1621 Center Rd
Novato 94947 · Novato · Coordinates: 38.10078, -122.57716
Executive Verdict · Public-Records Synthesis
Zoned R1-7.5 in Novato with likely ministerial ADU eligibility and mapped FEMA AO flood due diligence; benchmark value $1,064,000 ($904,000–$1,224,000).
Upsides & Opportunities
- ✓ Ministerial ADU / JADU pathway likely eligible
Zone R1-7.5 allows residential use qualifying for ministerial ADU review under state law.
Source: Novato zoning · CA Gov. Code 66314
Watchouts & Due Diligence
- ! FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (AO, all of the lot of lot)
Zone AO: 1% annual chance flood (Special Flood Hazard Area) overlaps this parcel. Expect mandatory flood insurance for federally backed loans and floodplain elevation/mitigation rules for new units or SB 9 applications.
Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (parcel polygon)
- ! Delayed or open permit activity on this parcel
Detached ADU: Active in "Entitled" for 5.4 yr (first record Jun 28, 2021) with no new permit activity recorded in 5.4 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: 7299 Redwood Blvd Apartments (0.43 mi NE, 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:
- 11,238 sq ft (0.26 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Single-Resid. - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 1621 CENTER RD
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 lotPossible, with conditions
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. FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (Zone AO) covers all of the lot: the project must meet the National Flood Insurance Program floodplain standards, or the lot needs a map revision.
- SB 9: split into two lotsPossible, with conditions
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 11,238 sq ft by the assessor, room for two lots of at least 1,200 sq ft, each at least 40% of the original. FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (Zone AO) covers all of the lot: the project must meet the National Flood Insurance Program floodplain standards, or the lot needs a map revision.
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 AO: 1% annual chance flood (Special Flood Hazard Area) (all of the lot) · FIRM panel 06041C0277E, 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: $904,000 – $1,224,000 · 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 (86 housing units across completed, permitted, and pipeline stages) and 0 total building permits recorded within ½ mile.
Developments Deserving Closer Investigation & Active Area Builders
- Detached ADU (Entitled)On this parcel
Active in "Entitled" for 5.4 yr (first record Jun 28, 2021) with no new permit activity recorded in 5.4 yr.
- 7299 Redwood Blvd Apartments (Entitled)0.43 mi NE
Active in "Entitled" for 14 mo (first record Sep 22, 2025) with no new permit activity recorded in 14 mo. High-impact scale (82 housing units, 81 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
- 4 new homes (Issued)0.21 mi NE
Active in "Issued" for 7.8 yr (first record Jan 31, 2019) with no new permit activity recorded in 7.8 yr. High-impact scale (4 housing units across 0 permits).
- Gomez JADU (Issued)210 ft E
Active in "Issued" for 20 mo (first record Mar 4, 2025) with no new permit activity recorded in 20 mo.
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 2021).