1020 Fourth St
Novato 94945 · Novato · Coordinates: 38.10895, -122.57425
Executive Verdict · Public-Records Synthesis
Zoned CDR in Novato with likely ministerial ADU eligibility and zero mapped flood, fire, or fault hazard overlaps; benchmark value $1,185,000 ($1,007,000–$1,363,000).
Upsides & Opportunities
- ✓ Ministerial ADU / JADU pathway likely eligible
Zone CDR allows residential use qualifying for ministerial ADU review under state law.
Source: Novato zoning · CA Gov. Code 66314
Watchouts & Due Diligence
- ! Mapped flood awareness zone (Zone X: 0.2% annual chance flood hazard (shaded X))
all of the lot of the parcel intersects Zone X: 0.2% annual chance flood hazard (shaded X). 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
AMG 4th and Grant: Active in "Entitled" for 2.2 yr (first record Aug 27, 2024) with no new permit activity recorded in 2.2 yr. High-impact scale (209 housing units, 206 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
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: First and Grant Mixed Use (0.17 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:
- 52,359 sq ft (1.20 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Commercial - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 1020 FOURTH ST; 1316 GRANT AVE; 1316 GRANT AVE STE A
Zoning & Land Use
CDR — Downtown Core Retail (Novato)
State Housing Pathways Screen (ADU & SB 9)
- ADU or junior ADULikely eligible
Zoned CDR (mixed use): state law allows ADUs where homes are allowed. On a multifamily lot the state allowance is different: ADUs in non-living space of the building, plus up to eight detached ADUs.
- SB 9: two homes on the lotUnlikely
Zoned CDR (mixed use), not a single-family residential zone.
- SB 9: split into two lotsUnlikely
Zoned CDR (mixed use), not a single-family residential zone.
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: 0.2% annual chance flood hazard (shaded X) (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: $1,007,000 – $1,363,000 · Status: Off market
HUD Small Area FMR (ZIP 94945) · FY 2026
Studio $2,050 · 1BR $2,510 · 2BR $2,990 · 3BR $3,770 · 4BR $3,960
Nearby Activity (½ mile radius, since November 2024)
6 active or recent development projects (140 housing units across completed, permitted, and pipeline stages) and 4 total building permits recorded within ½ mile.
- New construction2 permits (1 units)
Developments Deserving Closer Investigation & Active Area Builders
- AMG 4th and Grant (Entitled)On this parcel
Active in "Entitled" for 2.2 yr (first record Aug 27, 2024) with no new permit activity recorded in 2.2 yr. High-impact scale (209 housing units, 206 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
- First and Grant Mixed Use (Entitled)0.17 mi SE
Active in "Entitled" for 8 yr (first record Nov 5, 2018) with no new permit activity recorded in 8 yr. High-impact scale (32 housing units, 6 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
- Landing Ct (Entitled)0.22 mi W
Active in "Entitled" for 6.6 yr (first record Apr 16, 2020) with no new permit activity recorded in 6.6 yr. High-impact scale (32 housing units, 7 deed-restricted affordable across 0 permits).
- 7299 Redwood Blvd Apartments (Entitled)0.35 mi SE
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).
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).