9,660 permits from 1,596 contractors across 15 kinds of work in unincorporated Marin County, October 2023 through September 2026: about 3,220 a year. Roofing is the biggest trade with 1,943 permits. The busiest month for filings is October.
Firms are distinct business names on the file. A linked usual filed value opens what that work costs. Finished is the share of permits a year or more old that the county closed out. Days to finish run from issue to the county's completion date, not from application.
| Trade | Permits | Firms | Active last 12 mo | Usual filed value | Finished | Days to finish | Busiest month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing | 1,943 | 300 | 164 | $20,421 | 85.2% | 58 | August |
| HVAC | 1,640 | 131 | 63 | $13,261 | 74.8% | 96 | December |
| Electrical | 1,464 | 315 | 167 | $4,000 | 67.7% | 124 | January |
| Solar & Battery | 1,339 | 199 | 70 | $29,222 | — | — | October |
| Kitchen, Bath & Remodel | 640 | 379 | 129 | $45,000 | 86.6% | 272 | January |
| Windows & Doors | 488 | 110 | 44 | $12,214 | 88.3% | 94 | July |
| Water Heater | 470 | 73 | 28 | $4,200 | 71.5% | 56 | January |
| Plumbing & Gas | 460 | 94 | 62 | $4,858 | 62.4% | 53 | September |
| Foundation & Retaining Wall | 248 | 107 | 39 | $35,000 | 65.8% | 431 | January |
| EV Charger | 213 | 68 | 41 | $2,296 | 68.2% | 64 | October |
| Siding & Stucco | 204 | 90 | 46 | $25,498 | 91.3% | 119 | August |
| Pool & Spa | 155 | 82 | 31 | $70,000 | 68.7% | 466 | October |
| Decks & Stairs | 151 | 84 | 26 | $50,000 | 74.9% | 335 | August |
| Addition | 134 | 119 | 20 | $250,000 | — | 701 | March |
| ADU | 111 | 99 | 37 | $205,000 | — | 555 | April |
The file we publish splits exactly into the last 12 months on file and the 24 months before them, so these are 12-month periods ending September 2026, not calendar years. Per year scales each period to 12 months. Counts cover the 15 kinds of home work we track, not every permit Marin County (unincorporated) issues.
| Period | Months | Permits | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2023–Sep 2025 | 24 | 6,704 | 3,352 |
| Oct 2025–Sep 2026 (last 12 months) | 12 | 2,956 | 2,956 |
Share of filings by month, 100 = an average month (the thin line). The 6 biggest trades, October 2023 through September 2026. A tall bar is a busy month at the permit counter, which usually means a longer wait for a contractor.
1,943 permits · busiest August, quietest December
1,640 permits · busiest December, quietest August
1,464 permits · busiest January, quietest August
1,339 permits · busiest October, quietest June
640 permits · busiest January, quietest August
488 permits · busiest July, quietest January
| Trade | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing | 75 | 69 | 95 | 120 | 117 | 104 | 123 | 125 | 124 | 120 | 74 | 54 |
| HVAC | 109 | 98 | 88 | 113 | 87 | 89 | 89 | 77 | 95 | 108 | 114 | 132 |
| Electrical | 150 | 126 | 87 | 96 | 98 | 88 | 89 | 73 | 86 | 97 | 90 | 120 |
| Solar & Battery | 106 | 71 | 70 | 90 | 72 | 69 | 87 | 103 | 120 | 182 | 131 | 100 |
| Kitchen, Bath & Remodel | 118 | 84 | 94 | 111 | 94 | 101 | 111 | 73 | 96 | 112 | 101 | 105 |
| Windows & Doors | 79 | 101 | 84 | 96 | 79 | 86 | 145 | 101 | 111 | 113 | 120 | 86 |
For each trade, the month with the most permit filings and the month with the fewest, October 2023 through September 2026. Trades do not all peak together, so the busy season depends on the job. Busiest is not the same as best: these are counts of filings, not prices or weather, though a quiet month at the permit counter can mean contractors have more room in the schedule.
August: Marin County (unincorporated) roofing permits peak in August (125 against an average month of 100, about 10% of a year's filings); December is the quietest (54). That is from 1,943 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule roofing work, December has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 58 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month. See the roofing chart →
December: Marin County (unincorporated) HVAC permits peak in December (132 against an average month of 100, about 11% of a year's filings); August is the quietest (77). That is from 1,640 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule HVAC work, August has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 96 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month. See the HVAC chart →
January: Marin County (unincorporated) electrical permits peak in January (150 against an average month of 100, about 12% of a year's filings); August is the quietest (73). That is from 1,464 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule electrical work, August has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 124 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month. See the electrical chart →
October: Marin County (unincorporated) solar & battery permits peak in October (182 against an average month of 100, about 15% of a year's filings); June is the quietest (69). That is from 1,339 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule solar installation, June has the fewest filings. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month. See the solar & battery chart →
January: Marin County (unincorporated) kitchen, bath & remodel permits peak in January (118 against an average month of 100, about 10% of a year's filings); August is the quietest (73). That is from 640 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule a home remodel, August has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 272 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month. See the kitchen, bath & remodel chart →
July: Marin County (unincorporated) windows & doors permits peak in July (145 against an average month of 100, about 12% of a year's filings); January is the quietest (79). That is from 488 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule window replacement, January has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 94 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month. See the windows & doors chart →
January: Marin County (unincorporated) water heater permits peak in January (140 against an average month of 100, about 12% of a year's filings); July is the quietest (72). That is from 470 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule water heater replacement, July has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 56 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
September: Marin County (unincorporated) plumbing & gas permits peak in September (144 against an average month of 100, about 12% of a year's filings); December is the quietest (42). That is from 460 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule plumbing work, December has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 53 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
January: Marin County (unincorporated) foundation & retaining wall permits peak in January (189 against an average month of 100, about 16% of a year's filings); December is the quietest (48). That is from 248 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule foundation work, December has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 431 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
October: Marin County (unincorporated) EV charger permits peak in October (158 against an average month of 100, about 13% of a year's filings); February is the quietest (56). That is from 213 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule EV charger installation, February has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 64 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
August: Marin County (unincorporated) siding & stucco permits peak in August (353 against an average month of 100, about 29% of a year's filings); November is the quietest (29). That is from 204 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule siding work, November has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 119 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
October: Marin County (unincorporated) pool & spa permits peak in October (163 against an average month of 100, about 14% of a year's filings); March is the quietest (70). That is from 155 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule a pool build, March has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 466 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
August: Marin County (unincorporated) decks & stairs permits peak in August (175 against an average month of 100, about 15% of a year's filings); February is the quietest (40). That is from 151 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule a deck build, February has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 335 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
March: Marin County (unincorporated) addition permits peak in March (143 against an average month of 100, about 12% of a year's filings); July is the quietest (36). That is from 134 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule a home addition, July has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 701 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
April: Marin County (unincorporated) ADU permits peak in April (173 against an average month of 100, about 14% of a year's filings); February is the quietest (32). That is from 111 permits, October 2023 through September 2026. If you can choose when to schedule ADU construction, February has the fewest filings; the usual permit then takes 555 days from issue to sign-off. Busiest is not the same as best: this counts filings, not prices or weather, and we have no prices by month.
Top 10 by permits pulled in the last 12 months, all trades. This is volume, not quality: a busy firm is not a careful one. Pick what you value on the compare page to build a ranking.
| Contractor | Trades | Last 12 mo | All permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernest Ongaro & Sons Inc | HVAC, Electrical, Solar & Battery, Kitchen, Bath & Remodel, Water Heater, Plumbing & Gas, EV Charger | 178 | 611 |
| Divine Electric Inc | HVAC, Electrical, Solar & Battery, Kitchen, Bath & Remodel, Water Heater, Plumbing & Gas, EV Charger | 161 | 341 |
| Talley Electric Service | Electrical, Solar & Battery, Kitchen, Bath & Remodel | 104 | 116 |
| Peter Levi Plumbing Inc | HVAC, Kitchen, Bath & Remodel, Water Heater, Plumbing & Gas | 98 | 337 |
| Capstone Roofing Inc | Roofing | 84 | 244 |
| Jemico LLC | Kitchen, Bath & Remodel, Windows & Doors | 81 | 233 |
| Bellows Plumbing Heating & Air Inc | HVAC, Electrical, Kitchen, Bath & Remodel, Water Heater, Plumbing & Gas, Decks & Stairs | 65 | 183 |
| Apollo Building and Roofing Group Inc | Roofing | 44 | 85 |
| Wedge Roofing Inc | Roofing, Solar & Battery | 43 | 157 |
| Moore Services Holdings LLC | HVAC, Kitchen, Bath & Remodel, Water Heater, Plumbing & Gas | 41 | 114 |
Each permit counted at its property's ZIP code, October 2023 through September 2026, for the 15 kinds of home work we track. The 10 busiest of 17 ZIP codes with 100 or more permits; each opens permits by trade and the most active contractors there.
| ZIP code | Permits | Share | Top trade | Usual home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94941 | 2,402 | 25% | Roofing | $1,269,000 |
| 94903 | 1,987 | 21% | Electrical | $820,000 |
| 94904 | 1,431 | 15% | HVAC | $1,827,000 |
| 94960 | 540 | 6% | Roofing | $1,419,000 |
| 94949 | 436 | 5% | Roofing | $804,000 |
| 94965 | 338 | 3% | Electrical | $966,000 |
| 94947 | 315 | 3% | Roofing | $981,000 |
| 94945 | 259 | 3% | Solar & Battery | $998,000 |
| 94901 | 245 | 3% | Roofing | $1,256,000 |
| 94970 | 202 | 2% | Solar & Battery | $1,777,000 |
Source: Marin County Community Development Agency building permits on homes in unincorporated Marin (the County's open-data permit and inspection files). The window is October 2023 through September 2026; a permit filed after that isn't here yet.
A filed value is what the contractor wrote on the permit when they applied. It is not a quote and not the final bill.
Counts are permits, not jobs: one job can need several permits, and one permit can cover several visits. 88.0% of the 1,596 firms on the file match an active license at the California CSLB license master file, using the license number typed on the permit when it fits the firm, otherwise matched by business name; the match goes by name and can miss one.
Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can. How the records work in Marin County (unincorporated) →
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