Flood Control District says the community, next to Richardson Bay, often floods during heavy storms, especially when the storms coincide with high tides. Donahue Street is the low point.
The district’s response so far is a portable pump station on Donahue Street, funded through Flood Control Zone 3 (Richardson Bay). Construction began in late September 2024. The system uses two trailer-mounted pumps and two underground sumps, pipes stormwater about 1,400 feet to a structure beside Marin City Pond and discharges it into Richardson Bay. The district says it is deployed before significant storms during an operating period from December 2024 to May 2027, that it is not large enough to fully prevent roadway flooding after severe storms and high tides, and that it is a first step in a series of projects. The total cost is about $2.5 million.
For a buyer, that means three checks:
- Look up the FEMA flood zone for the parcel on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, and ask a lender early whether flood insurance will be required.
- Read the seller’s disclosures and the natural hazard disclosure report for any history of water entering the home, garage or parking area.
- Ask the HOA, for a condo or townhome, whether common areas or parking have flooded and how repairs were funded.
Our guide to flood zones in the North Bay explains FEMA zones and insurance requirements, and our page on fire hazard severity zones explains how to check the state fire map and what a zone triggers at sale.
Local rules that affect a purchase
Transfer tax
Because Marin City is unincorporated, only the county documentary transfer tax applies: $0.55 per $500 of value, less assumed liens, or $1.10 per $1,000, according to the Marin County Assessor-Recorder. On a hypothetical $900,000 sale that is $990. The Assessor-Recorder lists San Rafael as the only city in the county with its own transfer tax. In our North Bay markets the seller customarily pays, but it is negotiable and local custom varies. Our California transfer tax guide has the statewide rules.
Short-term rentals
Renting a home for less than 30 days in unincorporated Marin requires a county short-term rental license, a business license and a transient occupancy tax certificate, according to the county’s short-term rental page (updated October 8, 2026). The county caps licenses at 1,200 across unincorporated Marin, excluding Dillon Beach, and sets separate limits for listed West Marin and San Geronimo Valley townships; Marin City is not among them. A condo or townhome association may still ban short stays in its own rules, so read the CC&Rs. Our Marin County short-term rental guide goes further.
Sewer lateral
Sewer service comes from the Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District (SMCSD). According to the City of Sausalito’s sewer lateral page, as of August 22, 2025 SMCSD owns and operates the city’s sewer collection system, and new lateral video inspections go to the district.
Inside the City of Sausalito, the city’s resale requirements call for an approved sewer video on residential resales. We could not confirm from the district’s own pages whether any lateral rule applies at sale to Marin City addresses, so ask SMCSD in writing before listing or before you remove contingencies. Our Marin County selling requirements page lists the lateral rules district by district.
Water service
Marin Water says it provides local water service to more than 191,000 people in central and southern Marin, but its overview does not list communities by name. Confirm the water provider for a Marin City address from the seller’s bills or the preliminary title report, and ask for the account history if the home has had leaks or high bills.
Condos, townhomes and association documents
If the home is part of a common interest development, the association’s documents matter as much as the unit. California law requires the seller to provide the CC&Rs, bylaws, rules, the current budget and reserve information, and other disclosures to a buyer. Read them for monthly dues, reserve funding, any special assessment, insurance coverage, rental limits and pending litigation.
Lenders review the association too, so a project with low reserves, deferred maintenance or litigation can narrow your financing options. Our guide to Marin County condos and townhomes explains the documents and the lender checks in detail.
Getting around
Golden Gate Transit lists the Marin City Hub, at Donahue Street and Terners Drive, among its major transfer points in Marin County, served by its routes 114 and 120 with connections to Marin Transit. Check the operators’ current timetables for routes and frequencies. By car, Marin City is next to Highway 101, the main route south to the Golden Gate Bridge and north through Marin.
The Sausalito Marin City School District has its district office at 200 Phillips Drive in Marin City. School district boundaries and assignments are set by the districts, so confirm the elementary, middle and high school districts for a specific address with the district before you rely on them.
Marin City compared with nearby areas
| Area | Government | One difference that matters |
|---|---|---|
| Marin City | Unincorporated Marin County | County permits and county short-term rental license; Donahue Street flood program |
| Sausalito | Incorporated city | City municipal code, city building-records report at resale |
| Mill Valley | Incorporated city | City sewer lateral inspection before title transfers |
| Tamalpais Valley | Unincorporated Marin County | County rules, like Marin City, under a different community plan |
Selling a home in Marin City
Start with the documents a buyer will ask for. Order the natural hazard disclosure report early, gather any records of flooding and repairs, and confirm with the sanitary district whether a lateral certificate is needed. For a condo or townhome, request the association’s resale package as soon as you decide to list, because it can take time to arrive.
Price from recent sales of the same property type in Marin City and nearby southern Marin, not from county-wide medians, which mix very different housing. Our guide to selling in Marin County covers pricing, preparation and costs, and our home valuation page is the place to start for a specific address. Diamond may refer you to partners we work with, such as inspectors and stagers; you’re free to choose any provider.
This is general information, not legal advice; for questions about association documents, disclosures or title, talk to a California real estate attorney.
Questions people ask
Is Marin City part of Sausalito?
No. Marin City is an unincorporated community governed by Marin County. It shares the 94965 ZIP code and some services with Sausalito, but Sausalito’s city rules don’t apply to Marin City addresses.
What is the ZIP code for Marin City, CA?
94965, the same ZIP code as Sausalito. Check the parcel’s jurisdiction, not the ZIP code, to know which rules apply.
Does Marin City flood?
Yes. The Marin County Flood Control District says Marin City often floods during heavy storms that coincide with high tides, especially on Donahue Street. A portable pump station began construction in late September 2024, and the district says it won’t fully prevent roadway flooding in severe storms.
Is there a city transfer tax in Marin City?
No. Only Marin County’s documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000) applies, according to the Assessor-Recorder.
Can I run a short-term rental in Marin City?
Rentals of less than 30 days need a county short-term rental license, a business license and a transient occupancy tax certificate. Marin City is not one of the townships with its own cap, but association rules may still prohibit short stays.
Who handles building permits in Marin City?
Marin County’s Community Development Agency, because Marin City is unincorporated. Ask the county for the permit history of any home you are considering.
Which school district serves Marin City?
The Sausalito Marin City School District has its office at 200 Phillips Drive in Marin City. Confirm the elementary, middle and high school districts for a specific address with the district.
If you are considering a purchase in Marin City or nearby southern Marin, our Marin County buyer’s guide explains how we work, or you can contact Diamond to talk about a specific home.
Sources & notes
- Marin County Flood Control District: Donahue Street portable pump station
- Marin County Community Development Agency: Community and area plans (Marin City Community Plan, 1992)
- State Clearinghouse (CEQAnet): Golden Gate Village Revitalization Project, notice of exemption (April 16, 2025)
- Marin County Assessor-Recorder: Fees and documentary transfer tax (updated October 23, 2026)
- Marin County Community Development Agency: Short-term rentals (updated October 8, 2026)
- City of Sausalito: Sewer lateral inspection
- Golden Gate Transit: Major transfer points
- FEMA: Flood Map Service Center
- Marin Water: Who we are
- Sausalito Marin City School District: home page
Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
