Schools
The districts serving Novato, starting with the lookup that returns the assigned school for a street address. A boundary can run down the middle of one street, so let the district confirm it.
Novato property management & rental homes
Marin County's northernmost city, with its own SMART station and Highway 101 through the middle. Renting here puts you in Marin at prices closer to Sonoma County's.
Practical local guide
Living in Novato
Utilities & internet
Who bills water, sewer, and garbage here, plus broadband. PG&E delivers the power throughout our area; where a community energy provider supplies the generation instead, it appears on that same PG&E bill.
Getting around
The transit agencies serving Novato, plus regional trip planning for schedules, service alerts, and current conditions.
Renters insurance & move-in
California’s own guide to what a renters policy covers, and the state lookup for checking any insurer or broker before you buy.
Setting all of this up at once? Schools, utilities & moving in covers what to check before you apply and the order to do it in after your lease is signed.
Find your bearings
Novato on the map
A quick look at where Novato sits and how it is laid out.
Open in Google MapsGetting to know Novato
Novato is Marin County's northernmost city, a string of distinct neighborhoods along Highway 101 with three SMART rail stations of its own. Renting here puts you in Marin at prices closer to Sonoma County's, with the open space and commute access that draw people to the county in the first place.
Old Town & central Novato
The blocks around Grant Avenue hold the city's older homes and its downtown, near the Novato Downtown SMART station. Established streets, mature trees, and the maintenance realities of older housing stock.
Hamilton & the east side
Hamilton, the former airfield redeveloped into a master-planned neighborhood, has newer homes, parks, and its own SMART station. East of 101, Bel Marin Keys adds lagoon-front living.
San Marin & commuting
San Marin, in the city's northwest, is classic suburban Novato with its own SMART station. Highway 101 runs straight to San Rafael and San Francisco, and Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit buses cover the corridor.
The rest of the county is on our Marin County page.
Rental rules
The rules that apply in Novato
Novato adopted its own tenant protections in 2026, on top of California law. Our reference links the official sources.
Current availability
Rental homes in Novato
Browse current availability on our rentals page, straight from our own management system. Availability and pricing can change quickly.
Rental questions
Novato rental questions
Does Bundesen Property Management manage rental homes in Novato?
Yes. Novato is the center of our Marin County portfolio, managed from our Petaluma office just up Highway 101. The company has served the North Bay since 1963, operating under CA DRE license #01293583. Call 707-762-7777, Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30. Looking for a home? View all available rentals.
What rental laws apply in Novato?
Three layers: federal law, California law, and Novato's own tenant protection ordinance, adopted in 2026. Our Novato rental law page explains what the city added and links the official sources.
How do I apply for a Novato rental?
Every home on our rentals page has an apply link that goes to our AppFolio application. Questions first? Call our office at 707-762-7777, Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30, and ask about the home you are interested in. Applications are evaluated on the same written criteria for every applicant.
What should my Novato home rent for?
Current asking rents are shown with each home on our rentals page. A licensed manager will price your specific home from what our own portfolio actually leases for, not an algorithm's estimate, and tell you exactly what we charge. Start with a free rental analysis.
Reviewed August 18, 2026
For rental owners
Own a rental in Novato?
A licensed local manager can price your home from current portfolio evidence and explain the service options that fit it.