Housing Affordability Programs

The Housing Element identifies 6 programs to support housing supply.

These programs are listed below to include an overview of its objective(s), schedule and status.

Program 24: Inclusionary Housing

Program 24a: Modify 

• Objective: Modify the Inclusionary Housing program to expand affordability ranges and to comply with State law.
• Due Date: December 2023.
• Status: (Complete) Marin County worked with partner jurisdictions on an Inclusionary Study that was funded by the State through the SB2 grant. The work included an update to the inclusionary fee calculations, changes in policy to comply with state law, and an update to the Commercial Linkage Fee. In September 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved an update to the Inclusionary Policy and Commercial Linkage fee for unincorporated Marin County. 

Program 24b: Coordinate 

• Objective: Coordinate with other County jurisdictions to align inclusionary housing requirements for consistency.
• Due Date: December 2023.
• Status: (Complete) See above. 

Program 25: Incentives for Affordable Housing

Program 25a: Facilitate 

• Objective: Continue to offer incentives to facilitate affordable housing.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) The County authorizes waiver of Building and Planning permit fees and reimbursement of Environmental Health Service fees for affordable housing developments. Development Code Amendments approved in January 2023 offer ministerial review for projects that meet the requirements of the Housing Overlay Designation. Affordable Housing developers can apply for County Housing Trust Fund dollars. In 2024, $6,700,000 was distributed to projects: 1400 Lincoln ($450,000) and Marinwood ($6,250,000).

Program 25b: Outreach 

• Objective: Annually conduct outreach to affordable housing developers to evaluate the effectiveness of incentives and make appropriate adjustments, and to identify and pursue development opportunities.
• Due Date: Ongoing
• Status: (Ongoing) Staff meet with affordable housing developers on a regular basis and the County and Cities and Towns are sponsoring and coordinating an infill developer forum for Spring 2025.

Program 25c: Support 

• Objective: Provide support (incentives, technical assistance) to school districts to develop district-owned parcels in unincorporated Marin as affordable educator housing.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Staff are supporting Education Housing Partners (EHP) and Eden Housing on Oak Hill Apartments. The proposed development will be comprised of two affordable residential communities —115 apartments developed by Eden Housing for low-income families, and 135 workforce apartments to be built by EHP for income qualifying teachers and staff of local school districts and County employees. Additionally, staff are providing assistance for the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that will issue bonds for the EHP portion of the project.

Program 25d: Development Goals 

• Objective: Facilitate the development of 300 affordable units over 8 years.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Oak Hill, described above, would provide 135 workforce apartments. 

Program 26: Below Market Rate (BMR) Homeownership Program

Program 26a: Maintain

• Objective: Maintain 90 BMR units for continued affordable housing for lower and moderate income households.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Marin County has an ongoing contract with the Marin Housing Authority to monitor affordability of existing Below Market Rate units. 

Program 26b: Additional Funding 

• Objective: Successor Agency funds will be exhausted within the 8-year timeframe of the Housing Element. In 2024 and annually thereafter, pursue additional funding from local, State and federal programs to expand affordable homeownership opportunities for first-time buyers.
• Due Date: 2024, annually thereafter 
• Status: (Ongoing) County staff are coordinating with Marin Housing Authority staff on funding opportunities for affordable homeownership.

Program 27: Community Land Trust

Program 27a: Support 

• Objective: Continue supporting the operation of CLTs.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Staff work with land trusts in Marin County on a regular basis with development projects. All land trusts in West Marin have received funding for rehabilitation, preservation and/or development projects and technical support in 2024. 

Program 27b: Additional CLTs 

• Objective: Subject to funding availability, establish additional CLTs in other CPAs.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Staff are working on a Countywide Land Trust scope to present in 2025.

Program 28: Affordable Housing Funding Sources

Program 28a: State and Federal Funds 

• Objective: Annually pursue additional funding from State and Federal housing programs.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing)
  • Measure W– The Measure W Community Housing Fund was approved by voters in 2018 to establish additional transient occupancy tax of 4% on short-term rentals in the Measure W Tax Area, largely composed of West Marin communities. In 2024, $934,119.67 funds were generated for community housing in the Measure W Tax Area, and $104,425.00 funds were invested towards projects, including a Production of Affordable Rental ADU ($100,000), and Housing Needs Study ($4,425).
  • PLHA (Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program)- In 2024, the County applied for and received its annual PLHA formula allocation from HCD of $622,026. The County committed funds to projects, including permanent supportive housing to support individuals exiting homelessness, rental housing serving households under 60% Area Median Income and affordable homeownership.
  • CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)– In 2024, the County of Marin approved $1,559,706 in annual entitlement funding received through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program to support the development and rehabilitation of 69 units spanning 5 affordable housing projects.
  • HOME – In 2024, the County of Marin approved $713,595.82 in annual entitlement funding received through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program to support 56 units spanning affordable housing projects. 
  • In September 2024, Staff submitted a competitive state Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) application of $2,605,263 to support a Housing Element site (Oak Hill Apartments project in unincorporated Larkspur).

Program 28b: Development 

• Objective: Facilitate the development of 300 affordable housing units (excluding 200 units projected from the Inclusionary Housing program).
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) See above, additionally some projects receive Housing Trust Fund dollars. In 2024 the Housing Trust Fund supported 134 units including 125 units for development in unincorporated Marin. 

Program 29: Place-Based Planning and Neighborhood Improvements

Program 29a: Planning Activities 

• Objective: In 2023, initiate planning activities and adopt the plan for Marin City by 2025.
• Due Date: December 2025 
• Status: (In Progress) Staff meet with the Marin City Community Services District staff on a regular basis. CDA, DPW and Parks staff coordinate on a regular basis about existing place-based projects, grant funding, and emerging future projects. Additionally, CDA staff are an active part of the Marin Climate Justice Collaborative, a collaboration between Canal Alliance and the Marin City Climate Resilience and Health Justice funded by the Strategic Growth Council. The final deliverable for this work includes place-based Vision Plans. Staff are coordinating with the Marin City Vision Plan team and they are expected to complete work this year. Additionally, staff continue to assist the Community Services District with a full Property Needs Assessment of the district buildings.

Program 29b: Funding 

• Objective: Annually prioritize CIP and pursue funding to implement planning and improvements in lower income neighborhoods.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) CDA, DPW, and Parks staff coordinate on neighborhood based improvement projects in lower income neighborhoods. Additionally, County staff hold coordination meetings focused on low income neighborhoods and topics include infrastructure, planning, disaster preparedness and public services.