Four trash rate hearings land in the same week: San Rafael, San Anselmo and Fairfax take up Marin Sanitary Service's 2027 rates, and Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District takes up its own. Larkspur and Sausalito both bring their ADU rules in line with state law. And Fairfax's Tree Committee has five permits to decide, so I read the town's tree code and learned a hard prune can count as cutting a tree down.
Town hall watch
Homeowner items from this week's council, planning and board agendas, by region. Quiet regions are skipped.
SOUTHERN MARIN
Sausalito · The City Council introduces ADU changes to match state laws that take effect January 1, 2027: up to two new detached ADUs on a single-family lot, and no impact fee on an ADU of 750 square feet or less. On a bigger one, the fee covers only the square footage past 750, so a 1,000-square-foot ADU pays $2,500 instead of $10,000. Height would be measured so a pitched roof fits. Final vote December 1. Tue, Nov 17
How to comment: [email protected] before noon Tue, Nov 17 (later emails may not post until the next day) · Agenda
Belvedere · The Planning Commission hears a request to remove eight eucalyptus, 25 to 40 inches across, from a steep hillside lot. Staff recommend approval with eight native replacement trees. On the consent calendar: a demolition permit for a 316-square-foot detached shed. Tue, Nov 17
How to comment: [email protected] with "Public Comment" in the subject, at least one hour before the 5:30 p.m. meeting · Agenda
Tam Valley · At the Tamalpais CSD board meeting, the County Supervisor, the County's chief climate officer and the Flood Control District manager present their flood and sea-level-rise plans and projects for the next several years. Also on the agenda: a failing retaining wall on a private road, which the district's staff report says is the neighbors' to fix under a 1977 recorded road maintenance agreement. If you live on a private road, look for that kind of agreement in your title report, or ask a real estate attorney. Wed, Nov 18
How to comment: in person at the 7 p.m. meeting at the Tam Valley Community Center · Agenda
ROSS VALLEY
San Anselmo · Public hearing on Marin Sanitary Service's 2027 maximum rates: up 7.83%. Without a reinstated $84,000 refuse vehicle impact fee, the increase would be 6.36%; the biggest driver is Redwood Landfill's organics fee, rising from $53 to $90 a ton. The same night, the Council votes on adopting General Plan 2045, the Town's first full update since the mid-1970s, and certifying its environmental report. Tue, Nov 17
How to comment: [email protected] or eComment before the 7 p.m. meeting · Agenda
Fairfax · Public hearing on Marin Sanitary Service's 2027 maximum rates: up 10.80% on January 1, so a 32-gallon cart goes to $57.17 a month. The staff report points to collection costs and tipping fees, with Redwood Landfill's organics fee rising from $53 to $90 a ton, plus a reinstated vehicle impact fee; Fairfax rates haven't changed since January 2025. The same night, the Council considers declaring a local emergency for the El Niño season, so the Town can hire crews to clear drains and culverts and take down hazardous trees without the usual bidding. Wed, Nov 18
How to comment: email the Council before 3 p.m. Wed, Nov 18 to have it posted online, or speak at the 6:30 p.m. hearing at the Women's Club or on Zoom · Agenda
Larkspur · On the consent calendar: final approval of the City's updated ADU ordinance. A detached ADU up to 800 square feet, with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, gets approved without a hearing and needs no parking, and a single-family lot can have up to two ADUs plus a JADU. Also on the agenda: a staff update on tidal flooding and winter storms. Wed, Nov 18
How to comment: [email protected] or Larkspur.ca.gov/PublicComment by 5 p.m. Wed, Nov 18 · Agenda
Ross · Advisory Design Review looks at a 6-foot metal fence and gate along two street frontages. In Ross, any fence over 48 inches in a yard next to a street needs design review (Town Code § 18.41.010), and the group's recommendation goes to the Town Council. Also up, as a first look: a 110-square-foot shed inside the front and side setbacks. Tue, Nov 17
How to comment: [email protected] before the 6 p.m. meeting · Agenda
SAN RAFAEL & CENTRAL
San Rafael · Public hearing on Marin Sanitary Service's 2027 maximum rates: up 6.31%, so a 32-gallon cart goes up $3.54 a month, to $59.64. The increase brings back the refuse vehicle impact fee at one-third strength ($493,534 in 2027), rising to the full $1,480,601 by 2029. Also up: continuing the El Niño emergency. The staff report lists free sand and sandbags at four City sites. Mon, Nov 16
How to comment: [email protected] by 4 p.m. Mon, Nov 16 · Agenda
San Rafael · The Zoning Administrator hears a request to raise a house to make room for a new ground floor, which takes design review plus a variance to reach into the front setback. Also up: design review for a new house on a hillside lot. Wed, Nov 18
How to comment: attend at City Hall or on Zoom (822 9447 3066), 10 a.m. · Agenda
Marinwood, Lucas Valley and north San Rafael · Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District holds its hearing on a 6.84% garbage rate increase for 2027: a 32-gallon cart goes from $50.34 to $53.78 a month. Thu, Nov 19
How to comment: the District's Request to Speak form; the agenda isn't posted yet · Board meetings
Next two weeks
All of Marin · Thanksgiving trash: Mill Valley Refuse picks up as usual. Recology Sonoma Marin serves only Novato and West Marin that day; its other areas get no pickup. Mill Valley Refuse · Recology. Nov 26
All of Marin · Rats scouting your crawl space for a dry winter? Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control will inspect your house free, point out the gaps they use and suggest fixes. They advise; they don't trap. Call (707) 285-2200 or request a visit.
All of Marin · The County's virtual El Niño town hall, 6 p.m. on Zoom: preparing your house for winter weather. Join link. Nov 19
Belvedere · City Hall closes at noon November 25 and reopens November 30, and no construction work is allowed November 26 or 27. Worth a word with your contractor. Nov 25–27
Tam Valley · Free talk at the Tam Valley Community Center, 7 p.m.: hydrogeologist Dr. Jim Jacobs, a Tamalpais CSD board member, on how rising groundwater can flood a neighborhood from below. RSVP on tamcsd.org. The sand pile there is going fast, so bring a shovel and your own bags. Nov 17
Bolinas · Bolinas Community PUD holds a workshop on one new water meter ordinance: water-use limits per meter, Limited Water Use Permits and the rules for moving a meter, under the District's water-shortage emergency and connection moratorium. 10 a.m. at the district office or on Zoom. Agenda. Nov 15
PERMIT OF THE WEEK
In Fairfax, a hard prune can count as cutting the tree down
Removing a tree in Fairfax takes a Tree Permit, and the town code counts taking off more than a quarter of a tree's foliage in 12 months as removing it. That covers any tree at least 4 inches across, measured 4½ feet up (Town Code §§ 8.36.020 and 8.36.040). Applications are due 14 days before the Tree Committee meets. This week it takes five, one for 2 coast live oaks, 10 California bay laurels and an acacia on a single lot. Other towns set their own thresholds, so call your planning counter before the arborist arrives.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Deemed approved: what happens to an ADU application when the city runs out the clock. Under California law, a city has 60 days from a complete ADU application to approve or deny it; miss that and the application is deemed approved (Gov. Code § 66317(a)(3)). It shows up in Larkspur's updated ADU ordinance, on the City Council's consent calendar November 18.
FROM THE EDITOR
Kim Neumann
Editor & San Anselmo resident
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This is Marin gathers rules, rebates and deadlines from town, county and district sources. Check with the agency before you act; for legal or money questions, ask a real estate attorney or a licensed pro.
