Helpful Resources
New City programs, grant opportunities, marketing campaigns, and partnerships with regional professional organizations can help your business grow and thrive.
Downtown Parklet Licensing Program
The City now allows outdoor business use of parking stalls and tree wells in Downtown Novato through the new Parklet Program. Click here to review the program rules & regulations, as well as the Parklet Design Standards.
Living Streets Program
Visit, socialize, recreate, shop, eat and enjoy Downtown Novato in a safe, pedestrian environment in Old Town Novato on the first Friday of the month from May through September. For more info on schedules and parking options, click here.
Short-Term Rental Licensing Program
Residents can register their property with the City to rent their homes out as Short-Term Rentals through online sites such as Airbnb, VRBO, or other websites. For more information or to apply for a license, click here.
Downtown Business Improvement Grant Program
Matching grants are available for downtown businesses or property owners to support private investment in our downtown properties in order to enhance the physical appearance and commercial viability of our downtown. For more information, click here.
Commercial Cannabis Business Permits
The City regularly releases Requests for Proposals for entrepreneurs seeking to open a commercial cannabis non-storefront retail/delivery, manufacturing, distribution, cultivation, or testing laboratory in Novato. For more information, click here.
BizViz Business Visitation Program
The City’s Economic Development Advisory Commission conducts regular visits to existing Novato businesses to learn more about the strengths, resources, and challenges in order to help our local economy grow and expand. To learn more or schedule a visit, email econdev@novato.org.
Local Gift Card Program
Novato offers a local gift card – Novato Note$ – exclusively for Novato-based merchants. Click here to purchase a local gift card redeemable at any local participating stores, or to sign up as a new merchant.
We encourage you to take advantage of the services these organizations offer as you start, relocate or grow your business.
Downtown Novato Business Association
922 Machin Ave.
Novato, CA 94945
(415) 985-5374
info@downtownnovato.com
Marin County Small Business Development Center
1115 Third St., Suite 1
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 755-1100
ldelon@rencenter.org
Marin County Convention & Visitors Bureau
1 Mitchell Blvd., Suite B
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 925-2060
info@visitmarin.org
North Bay Leadership Council
775 Baywood Dr., Suite 101
Petaluma, CA 94954
(707) 283-0028
info@northbayleadership.org
Downtown Novato Community Farmers Market
Grant Ave between 1st St. and 4th St.
(415) 999-5635
info@communityfarmersmarkets.com
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin
P.O. Box #4423
San Rafael, CA 94913
(415) 721-9686
