County Buys Building To Combat Rising Lease Costs In Novato

NOVATO, CA — The Marin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the purchase an office building on Ignacio Boulevard, planning to move two departments there to achieve long-term financial savings, officials said.

Two Marin County departments and their staff will soon move from a longtime leased facility into a County-owned building, a shift intended to reduce escalating long-term leasing costs, according to a County announcement.

The supervisors approved the purchase of the 17,406-square-foot office building in southern Novato's Ignacio neighborhood.

The plan is to relocate the Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures and the Marin office of the University of California Cooperative Extension from their current 20-year home at 1682 Novato Blvd. in downtown Novato. The new location will be the commercial office building at 350 Ignacio Boulevard.

Several dozen County workers will ultimately work out of the new offices, the County noted. This includes 14 AWM staff members and 22 UCCE Marin staff members, which also features regional UCCE employees who serve neighboring counties. Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services is reportedly considering placement of some staff in the building to expand services within Novato.

The County paid $3 million for the building, which is situated near the intersection of Ignacio Boulevard and Alameda del Prado.

The Board initially authorized option agreements for the property in August 2025 and later approved notices of intent to purchase the property in December 2025, officials said.

With the lease at 1682 Novato Blvd. set to expire in October 2026, the County determined that continuing to lease the space was not practical over the long term, the staff reported.

In its staff report, the County said the current offices were overcrowded, outdated, and functionally obsolete. Proposals for expanding the space came with significant costs, officials stated. Landlord-proposed lease increases of 90 percent to 118 percent would have pushed total lease costs to more than $800,000 per year, according to the County.

Officials anticipate that ownership of 350 Ignacio Blvd. 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 acquisition, staff expect to occupy 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. Renovations will focus on creating functional, accessible workspaces that meet the needs of the departments serving the community, while minimizing disruption, officials said.

Once employees move in, phone numbers for AWM and UCCE Marin workers will remain the same as their office lines at 1682 Novato Blvd.