Marin County · Renting & eviction

Renting in Marin County: the rules that apply

In unincorporated Marin County, county rules add just-cause eviction, notice and harassment rules; they do not apply inside cities. The county has no rent control, relocation pay or deposit rules of its own, so state law applies there.

Ask about renting & eviction in Marin County See coverage

Key points

Rent increases: The county has no rent cap of its own; state law limits covered units to 8.8% from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Just cause: County rule for unincorporated areas: eviction needs a listed cause, such as rent unpaid 3 days after written notice or a material lease breach.
Owner move-in: County rule: the landlord, or a parent or child, must move in within 3 months and live there at least 1 year.
Withdrawal notice: County rule: removing a unit permanently from the rental market needs 120 days' notice; termination notices go to the county within 10 days.
Relocation pay: The county has no relocation rule of its own; state law requires 1 month's rent for no-fault evictions from covered units.
Harassment: County rule: bad-faith acts such as cutting services, skipping required repairs, or offering move-out payments more than once every 6 months are harassment.

Each rule below is marked Marin County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Marin County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Marin County have their own codes and their own pages.

Rent increases

CA state law Marin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Rent cap right now: 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.8% inflation) (Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)). California's statewide rent cap — the full state rule →

Eviction and just cause

Marin County code County rule for unincorporated areas: eviction needs a listed cause, such as rent unpaid 3 days after written notice or a material lease breach. County rule: the landlord, or a parent or child, must move in within 3 months and live there at least 1 year.

All 8 Marin County rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Relocation payments

CA state law Marin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. No-fault eviction relocation assistance: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)). Relocation under California's just-cause law — the full state rule →

Notices

Marin County code County rule: removing a unit permanently from the rental market needs 120 days' notice; termination notices go to the county within 10 days.

All 7 Marin County rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Security deposits

CA state law Marin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →

Retaliation

CA state law Marin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →

Harassment and lockouts

Marin County code County rule: bad-faith acts such as cutting services, skipping required repairs, or offering move-out payments more than once every 6 months are harassment.

All 14 Marin County rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Repairs and habitability

CA state law Marin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →

Landlord entry

CA state law Marin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →

Short-term rentals

Marin County code What Marin County's code adds
Allowed	Only in limited cases. Applies: Only on properties with an existing legal residential unit, subject to the restricted-structure rules and license rules. § 5.41.060 · code text A property where there is no existing legal residential unit is not eligible for a short term rental license. No. Short-term rentals are not allowed. Applies: In multi-family dwellings or condominium units, except short-term rentals legally operating on January 1, 2024. § 5.41.060 · code text A multi-family dwelling or condominium unit. No. Short-term rentals are not allowed. Applies: In Category 1 - Statewide Exemption accessory dwelling units created or legalized after January 1, 2020. § 5.41.060 · code text Category 1 - Statewide Exemption accessory dwelling units that were created or legalized after January 1, 2020. No. Short-term rentals are not allowed. Applies: In accessory dwelling units, other than Category 1 - Statewide Exemption units, created or legalized after February 24, 2021. § 5.41.060 · code text Accessory dwelling units other than Category 1 - Statewide Exemption accessory dwelling units that were created or legalized after February 24, 2021.
Cap on rentals	At first, no more than 1,200 short-term rental licenses. Applies: In unincorporated Marin County, not counting licenses in Dillon Beach. § 5.41.070 · code text The total initial number of short term rental licenses allowable in unincorporated Marin County is limited to one thousand two hundred not including short term rental licenses in Dillon Beach. No more than 54 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Bolinas area. § 5.41.070 · code text Bolinas \| 63 \| 54 No more than 204 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Dillon Beach area. § 5.41.070 · code text Dillon Beach \| 125 \| 204 No more than 3 short-term rental licenses. Applies: In the Fallon area. The first-round and later limits are the same. § 5.41.070 · code text Fallon \| 3 \| 3 No more than 8 short-term rental licenses. Applies: In the Forest Knolls area. The first-round and later limits are the same. § 5.41.070 · code text Forest Knolls \| 8 \| 8 No more than 86 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Inverness area. § 5.41.070 · code text Inverness \| 93 \| 86 No more than 4 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Lagunitas area. § 5.41.070 · code text Lagunitas \| 6 \| 4 No more than 27 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Marshall area. § 5.41.070 · code text Marshall \| 28 \| 27 No more than 19 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Muir Beach area. § 5.41.070 · code text Muir Beach \| 20 \| 19 No more than 19 short-term rental licenses. Applies: In the Muir Woods Park area. The first-round and later limits are the same. § 5.41.070 · code text Muir Woods Park \| 19 \| 19 No more than 8 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Nicasio area. § 5.41.070 · code text Nicasio \| 11 \| 8 No more than 3 short-term rental licenses. Applies: In the Olema area. The first-round and later limits are the same. § 5.41.070 · code text Olema \| 3 \| 3 No more than 2 short-term rental licenses. Applies: In the Petaluma area. The first-round and later limits are the same. § 5.41.070 · code text Petaluma \| 2 \| 2 No more than 26 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Point Reyes Station area. § 5.41.070 · code text Point Reyes Station \| 32 \| 26 No more than 7 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the San Geronimo area. § 5.41.070 · code text San Geronimo \| 10 \| 7 No more than 192 short-term rental licenses. Applies: In the Stinson Beach area. The first-round and later limits are the same. § 5.41.070 · code text Stinson Beach \| 192 \| 192 No more than 11 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Tomales area. § 5.41.070 · code text Tomales \| 12 \| 11 No more than 1 short-term rental license. Applies: In the Valley Ford area. The first-round and later limits are the same. § 5.41.070 · code text Valley Ford \| 1 \| 1 No more than 8 short-term rental licenses after the first round. Applies: In the Woodacre area. § 5.41.070 · code text Woodacre \| 12 \| 8
Permit or registration	Yes. A valid and current short-term rental license is required to advertise or operate. § 5.41.050 · code text Advertising or operating a short term rental without a valid and current short term rental license issued pursuant to the requirements of this chapter are prohibited.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Marin County code What Marin County's code adds
Tax rate	10% of the rent. § 3.05.030 · code text For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of ten percent of the rent charged by the operator. An extra 4% on top of the 10% county tax. Applies: Applies to hotels and campgrounds in the West Marin Transient Occupancy Tax Area since January 1, 2019. § 3.05.035 · code text Notwithstanding the tax imposed by Section 3.05.030 and in addition thereto, commencing on January 1, 2019, for the privilege of occupancy in any hotel or campground in the West Marin Transient Occupancy Tax Area, each transient is subject to and shall pay an additional tax in the amount of four percent of the rent charged by the operator.
Who collects it	The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. § 3.05.050 · code text Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by this chapter to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much can rent go up in Marin County?

The county has no rent cap of its own; state law limits covered units to 8.8% from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

Does a Marin County landlord have to pay relocation?

The county has no relocation rule of its own; state law requires 1 month's rent for no-fault evictions from covered units.

How much can a Marin County landlord charge for a security deposit?

Marin County has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)).

Can I rent out my home short-term in Marin County?

Marin County's code: Only in limited cases. (Only on properties with an existing legal residential unit, subject to the restricted-structure rules and license rules.) (§ 5.41.060); No. Short-term rentals are not allowed. (In multi-family dwellings or condominium units, except short-term rentals legally operating on January 1, 2024.) (§ 5.41.060).

What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Marin County?

Marin County's code: 10% of the rent. (§ 3.05.030); An extra 4% on top of the 10% county tax. (Applies to hotels and campgrounds in the West Marin Transient Occupancy Tax Area since January 1, 2019.) (§ 3.05.035).

General information, not legal advice.

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