23 A Upper Oak Dr
San Rafael 94903 · San Rafael · Coordinates: 38.02500, -122.55426
Executive Verdict · Public-Records Synthesis
Zoned R7.5 in San Rafael with likely ADU & SB 9 infill eligibility and mapped CAL FIRE high fire hazard severity zone (local responsibility area) due diligence; benchmark value $1,292,000 ($1,098,000–$1,486,000).
Upsides & Opportunities
- ✓ ADU & SB 9 infill pathways screen as likely eligible
Zoned R7.5 supports ministerial ADU/JADU review plus SB 9 both two-unit development and ministerial urban lot split on a 9,148 sq ft lot. Local precedent is active with 1 ADU permit within ¼ mile over the last 36 months.
Source: San Rafael 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)
- ! CAL FIRE High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (Local Responsibility Area) (all of the lot of lot)
Located in a mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Expect Chapter 7A ignition-resistant building standards, defensible-space inspections, and stricter property insurance underwriting.
Source: CAL FIRE FHSZ (map Mar 24, 2025)
- ! Delayed or open permit activity on this parcel
New home: Active in "Entitled" for 6.6 yr (first record Apr 8, 2020) with no new permit activity recorded in 6.6 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: Accessory dwelling unit at 598 Loganberry Dr (adu 598a) (0.45 mi N, issued). Inspect timeline history before assuming near-term completion.
Source: County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building Permits (unincorporated Marin) · HCD APR (½-mile radius)
Parcel & Assessor
- Lot size:
- 9,148 sq ft (0.21 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Single-Resid. - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 23A UPPER OAK DR; 23 UPPER OAK DR
Zoning & Land Use
R7.5 (San Rafael)
State Housing Pathways Screen (ADU & SB 9)
- ADU or junior ADULikely eligible
Zoned R7.5 (single-family residential): state law allows ADUs where homes are allowed. We read R7.5 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against San Rafael's code text.
- SB 9: two homes on the lotLikely eligible
Zoned R7.5, a single-family residential zone. We read R7.5 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against San Rafael's code text.
- SB 9: split into two lotsLikely eligible
Zoned R7.5, a single-family residential zone. We read R7.5 from the zoning code's name; we haven't checked it against San Rafael's code text. The lot is 9,148 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
- High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (Local Responsibility Area) (all of the lot, map Mar 24, 2025)
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
- Zone X: minimal flood hazard (all of the lot) · FIRM panel 06041C0293E, 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: $1,098,000 – $1,486,000 · Status: Off market
HUD Small Area FMR (ZIP 94903) · FY 2026
Studio $2,880 · 1BR $3,450 · 2BR $4,180 · 3BR $5,340 · 4BR $5,530
Nearby Activity (½ mile radius, since November 2024)
3 active or recent development projects (3 housing units across completed, permitted, and pipeline stages) and 158 total building permits recorded within ½ mile.
- Adds housing (ADU)3 permits (3 units)
Developments Deserving Closer Investigation & Active Area Builders
- New home (Entitled)On this parcel
Active in "Entitled" for 6.6 yr (first record Apr 8, 2020) with no new permit activity recorded in 6.6 yr.
- Accessory dwelling unit at 598 Loganberry Dr (adu 598a) (Issued)0.45 mi N
Active in "Issued" for 2.2 yr (first record Sep 6, 2024) with no new permit activity recorded in 22 mo. High-impact scale (1 housing unit, $830,000 declared valuation across 1 permit).
- Accessory dwelling unit at 26 Meadow Dr (adu 26a) (Issued)0.34 mi NE
Active in "Issued" for 3.1 yr (first record Oct 11, 2023) with no new permit activity recorded in 19 mo.
- Accessory dwelling unit at 59 Oxford Dr A (aka 59) (Issued)0.34 mi NE
Active in "Issued" for 4.8 yr (first record Jan 10, 2022) with no new permit activity recorded in 4.6 yr.
Permit & Project History on This Parcel (0 permits, 2 grouped projects)
No building permits recorded on this parcel in our dataset.
State HCD Housing Element APR records on this parcel: 3 entries (report years 2020, 2022).