Affordable Housing

Community Development Agency
three photos of affordable housing in Marin County

The mission of the Affordable Housing Program is to preserve and expand the range and supply of adequate, accessible, and affordable housing through housing policies, regulations and programs. While our Agency does not manage housing units or services directly, we have included a list of resources and links to local services and providers in the ‘where can I find affordable housing’ section of this website.

Updates and Announcements

 Super-NOFA Application for Affordable Housing Funds - Affordable Housing Developers

For the 2023-24 grant year, the County of Marin is leveraging several different local, state, and federal funding sources by combining them into a single Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) totaling over $5 million for affordable housing. As a result of this “Super-NOFA,” affordable housing developers can apply for several different funding sources in a single application. The guidelines and application link are below, and the deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Super-NOFA & Application Guidelines
Online Application

Resources:
Application Prep Tool
Sample Pro Forma Spreadsheet
CDBG Project Budget Template

The available funding includes roughly $2.3 million in County Affordable Housing Funds (including a one-for-one match from the State Permanent Housing Allocation), $2.4 million in new HOME-ARP funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and $600,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds specific to housing projects, also allocated by HUD.

The funds can be used for acquisition, rehabilitation, and new construction projects, although eligibility differs among the funding sources. The Super-NOFA guidelines provide more details about the different types of funding and criteria for project eligibility. 

Register for the Virtual Applicant Workshop - On Wednesday, March 1 at 1:00 p.m., County staff will host a virtual workshop to address questions from potential applicants.

Around June 2023, County staff plan to present funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.

 ADU/JADU Fee Waiver Program - Property Owners

Property owners in unincorporated Marin may apply to receive building and planning fee waivers for the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs). Visit the County's ADU webpage for more information and ADU Marin for additional resources on how to build and rent second units in Marin County.

 Inclusionary Study and Commercial Linkage Fee Study

The Marin County Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. or thereafter to consider adopting two studies prepared by Community Development Agency staff. These studies include policy recommendations around requirements for multi-unit projects and commercial development projects in the Unincorporated County. For more information, refer to the public notice under the "Affordable Housing Policies" dropdown below.

Where Can I Find Affordable Housing?

Are There Affordable Homes in Marin?

Yes there are. Affordable homes are found in nearly all neighborhoods and come in all sizes. Some examples may be seen in the slideshow.

What is Affordable Housing?

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, housing costs should equal 30% of a household's gross income. For homeowners this includes principal, interest, taxes and insurance and for renters it includes rent and utilities.

 

Board Work Plan to Preserve Affordability and Prevent Displacement

On February 9, 2016, the Marin County Board of Supervisors directed staff to pursue an 18-month, 3-phase workplan to preserve housing affordability and prevent displacement. Updates on those workplan items are provided below. 

Visit our Housing Element webpage to learn more about other work being done by the Housing and Federal Grants Division.

Affordable Housing Policies

Resources & Publications

  • Marin County Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) (2020) - The AI identifies barriers to fair housing choice by 1) assessing conditions, both public and private, affecting fair housing choice for all protected classes, 2) reviewing the jurisdiction's laws, regulations, and administrative policies, procedures and practices, 3) assessing how those laws, etc. affecting the location, availability and accessibility of housing, and 4) assessing the availability of affordable, accessible housing. 

    The report identifies four key impediments to fair housing choice in the county: 1) community opposition to affordable housing, 2) the cost of developing affordable housing, 3) lack of affordable housing sites, and 4) lack of opportunities for home ownership by people of color and on-going concerns of gentrification.

  • Marin County Affordable Housing Inventory (2008) - Provides a comprehensive picture of income-restricted housing in the 11 cities and towns and the unincorporated area of Marin. The inventory surveyed all affordable housing providers, which together supply 2616 units at nonprofit rental properties, 274 inclusionary rental units, 758 Below Market Rate ownership units, 573 units of public housing and 2269 Section 8 vouchers.

    The study compares the overall Marin housing market with affordable housing, including an overview of Marin's housing stock, household demographics, employment, income, and commute patterns. Data indicate that affordable housing plays a key role in providing homes for low income residents of Marin County.

Healthy Communities

Funding Opportunities

 

Healthy Communities

New and Upcoming Projects

 

Smaller unit next to larger unit representing Accessory Dwelling Unit.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

 

Healthy Communities

Community Land Trusts (CLT)