17 Plaza Loma
Novato 94947 · Novato · Coordinates: 38.09837, -122.57217
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 $1,036,000 ($881,000–$1,191,000).
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 5.6 yr (first record Apr 7, 2021) with no new permit activity recorded in 5.6 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: Landing Court Apartments (0.41 mi E, 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:
- 7,971 sq ft (0.18 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Single-Resid. - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 17 PLAZA LOMA
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 7,971 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: $881,000 – $1,191,000 · 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 —)
4 active or recent development projects (85 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 5.6 yr (first record Apr 7, 2021) with no new permit activity recorded in 5.6 yr.
- Landing Court Apartments (Entitled)0.41 mi E
Active in "Entitled" for 2 yr (first record Oct 28, 2024) with no new permit activity recorded in 2 yr. High-impact scale (301 housing units, 298 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
- 7299 Redwood Blvd Apartments (Entitled)0.44 mi N
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)0.29 mi N
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).
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).