Marin County Grand Jury
• 2025-2026
The Worrisome Future of Marin Housing Nimby Resistance Takes a Backseat to Economic Reality
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 9 findings
F1
Because the California Department of Housing and Community Development provided the County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns with unrealistic housing goals for the 2023-2030 cycle, the County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns will not achieve their current cycle Housing Element goals.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The ability of the County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns to comply with the current cycle California Regional Housing Needs Allocation housing goals is significantly impacted by the lack of economic returns associated with that development and, therefore, inhibits the construction of new housing in Marin County.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Under current state law, the failure of the County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns to make adequate progress in achieving their California Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals could expose these jurisdictions to the potential of litigation, loss of permitting authority, financial penalties, court receivership, and streamlined ministerial approval processes which could substantially impact the ability of local housing jurisdictions to control the development of housing.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The cost of housing in Marin County is unaffordable for most current and potential Marin County public-sector workers, which reduces the ability of the public-sector employers to attract and retain employees.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns do not consistently inform the public on how applicable state law is limiting or eliminating the discretion of the local decision makers to modify or decline housing projects, and therefore, the public often does not understand the range of options available to local housing decision makers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
By January 1, 2026, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the City and Town Councils for the 11 Marin cities and towns should direct their housing planning officials to engage with the public on a quarterly basis on how State housing laws constrain the jurisdiction's ability to approve or modify a housing project.
F6
The County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns are not consistently providing developers and the public with detailed reconciliation of project level public accounting of the planning fees, expenses, and time expectations, and therefore, housing developers are not clear if their housing applications are billed on a cost-neutral basis as required by state law.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
By January 1, 2026, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the City and Town Councils for the 11 Marin cities and towns should direct their housing planning officials to publish and regularly update a public accounting of the fees charged and expenses associated with each development project submitted to the jurisdiction’s planning and building activities.
F7
The County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns are not consistently and proactively engaging the housing development community on the opportunities available in their communities to build new housing, and, therefore, housing developers may not be aware of the opportunities available to contribute to local housing development.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
By January 1, 2026, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the City and Town Councils for the 11 Marin cities and towns should direct their housing planning officials to proactively engage with potential developers to inform them of opportunities in their housing elements to support addressing the housing needs within Marin County.
F8
Accessory Dwelling Units are an element to the success of each jurisdiction's Housing Element for the County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns, yet some jurisdictions fail to provide a ministerial path to Accessory Dwelling Unit construction.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
By January 1, 2026, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the City and Town Councils for the 11 Marin cities and towns should direct their housing planning officials to ensure their housing laws provide a ministerial path for the approval of Accessory Dwelling Units.
F9
Multifamily housing is the most important element to fulfilling each jurisdiction’s Housing Element for the County of Marin and the 11 Marin cities and towns, yet some jurisdictions fail to provide a ministerial path to multifamily construction.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
By January 1, 2026, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the City and Town Councils for the 11 Marin cities and towns should direct their housing planning officials to ensure that local housing laws provide a ministerial path for the approval of multifamily housing in compliance with State housing law.
Additional Recommendations 1
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R1By January 1, 2026, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the City and Town Councils for the 11 Marin cities and towns should direct their housing planning officials to provide detailed quarterly updates to the community on the progress in executing their own specific Housing Element.
In the News 1
News coverage of this report, automatically tracked.
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Marin Independent Journal
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