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Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary) in Novato

Novato's own rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Novato Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Novato's code says

Novato code What Novato's code adds
Fee instead of units
  • The City Council sets the amount by resolution.
    Applies: Applies to residential projects of 6 or fewer units, or a fractional affordable unit below 0.70.
    § 19.24.040 · code text
    The City Council shall, from time to time, adopt a resolution setting forth the amount of the fees.
  • An in-lieu fee may be paid instead of providing affordable units.
    Applies: Applies to residential projects of 6 or fewer units.
    § 19.24.040 · code text
    an in-lieu fee may be paid instead of providing affordable units in a residential project of six (6) or fewer units.
  • An in-lieu fee may be paid instead of providing an affordable unit.
    Applies: Applies when the fractional affordable-unit result is below 0.70.
    § 19.24.040 · code text
    if the number of affordable units results in a fractional unit below 0.70 an in-lieu fee may be paid instead of providing an affordable unit.
Projects it applies to
  • The rule applies to projects of 3 or more housing units.
    Applies: Projects of 3 to 6 housing units provide 10% affordable units or pay an in-lieu fee.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    3—6 Housing Units | 10%* or provide in-lieu fee (see Section 19.24.020 (A)
Share of affordable units
  • 10% of units must be affordable, or an in-lieu fee paid.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 3 to 6 housing units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    3—6 Housing Units | 10%* or provide in-lieu fee (see Section 19.24.020 (A)
  • 10% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 7 to 10 housing units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    7—10 Housing Units | 10%*
  • 11% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 11 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    11 Units | 11%
  • 12% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 12 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    12 Units | 12%
  • 13% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 13 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    13 Units | 13%
  • 14% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 14 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    14 Units | 14%
  • 15% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 15 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    15 Units | 15%
  • 16% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 16 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    16 Units | 16%
  • 17% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 17 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    17 Units | 17%
  • 18% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 18 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    18 Units | 18%
  • 19% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 19 units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    19 Units | 19%
  • 20% of units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 20 or more housing units.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    20 Units or more Housing Units | 20%
  • 50% of the required affordable units go to households earning not more than Low Income.
    Applies: Rental projects; rents based on 60% of area Median Income.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    A rental project shall include fifty percent (50%) of the required number of affordable units for rent to households earning not more than Low Income at monthly rents not to exceed 1/12 of 30% of the maximum annual income for households earning 60% of area Median Income, less a monthly utility allowance
  • 50% of the required affordable units go to households earning not more than Very Low Income.
    Applies: Rental projects; rents based on 50% of area Median Income.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    and 50% of the dwelling units for rent to households earning not more than Very Low Income at monthly rents not to exceed 1/12 of 30% of the maximum annual income for households earning 50% of area Median Income less a monthly utility allowance.
  • 50% of the required affordable units are sold to households earning not more than Moderate Income.
    Applies: Applies to ownership projects.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    An ownership project shall include fifty percent (50%) of the required number of affordable units for sale to households earning nor more than Moderate Income
  • 50% of the required affordable units are sold to households earning not more than Low Income.
    Applies: Applies to ownership projects.
    § 19.24.030 · code text
    and fifty percent (50%) of the required number of affordable units for sale to households earning not more than Low Income

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Does Novato require affordable units in new housing?

Novato's code: The City Council sets the amount by resolution. (Applies to residential projects of 6 or fewer units, or a fractional affordable unit below 0.70.) (§ 19.24.040); An in-lieu fee may be paid instead of providing affordable units. (Applies to residential projects of 6 or fewer units.) (§ 19.24.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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