Lagunitas, CA Real Estate & Homes for Sale
By Matthew Martinez, Founder, CEO & Managing Broker, Diamond Real Estate Group. California DRE #01869679.
Lagunitas is an unincorporated village at the western end of Marin County’s San Geronimo Valley, where Sir Francis Drake Boulevard reaches the 2,882-acre Samuel P. Taylor State Park; its market is a small mix of houses and the occasional vacant lot. Redfin’s median sale price for ZIP 94938 was $1.0 million for the three months ending August 2026, based on just two sales. Marin County, not a city, governs land use.
- County
- Marin County
- Government
- Unincorporated (Marin County rules)
- ZIP code
- 94938
- Census place
- Lagunitas-Forest Knolls (pop. 1,626 in the 2020–2024 ACS)
- Median sale price
- $1.0M (3 months to Aug 2026, Redfin, 2 sales)
- Next door
- Samuel P. Taylor State Park, 2,882 acres
- Short-term rental licenses
- 6, falling to 4
Lagunitas homes for sale
The listings below cover Lagunitas and ZIP 94938. Redfin counted two Lagunitas sales in three months, so widen the net to Forest Knolls, which the Census counts as part of the same place, with a valley-wide property search.
What do homes in Lagunitas sell for?
$1.0M
3 months to August 2026, Redfin (2 sales)
$820
3 months to August 2026, Redfin
$939,500
Census ACS 2020–2024, combined with Forest Knolls
Two sales in three months is a snapshot, not a market. Redfin’s ZIP 94938 figures showed a $1.0 million median, up 2.8% from a year earlier, and an $820 median price per square foot, up 43.1%; homes took about 90 days to sell. Its recent-sales list also included a $34,000 lot, a reminder that land parcels trade here too and can distort any average. The Census estimate for the combined Lagunitas-Forest Knolls place, $939,500 with a margin of about $77,000, is the steadier reference.
| Measure | Figure | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price, ZIP 94938 | $1.0M, up 2.8% year over year | 3 months to August 2026, Redfin |
| Homes sold | 2 | 3 months to August 2026, Redfin |
| Days on market | 90 | Redfin, August 2026 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes, Lagunitas-Forest Knolls | $939,500 (±$77,099) | Census Reporter, ACS 2020–2024 |
| Housing units, Lagunitas-Forest Knolls | About 933 (±212) on 4.2 square miles | 2020–2024, Census ACS |
| Marin County median, single-family | $1,678,750 | September 2026, C.A.R. |
Both figures sit well below the Marin County single-family median, though neither is a like-for-like comparison: one rests on two sales, the other on five years of owner estimates. Whatever the price, the due diligence here centers on septic and wildfire exposure, covered below.
Living next to Samuel P. Taylor State Park
The park’s address is 8889 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Lagunitas, and its 2,882 acres take in redwoods along Lagunitas Creek beside the village, 15 miles west of San Rafael (California State Parks). Day use costs $8 per vehicle, and the park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset.
- Trails: the Cross Marin Trail is open to bikes and dogs, and hikes climb to Barnabe Peak, which State Parks calls one of the best viewpoints in Marin County.
- Seasonal limits: creek access closes from December 1 to June 15 each year to protect spawning fish, and fishing isn’t allowed at any time.
- For owners: a home that backs onto parkland gets open space next door and also the exposure of a large wildland, where, as 2018 showed, fires can start.
Lagunitas Creek and its salmon run
The creek that gives the village its setting holds the largest coho salmon population south of Mendocino County, according to Marin Water, which monitors the fish with winter spawner counts, spring smolt surveys and summer snorkel surveys. Spawning season is December and January, and the shallows above the parking lot at the public Leo T. Cronin fish viewing area are among the busiest spawning spots on the creek. Four of the five Pacific salmon species have been seen in Lagunitas Creek, along with steelhead.
Those fish are the reason for the county’s 2022 San Geronimo Valley stream ordinance, written to protect coho and steelhead in the valley and the wider Lagunitas watershed. If a Lagunitas parcel is near a creek, ask whether it’s in a mapped Stream Conservation Area before you plan new building; we walk through the rules on our San Geronimo page.
The 2018 Irving Fire and getting out of Lagunitas
Overnight on September 10, 2018, the Irving Fire started near the Mount Barnabe lookout by Samuel P. Taylor State Park, in the Irving Creek drainage, and burned more than 100 acres of steep terrain. More than 150 homes were placed under an evacuation order, on Mountain King Road, Portola Avenue and Alamo Road to Barranca Road, and none were reported destroyed. Warnings covered San Geronimo, Forest Knolls and lower Lagunitas west of Nicasio Valley Road and north of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, up to the park (Fire Safe Marin).
- Alerts: evacuation notices go out through Alert Marin, which requires you to register; current incident information is posted at emergency.marincounty.gov.
- Hazard zone and AB 38: look up the parcel on the State Fire Marshal’s hazard maps. If it’s rated High or Very High, the seller must hand over a defensible-space inspection made within six months of the sale, or the parties agree in writing that the buyer will obtain one within a year.
- Insurance first: on a parcel bordering parkland, ask for a homeowners quote as soon as your offer is accepted.
Before you commit to a Lagunitas home, drive its evacuation route at night, register for Alert Marin and ask the seller for records of any defensible-space work.
Septic, water and land parcels in Lagunitas
Expect an onsite septic system: the 2019 county community-sewer study covered the Woodacre and San Geronimo Flats, not Lagunitas. Treat the county’s records as part of the inspection. Marin County Environmental Health recommends, but doesn’t require, a septic inspection at sale, and alternative systems carry an annual operating permit (Marin County EHS).
- Vacant lots: a lot is only as buildable as its septic design, creek setback and road access allow. Before paying for a parcel like the $34,000 lot in Redfin’s recent sales, get a septic feasibility opinion and ask county planning about the Stream Conservation Area.
- Wells and water: Marin Water’s service area runs west to the San Geronimo Valley (Marin LAFCo), but at the valley’s far end confirm the hookup for each address. A private well needs a county permit to operate as a domestic supply and must meet yield and quality standards (County Code chapter 7.28).
- Special taxes: the San Geronimo Valley is in County Service Area 28, which helps fund West Marin paramedics, and the Measure C wildfire tax covers most of the county outside Tiburon and Belvedere. The seller’s last tax bill shows what you’ll pay.
Lake, school, creek or village: what “Lagunitas” refers to
The name turns up all over Marin, and not all of it is here. Lake Lagunitas is one of Marin Water’s reservoirs on the north slope of Mount Tamalpais, alongside Alpine, Bon Tempe, Kent and Phoenix lakes (Marin Water). The Lagunitas School District’s campus is east of the village, at One Lagunitas School Road in San Geronimo. The Lagunitas Development Company was the group that bought and subdivided much of the valley in the early twentieth century. Of the four, only Lagunitas Creek, which runs through the redwoods of the state park next door, belongs to the village’s own landscape.
Short-term rentals: six licenses
Lagunitas has the smallest short-term rental allotment of the four valley villages: six county licenses, stepping down to four as licenses lapse (Marin County CDA). A license ends the moment a property changes hands, and new applicants join a waitlist, so don’t count on a seller’s rental income carrying over. Our investor services can help you model a long-term rental instead.
Getting around from Lagunitas
Lagunitas is served by the Stagecoach, Marin Transit Route 68, which links the valley east to Fairfax and the San Rafael Transit Center and west to the Point Reyes National Seashore’s Bear Valley Visitor Center, Point Reyes Station and Inverness; eastbound buses also stop at Samuel P. Taylor Park (Marin Transit). The April 2026 timetable had ten westbound trips on weekends and holidays. The Census survey’s mean commute for Lagunitas-Forest Knolls workers was about 32 minutes, with a margin of about 22 minutes.
Lagunitas compared with nearby areas
| Area | Government | One verified difference |
|---|---|---|
| Lagunitas | Unincorporated | Gateway to Samuel P. Taylor State Park; 6 rental licenses, falling to 4 |
| Forest Knolls | Unincorporated | Same Census place; 8 rental licenses that don’t step down |
| San Geronimo | Unincorporated | School campus and the 157-acre San Geronimo Commons |
| Woodacre | Unincorporated | Most tightly built Census place in the valley, about 650 homes on 1.8 sq mi; Redfin median $1.7M (3 months to Sept 2026) |
| Olema | Unincorporated, coastal zone | Under the county’s Local Coastal Program; only 3 rental licenses |
How Diamond Real Estate Group helps Lagunitas buyers
A Lagunitas purchase is a rural purchase, even though the park is only 15 miles from San Rafael. Check the septic file and the creek setback before you’re committed, look up the fire zone and AB 38 status, seek insurance quotes during the contingency period, and discuss the evacuation route with your advisers. If you’re weighing a lot, identify the septic and planning questions before the price discussion.
See our Marin County guide for county-wide rules, and how we work with buyers. For trails beyond the park, our Marin hiking guide is a start.
Selling a home in Lagunitas
Lagunitas is unincorporated, so the County of Marin is the permit authority and the record keeper. Before you list, search the county’s Public Access Viewer for the parcel: one viewer covers building permits, another planning decisions, and a third Environmental Health’s septic and well records. Lagunitas buyers tend to read all three, because the setting next to Samuel P. Taylor State Park brings creek, fire and water questions together.
Selling a house
- Septic: the county doesn’t require an inspection at sale, but it reminds sellers that the property’s condition must be disclosed. A pre-listing evaluation on the county’s real estate inspection form gives buyers something concrete to review.
- Alternative systems: if the house has one, it carries an annual operating permit and professional monitoring; include the current permit in the disclosure package.
- Water: at this western end of the valley, confirm whether the home is on a water district connection or a private well. A domestic well needs a county permit to operate, and its completion report can be looked up through the state Department of Water Resources.
- Fixtures: state law requires you to tell the buyer in writing whether the home has noncompliant plumbing fixtures.
Selling a vacant lot
Lots trade in Lagunitas, and a buyer’s first question is whether the parcel can take a septic system. Additional permits can apply in a Stream Conservation Area, and Environmental Health offers a land-use consultation pathway for septic questions. Assemble any past soil tests or septic design work before you set a price. See how we market land in our Marin County land guide.
Fire zone and transfer tax
On a parcel that backs onto parkland, run the address through Marin County Fire’s lookup early. In a High or Very High zone, the seller provides an AB 38 defensible-space inspection, unless both parties agree the buyer will get one within a year of closing. Some fire agencies run resale inspections of their own, so ask the one that serves the address.
The county’s documentary transfer tax, $1.10 per $1,000 of value, is the only one charged. Custom in Diamond’s North Bay markets puts it on the seller, but it can be negotiated (our transfer tax guide explains). To price a Lagunitas house or lot, start with a home valuation.
Sources for this section: County of Marin Community Development Agency: Records search (Public Access Viewer); County of Marin Environmental Health Services: Septic systems program; County of Marin Environmental Health Services: Septic regulations update (LAMP); County of Marin Environmental Health Services: Wells and water systems; Marin County Fire: What is an AB-38 inspection?; Marin County Assessor-Recorder: Fees (documentary transfer tax); California Public Law: Civil Code 1101.4 (water-conserving plumbing fixtures).
Lagunitas real estate FAQs
Is Lagunitas a town?
Not in the legal sense. Lagunitas is an unincorporated village governed by Marin County, and the Census Bureau doesn’t count it separately: it’s grouped with Forest Knolls in the Census place called Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, with 1,626 residents in the 2020–2024 survey.
What ZIP code is Lagunitas?
94938, the ZIP in Samuel P. Taylor State Park’s address and in the Lagunitas sales Redfin reports.
What’s the typical price of a Lagunitas home?
Redfin’s median for ZIP 94938 was $1.0 million in the three months ending August 2026, from two sales. The Census estimate of owner-occupied home values for Lagunitas-Forest Knolls (2020–2024) is $939,500. Both sit well below the Marin County single-family median of $1,678,750 in September 2026.
How close is Samuel P. Taylor State Park?
It’s next door: the park’s own address, 8889 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, is in Lagunitas, and day use costs $8 per vehicle.
When can I see salmon in Lagunitas Creek?
Coho spawning season is December and January. At the public Leo T. Cronin fish viewing area, the shallows above the parking lot are among the creek’s busiest spawning areas; the state park closes its creek access from December 1 to June 15.
Is Lake Lagunitas in Lagunitas?
No. Lake Lagunitas is a Marin Water reservoir on the north slope of Mount Tamalpais, not part of the village.
Is the Lagunitas School District in Lagunitas?
The district serves the unincorporated San Geronimo Valley, Lagunitas included, but its campus is in San Geronimo, at One Lagunitas School Road. The district can tell you which school serves a given address.
Has wildfire hit Lagunitas?
The 2018 Irving Fire burned more than 100 acres near the Mount Barnabe lookout and put more than 150 homes under evacuation orders; none were reported destroyed. On a parcel next to the park, ask about insurance before anything else.
Can I run a vacation rental in Lagunitas?
Only with one of the county’s six licenses for Lagunitas, a number set to fall to four. A license doesn’t pass to a buyer, so you’d join the county waitlist.
Can I buy a lot and build in Lagunitas?
Lots do sell, but a building permit depends on a workable septic design, the creek setback and access. Get a septic feasibility review and talk to county planning before you buy.
Is there a bus from Lagunitas?
Yes, the Stagecoach (Marin Transit Route 68) runs east to Fairfax and San Rafael and west to Point Reyes Station and Inverness, about eight times a day on weekdays.
Is there a city transfer tax in Lagunitas?
No. A Lagunitas sale pays only the county documentary transfer tax, $1.10 per $1,000 of value.
Sources & notes
- Redfin: ZIP 94938 housing market (August 2026), Census Reporter: Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, ACS 2020–2024 and C.A.R.: September 2026 sales report
- California State Parks: Samuel P. Taylor State Park
- Marin Water: Salmon in Lagunitas Creek and Marin Water: about our water system
- Fire Safe Marin: Irving Fire (September 11, 2018) and Office of the State Fire Marshal: hazard zones
- Marin County EHS: septic systems and wells and water systems
- Marin County CDA: short-term rental procedures (February 2025) and County Service Areas
- Lagunitas School District, Marin LAFCo profiles of the school district and Marin Water, San Geronimo Valley Historical Society and Marin Transit: Route 68
Figures carry their dates where they appear. This is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice; confirm the rules for a specific property with the agency named.
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Local resource: Marin County planning and township resources. Check official information for the address you are considering; area descriptions do not establish a property’s permitted uses.
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Local property guides
- Buying in Lagunitas: Who Controls the Parcel and Which Services Reach It?
- Lagunitas Rural Home Due Diligence: Water Supply, Septic Records and Inspections
- Private Roads and Site Access in Lagunitas: Agreements, Maintenance and Practical Checks
- Owning Acreage in Lagunitas: A Budget for Infrastructure, Grounds and Insurance
- Valuing a Lagunitas Home With Land: Testing Use and Comparable Evidence
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