17 Valley Rd
Fairfax 94930 · Fairfax · Coordinates: 37.98365, -122.59649
Executive Verdict · Public-Records Synthesis
Zoned RS-6 in Fairfax with likely ADU & SB 9 infill eligibility and mapped CAL FIRE high fire hazard severity zone (local responsibility area) due diligence; benchmark value $1,362,000 ($1,158,000–$1,566,000).
Upsides & Opportunities
- ✓ ADU & SB 9 infill pathways screen as likely eligible
Zoned RS-6 supports ministerial ADU/JADU review plus SB 9 both two-unit development and ministerial urban lot split on a 22,172 sq ft lot.
Source: Fairfax zoning · CA Gov. Code 66314 & 65852.21
Watchouts & Due Diligence
- ! Mapped flood awareness zone (Zone X: minimal flood hazard)
all of the lot of the parcel intersects Zone X: minimal flood hazard. Outside mandatory federal SFHA insurance rules, but check local drainage and finished-floor requirements.
Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (parcel polygon)
- ! CAL FIRE High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (Local Responsibility Area) (all of the lot of lot)
Located in a mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Expect Chapter 7A ignition-resistant building standards, defensible-space inspections, and stricter property insurance underwriting.
Source: CAL FIRE FHSZ (map Mar 24, 2025)
- ! 5 slow or stalled nearby projects within ½ mile
Closest lead: School Street Live/Work Units (0.39 mi NE, issued). Inspect timeline history before assuming near-term completion.
Source: County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building Permits (unincorporated Marin) · HCD APR (½-mile radius)
- ! Bulk building permits not published for Fairfax
Permit counts and nearby activity on this page may omit municipal counter records. Request a parcel permit report directly from the local building department.
Source: Source coverage registry (Fairfax)
Parcel & Assessor
- Lot size:
- 22,172 sq ft (0.51 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Single-Resid. - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 17 VALLEY RD
Zoning & Land Use
RS-6 (Fairfax)
State Housing Pathways Screen (ADU & SB 9)
- ADU or junior ADULikely eligible
Zoned RS-6 (single-family residential): state law allows ADUs where homes are allowed. We read RS-6 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against Fairfax's code text.
- SB 9: two homes on the lotLikely eligible
Zoned RS-6, a single-family residential zone. We read RS-6 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against Fairfax's code text.
- SB 9: split into two lotsLikely eligible
Zoned RS-6, a single-family residential zone. We read RS-6 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against Fairfax's code text. The lot is 22,172 sq ft by the assessor, room for two lots of at least 1,200 sq ft, each at least 40% of the original.
Mapped Hazard Zones on This Lot
- CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone
- High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (Local Responsibility Area) (all of the lot, map Mar 24, 2025)
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
- Zone X: minimal flood hazard (all of the lot) · FIRM panel 06041C0451E, effective March 17, 2014
- CGS Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone
- Not in an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone
Surrounding Rent & Value Benchmarks (Public Records)
Range: $1,158,000 – $1,566,000 · Status: Off market
HUD Small Area FMR (ZIP 94930) · FY 2026
Studio $2,230 · 1BR $2,680 · 2BR $3,240 · 3BR $4,140 · 4BR $4,290
Nearby Activity (½ mile radius, since —)
10 active or recent development projects (10 housing units across completed, permitted, and pipeline stages) and 0 total building permits recorded within ½ mile.
Developments Deserving Closer Investigation & Active Area Builders
- School Street Live/Work Units (Issued)0.39 mi NE
Active in "Issued" for 6.6 yr (first record Apr 18, 2020) with no new permit activity recorded in 6.6 yr. High-impact scale (12 housing units, 9 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
- New home (Finaled / completed)On this parcel
High-impact scale (1 housing unit, 1 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
- New home (Issued)450 ft E
Active in "Issued" for 7.2 yr (first record Aug 16, 2019) with no new permit activity recorded in 7.2 yr.
- New home (Issued)0.18 mi NE
Active in "Issued" for 4 yr (first record Oct 28, 2022) with no new permit activity recorded in 4 yr.
Permit & Project History on This Parcel (0 permits, 1 grouped projects)
No building permits recorded on this parcel in our dataset.
State HCD Housing Element APR records on this parcel: 1 entry (report years 2019).