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Arts & Culture

With a mix of architectural gems, a historic art deco theater, a Shakespeare company, an art center and a Spanish mission, you'll find plenty of ways to get cultured, even without a dress code. San Rafael has been selected as one of California’s premier state-designated arts and culture districts. San Rafael joins 13 other districts in a...

Getting Around in San Rafael

We are lucky to have miles of beautiful streets and trails, places to take in some beautiful views, numerous transit stops and endless room to explore. Whether you choose to take the bus, travel by car or walk about the City, we're here to help you reach your destination. Public Transit Marin County offers local,...

What is the sales tax in the city?

Effective 10/1/2022, the current sales tax rate in San Rafael is 9.25%.  Check out the break down:   State General Fund 3.94% County Health and Safety 1.56% City of San Rafael 1.00% San Rafael Transactions and Use Tax - 3/31/2034* 0.75% Measure R - 4/1/2021 - 3/31/2030 0.25% Marin County Measure A (Parks and Open...

How are speed limits set?

The following speed limits are established by State law and do not need to be posted in order to be enforced: 25 MPH speed limit in business and residential districts 25 MPH in school zones when children are present 15 MPH speed limit in alleys; at intersections and railroad crossings where visibility is limited and...

How do I find out about delinquent property tax?

If you would like to find out if there are delinquent property taxes associated with your property you can look up your parcel number through Marin Map and then search for your property tax bills online. If you find that your property taxes are delinquent, you can pay them  online or by phone at 1-800-985-7277.

People are speeding in my neighborhood. How can I get them to slow down?

At the neighborhood and community level, outreach and education between neighbors can be helpful in increasing traffic safety, particularly in reducing speeding. Most tickets and crashes take place close to home, and many speeders live in the neighborhoods in which they are speeding. Education campaigns can include presentations to community groups, door-to-door visits, stickers and...

What causes traffic in San Rafael?

Traffic results for many reasons. One of the reasons for increased traffic in San Rafael is the current upswing in the economy (more people are working and shopping). Another is increased construction activity (both public and private). We upgraded all of our signals so they can communicate with the SMART train (so when the train...

How do I get around the city?

We have lots of great local bus routes provided by Marin Transit. Golden Gate Transit also provides regional bus service to San Francisco, the East Bay, and Sonoma County. San Rafael is also connected to the North Bay 101 corridor by the SMART Train. You can conveniently pay for all types of Bay Area transit...

Our first look at analytics

Understanding our current site analytics is a piece of our new content strategy. Although they don’t tell the whole story, they provide insight on what people are looking to do on the current site and how they are getting there. Over the past year, our site had almost 371,382 unique page views and 56.4% exited...

A Scorecard for Public Engagement

If you're a local-government manager or elected official, by now you've probably heard a fair amount about the need for better citizen engagement in government decision-making. You may even have your own success stories about times your city or agency made a special effort to involve community members in policies that affect them. And you...

An Update on Ritter Relocation

by Andrew Hening, Director of Homeless Planning & Outreach Celebrating Ongoing Partnership As a quick refresher, Ritter Center has been looking for a new site for over three years, and in March, the City Council established a subcommittee comprised of Mayor Phillips, Councilmember Gamblin, and City staff to help intensify the search efforts.  At the...

Done/Doing (#3)

Here's an update of what we've done and what we're doing next to better serve San Rafael. Done Created design subcommittee to work with local design firm on color palette, image gallery, iconography, typography, and overall look & feel. Identified workflow and process issues to solve with online forms and new digital services, such as...

Do I need an encroachment permit?

Encroachment permits are required if you plan to do any construction work in the public right-of-way. Meaning, any work in the sidewalk area, in an easement, on city owned property (median islands, parks, city facilities) or in the street. Common reasons you'll need one: Utility saw-cuts Excavation News stands Bicycle racks Sidewalk dining Debris boxes...

What can I do if I'm bothered by someone smoking?

If you feel comfortable, you can ask the person smoking to stop and let them know it’s against the law in San Rafael (if they are smoking in a place where it’s not allowed). If you live in a housing unit that shares a wall with another, you can contact your landlord, property owner, or...

Who handles enforcement of San Rafael’s smoking laws?

Landlords and property owners are required to enforce housing related smoking laws through lease agreements. The County of Marin’s Health and Human Services assists with enforcement. You can reach them at (415) 473-3020. Outdoor smoking laws are trickier to enforce. Although police officers have the ability to issue warnings and citations, they are typically engaged...

How do I find out if my apartment complex has a no smoking policy?

San Rafael law prohibits smoking in all apartment and condo complexes (if your home shares a wall with another home - you can’t smoke there). A housing complex is only allowed to create outdoor smoking areas if they meet certain criteria. Landlords and property managers are required to enforce this law through lease agreements. For...

Where is smoking prohibited in San Rafael?

Smoking is prohibited in all of Downtown San Rafael, our parks and open space, and within any housing that shares a wall with another unit (apartments, condos and duplexes). More information can be found at www.cityofsanrafael.org/smokefree and www.smokefreemarin.com.

Who comes to my house when I call 9-1-1?

If the call is about a fire or a medical emergency, firefighter paramedics are the first responders to your home when you call 9-1-1. Since fire stations are located in neighborhoods throughout the City, the firefighter paramedics can reach your home quickly. If you need to go to the hospital, we'll get you there.  If...

What is the paramedic tax and how do I pay it?

Residents and businesses located within San Rafael, Marinwood and unincorporated county islands within San Rafael pay a tax for emergency medical services (EMS) as a part of their property tax bill. The tax helps fund emergency medical services including ambulances and paramedics at San Rafael Fire Stations. Residents of San Rafael and partnering jurisdictions are...

San Rafael Plans Digital Transformation

This month San Rafael, Calif., has released a beta site along with a new strategy to modernize its digital presence. The Bay Area city just north of San Francisco plans to revitalize its outreach and citizen services with a number of digital upgrades. Read full article on techwire.net...

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