21 Buena Vista
Novato 94947 · Novato · Coordinates: 38.10970, -122.59526
Executive Verdict · Public-Records Synthesis
Zoned R1-7.5 in Novato with likely ADU & SB 9 infill eligibility and zero mapped flood, fire, or fault hazard overlaps; benchmark value $1,062,000 ($903,000–$1,221,000).
Upsides & Opportunities
- ✓ ADU & SB 9 infill pathways screen as likely eligible
Zoned R1-7.5 supports ministerial ADU/JADU review plus SB 9 both two-unit development and ministerial urban lot split on a 11,064 sq ft lot.
Source: Novato 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)
- ! Delayed or open permit activity on this parcel
De Leon ADU: Active in "Entitled" for 2.7 yr (first record Mar 8, 2024) with no new permit activity recorded in 2.7 yr.
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: Burns Residence (0.19 mi SE, entitled). 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 Novato
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 (Novato)
Parcel & Assessor
- Lot size:
- 11,064 sq ft (0.25 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Single-Resid. - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 21 BUENA VISTA
Zoning & Land Use
R1-7.5 — Low Density Residential (Novato)
State Housing Pathways Screen (ADU & SB 9)
- ADU or junior ADULikely eligible
Zoned R1-7.5 (single-family residential): state law allows ADUs where homes are allowed. We read R1-7.5 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against Novato's code text.
- SB 9: two homes on the lotLikely eligible
Zoned R1-7.5, a single-family residential zone. We read R1-7.5 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against Novato's code text.
- SB 9: split into two lotsLikely eligible
Zoned R1-7.5, a single-family residential zone. We read R1-7.5 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against Novato's code text. The lot is 11,064 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 06041C0276D, effective May 4, 2009
- CGS Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone
- Not in an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone
Surrounding Rent & Value Benchmarks (Public Records)
Range: $903,000 – $1,221,000 · Status: Off market
HUD Small Area FMR (ZIP 94947) · FY 2026
Studio $2,250 · 1BR $2,690 · 2BR $3,260 · 3BR $4,160 · 4BR $4,320
Nearby Activity (½ mile radius, since —)
5 active or recent development projects (5 housing units across completed, permitted, and pipeline stages) and 0 total building permits recorded within ½ mile.
Developments Deserving Closer Investigation & Active Area Builders
- De Leon ADU (Entitled)On this parcel
Active in "Entitled" for 2.7 yr (first record Mar 8, 2024) with no new permit activity recorded in 2.7 yr.
- Burns Residence (Entitled)0.19 mi SE
Active in "Entitled" for 20 mo (first record Mar 20, 2025) with no new permit activity recorded in 20 mo.
- New home (Issued)0.19 mi W
Active in "Issued" for 5.9 yr (first record Dec 14, 2020) with no new permit activity recorded in 5.9 yr.
- New home (Issued)0.19 mi W
Active in "Issued" for 6.2 yr (first record Sep 8, 2020) with no new permit activity recorded in 6.2 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: 2 entries (report years 2024, 2025).