140 Whittier Ave
San Rafael 94903 · Santa Venetia · Unincorporated Marin · Coordinates: 38.00276, -122.52736
Executive Verdict · Public-Records Synthesis
Zoned R1 in Unincorporated Marin with likely ADU & SB 9 infill eligibility and zero mapped flood, fire, or fault hazard overlaps; benchmark value $1,202,000 ($1,058,000–$1,346,000).
Upsides & Opportunities
- ✓ ADU & SB 9 infill pathways screen as likely eligible
Zoned R1 supports ministerial ADU/JADU review plus SB 9 both two-unit development and ministerial urban lot split on a 7,579 sq ft lot. Local precedent is active with 2 ADU permits within ¼ mile over the last 36 months.
Source: Unincorporated Marin zoning · CA Gov. Code 66314 & 65852.21
- ✓ Documented permitted upgrades (+$12,167 contributory est.)
Public building records show issued construction/renovation work on this parcel (5 total permits, latest Feb 27, 2026).
Source: County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building Permits (unincorporated Marin) (parcel APN)
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)
- ! 6 slow or stalled nearby projects within ½ mile
Closest lead: New commercial building at 170 N San Pedro Rd (0.31 mi SE, 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)
- ! Year 1 Prop 13 tax reset (~$14,273/yr at $1,202,000)
Sale triggers reassessment to 1.00% base + ~0.15% voter debt (~$1,189/mo). Confirm exact Mello-Roos / CFD special assessments on the county tax bill.
Source: CA Const. Art. XIIIA (Prop 13) · County Tax Collector
Parcel & Assessor
- Lot size:
- 7,579 sq ft (0.17 ac)
- Assessor use:
- Single-Resid. - Improved
- Addresses on lot:
- 140 WHITTIER AVE
Zoning & Land Use
R1 — Residential Single Family (Unincorporated Marin)
State Housing Pathways Screen (ADU & SB 9)
- ADU or junior ADULikely eligible
Zoned R1 (single-family residential): state law allows ADUs where homes are allowed.
- SB 9: two homes on the lotLikely eligible
Zoned R1, a single-family residential zone.
- SB 9: split into two lotsLikely eligible
Zoned R1, a single-family residential zone. The lot is 7,579 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 06041C0294E, 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: $1,058,000 – $1,346,000 · 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)
5 active or recent development projects (4 housing units across completed, permitted, and pipeline stages) and 375 total building permits recorded within ½ mile.
- New construction2 permits
- Adds housing (ADU)4 permits (4 units)
- Demolition3 permits
- Additions & renovations19 permits
- Building systems309 permits
- Repairs10 permits
- Other28 permits
Developments Deserving Closer Investigation & Active Area Builders
- New commercial building at 170 N San Pedro Rd (Issued)0.31 mi SE
Active in "Issued" for 5 yr (first record Dec 1, 2021) with no new permit activity recorded in 4.4 yr. High-impact scale ($18,000,000 declared valuation across 1 permit).
- New commercial building at 10 Ave Of The Flags (Issued)0.33 mi W
Active in "Issued" for 5.6 yr (first record Mar 26, 2021) with no new permit activity recorded in 5.5 yr. High-impact scale ($2,000,000 declared valuation across 1 permit).
- Accessory dwelling unit at 15 Roosevelt Ave (Applied)0.2 mi S
In "Applied" for 4.3 yr (since Jul 13, 2022), exceeding the 253d median and 686d 90th percentile for new single-family home permits in Unincorporated Marin (n=121).
- Demolition at 13 Edward Ave (Applied)0.25 mi E
In "Applied" for 3.8 yr (since Jan 23, 2023), exceeding the 55d median and 261d 90th percentile for demolition permits in Unincorporated Marin (n=130).
Entity-resolved builders & contractors in ½ mile: 3 Generations Improvements (1 on parcel, 1 in ½ mi · Windows / doors / siding); Sunrun Installation Services (1 on parcel, 1 in ½ mi · Solar / battery storage); Towery Electric (1 on parcel, 1 in ½ mi · EV charger); John Owens Services (1 on parcel, 1 in ½ mi · HVAC / heat pump); Peter Levi Plumbing (1 on parcel, 1 in ½ mi · Plumbing / water heater / sewer).
Permit & Project History on This Parcel (5 permits, 0 grouped projects)
| Record # | Category | Status | Applied / Issued | Valuation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B46042 | Windows / doors / siding | Issued | Iss. Feb 27, 2026 | $62,920 | Siding Replacement |
| B37904 | Solar / battery storage | Issued | Iss. May 1, 2024 | $29,390 | PV SOLAR 8100W DC, 5760W AC, (20) MODULES, (2) 13.5KWh ESS |
| B28588 | Plumbing / water heater / sewer | Issued | Iss. Feb 15, 2022 | $3,750 | C/O 50 GAL GAS WATER HEATER IN GARAGE — Replace Plumbing Fixtures(s) |
| B13599 | HVAC / heat pump | Issued | Iss. Oct 25, 2017 | $5,729 | replace furnace — Replace Mechanical Appliance |
| B11236 | EV charger | Issued | Iss. Oct 20, 2016 | $6,000 | UPGRADE SERVICE TO 200 A; INSTALL GROUND ROD AND BOND WATER & PANEL; INSTALL EV CHARGING STATION; REPLACE SUBPANEL I… |