Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – Two County of Marin departments and their employees will soon relocate from a long-time leased location into a County-owned building to reduce long-term leasing costs.
On February 10, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a 17,406-square-foot office building in the Ignacio neighborhood of southern Novato. The plan is to relocate the Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures (AWM) and the Marin office of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) from their 20-year home at 1682 Novato Boulevard in the downtown Novato area to the commercial office building at 350 Ignacio Boulevard.
Several dozen County workers ultimately will work out of the offices at 350 Ignacio Boulevard. There are 14 AWM staff members and 22 UCCE Marin staff members, including regional UCCE employees who also serve neighboring counties. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering placement of some staff in the building to expand services within Novato.
The County paid $3 million for the building, which is located near the intersection of Ignacio Boulevard and Alameda del Prado. The Board first authorized option agreements for the property in August 2025 and later approved notices of intent to purchase the property in December 2025. The County will work with NCP Commercial II, LLC, and JAJ Real Estate Holdings, LLC, to finalize the purchase.
With the lease at 1682 Novato Boulevard set to expire in October 2026, the County determined that continuing to lease the space was not practical over the long term. In its staff report, the County said the offices were overcrowded, outdated, and functionally obsolete. Proposals to expand the space came with significant costs. Landlord-proposed lease increases of 90% to 118% would have pushed total lease costs to more than $800,000 per year.
Ownership of 350 Ignacio Boulevard is expected to provide long-term cost stability and financial predictability. Based on current analysis, the County anticipates reaching a cost break-even point within 10 years, after which continued use of the building will result in substantial savings compared to leasing.
Following the County’s acquisition, staff anticipates occupying the building after interior improvements are completed to ensure the space effectively supports public-facing services and day-to-day operations. The work is expected to take place over the coming months, with occupancy anticipated during late fall. The renovations will focus on creating functional, accessible workspaces that meet the needs of the departments serving the community, while minimizing disruption.
Once employees move in, phone numbers for AWM and UCCE Marin workers will remain the same as their office lines at 1682 Novato Boulevard.