387 Lowell Ave
Mill Valley 94941 · Tamalpais · Unincorporated Marin · Coordinates: 37.88401, -122.53260
Executive Verdict · Public-Records Synthesis
Zoned R1 in Unincorporated Marin with likely ADU & SB 9 infill eligibility and zero mapped flood, fire, or fault hazard overlaps; benchmark value $2,174,000 ($1,913,000–$2,435,000).
Upsides & Opportunities
- ✓ ADU & SB 9 infill pathways screen as likely eligible
Zoned R1 supports ministerial ADU/JADU review plus SB 9 both two-unit development and ministerial urban lot split on a 9,627 sq ft lot. Local precedent is active with 8 ADU permits within ¼ mile over the last 36 months.
Source: Unincorporated Marin zoning · CA Gov. Code 66314 & 65852.21
- ✓ Documented permitted upgrades (+$27,720 contributory est.)
Public building records show issued construction/renovation work on this parcel (2 total permits, latest Sep 2, 2026).
Source: County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building Permits (unincorporated Marin) (parcel APN)
- ✓ Above-average reinvestment in Tamalpais
50 substantial renovation & housing permits over 24 months (20.5 per 1,000 parcels vs. 16.3 citywide baseline) (#3 of 22 neighborhoods).
Source: County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building Permits (unincorporated Marin) (Tamalpais)
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)
- ! Delayed or open permit activity on this parcel
Remodel / interior alteration (162996): Issued after 14 mo (5.3× the 83d median) — slower than 90% of remodel / interior alteration permits in Unincorporated Marin (median 83d, 90th pct 266d, n=1,054).
Source: County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building Permits (unincorporated Marin) (review-time benchmark)
- ! 5 slow or stalled nearby projects within ½ mile
Closest lead: New home at 560 Alta Way (0.45 mi W, applied). Inspect timeline history before assuming near-term completion.
Source: County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building Permits (unincorporated Marin) · HCD APR (½-mile radius)
- ! Year 1 Prop 13 tax reset (~$25,451/yr at $2,174,000)
Sale triggers reassessment to 1.00% base + ~0.15% voter debt (~$2,121/mo). Confirm exact Mello-Roos / CFD special assessments on the county tax bill.
Source: CA Const. Art. XIIIA (Prop 13) · County Tax Collector
Parcel & Assessor
- Lot size:
- 9,627 sq ft (0.22 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Single-Resid. - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 387 LOWELL AVE
Zoning & Land Use
R1 — Residential Single Family (Unincorporated Marin)
State Housing Pathways Screen (ADU & SB 9)
- ADU or junior ADULikely eligible
Zoned R1 (single-family residential): state law allows ADUs where homes are allowed.
- SB 9: two homes on the lotLikely eligible
Zoned R1, a single-family residential zone.
- SB 9: split into two lotsLikely eligible
Zoned R1, a single-family residential zone. The lot is 9,627 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
- Not in a State-mapped fire hazard severity zone
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
- Zone X: minimal flood hazard (all of the lot) · FIRM panel 06041C0468F, effective March 16, 2016
- CGS Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone
- Not in an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone
Surrounding Rent & Value Benchmarks (Public Records)
Range: $1,913,000 – $2,435,000 · Status: Off market
HUD Small Area FMR (ZIP 94941) · FY 2026
Studio $2,730 · 1BR $3,270 · 2BR $3,960 · 3BR $5,060 · 4BR $5,240
Nearby Activity (½ mile radius, since November 2024)
28 active or recent development projects (25 housing units across completed, permitted, and pipeline stages) and 672 total building permits recorded within ½ mile.
- New construction13 permits (3 units)
- Adds housing (ADU)22 permits (22 units)
- Demolition2 permits
- Additions & renovations42 permits
- Building systems477 permits
- Repairs22 permits
- Other94 permits
Developments Deserving Closer Investigation & Active Area Builders
- New home at 560 Alta Way (Applied)0.45 mi W
In "Applied" for 3.3 yr (since Aug 10, 2023), exceeding the 253d median and 686d 90th percentile for new single-family home permits in Unincorporated Marin (n=121). High-impact scale (1 housing unit, $975,000 declared valuation across 1 permit).
- Remodel / interior alteration (162996) (Issued)On this parcel
Issued after 14 mo (5.3× the 83d median) — slower than 90% of remodel / interior alteration permits in Unincorporated Marin (median 83d, 90th pct 266d, n=1,054).
- New home at 217 Cleveland Ave (Issued)0.25 mi E
Active in "Issued" for 9.7 yr (first record Feb 21, 2017) with no new permit activity recorded in 2.3 yr. High-impact scale (1 housing unit, $875,000 declared valuation across 1 permit).
- New commercial building at 100 Harvard Ave (Issued)0.31 mi N
Active in "Issued" for 23 mo (first record Dec 26, 2024) with no new permit activity recorded in 18 mo. High-impact scale ($6,500,000 declared valuation across 1 permit).
Entity-resolved builders & contractors in ½ mile: Owner (1 on parcel, 65 in ½ mi · Remodel / interior alteration); Acco Electric (1 on parcel, 1 in ½ mi · Electrical / panel); Owner Builder (126 in ½ mi · Remodel / interior alteration); International Building Investment (12 in ½ mi · Remodel / interior alteration); Lamperti Contracting And Design (7 in ½ mi · Remodel / interior alteration).
Permit & Project History on This Parcel (2 permits, 0 grouped projects)
| Record # | Category | Status | Applied / Issued | Valuation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B48194 | Electrical / panel | Issued | Iss. Sep 2, 2026 | $6,000 | Service Upgrade |
| 162996 | Remodel / interior alteration | Issued | Iss. Oct 22, 2019 | $70,000 | Remodel, Decks, Windows/Doors Bottom Floor B W O P T.D. 11/13/18 |