Novato, CA Public Records
Novato is an incorporated city in Marin County with an estimated population of 52,311 (U.S. Census Bureau, July 2024 estimate) and 27.4 square miles of land. That is down about 899 residents since the 2020 Census base. It was incorporated on 1/20/1960, according to the city's California Roster entry.
🏢 Novato City Clerk
The city clerk keeps Novato's own official records: city council agendas and minutes, ordinances and resolutions, contracts, campaign and conflict-of-interest (Form 700) filings, and responses to California Public Records Act requests. In California, the city clerk does not issue birth, death or marriage certificates or record deeds; those come from the county offices below. The address and phone shown are those the city reported to the Secretary of State; ask for the clerk's office when you call.
🏢 Novato City Clerk
| City Clerk | Laura McDowall |
| City Hall address | 922 Machin Ave Novato, CA 94945 |
| City Hall phone | (415) 899-8900 |
| Office hours | 9-5 - Mon-Thurs and alternating Fridays |
| Official website | novato.gov |
| Source | 2026 California Roster, CA Secretary of State ↗ |
🏛️ County Courthouse & Records Office for Novato
Novato is in Marin County. Court cases are handled by the county's Superior Court, and birth, death and public marriage records and recorded property documents (deeds) are kept by the County Recorder.
📍 Marin County at a Glance
| County | Marin County |
| County population (2024 est.) | 256,400 Source: www2.census.gov ↗ |
⚖️ Hall of Justice (Superior Court of California, County of Marin)
| Address | 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 |
| Directions | Get directions ↗ |
| Phone | (415) 444-7000 |
| Hours | Not stated |
| Records available | Court case files: all case types (civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, traffic, juvenile) |
| About this listing | Court page not machine-readable; address/phone from the statewide California Courts directory. |
| Official website | marincourt.org |
| Sources | courts.ca.gov/…/find-my-court ↗ courts.ca.gov/…/find-your-court ↗ |
| Last verified | October 16, 2026 |
📜 Marin County Recorder
| Address | 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 234, San Rafael, CA 94903 |
| Directions | Get directions ↗ |
| Phone | (415) 473-6094 |
| Hours | Not stated |
| Records available | Certified copies of birth and death records (all years) and public marriage records; recorded property documents (deeds) |
| Good to know | Confidential marriage records are kept by the County Clerk. Birth and death records from the current and prior year are also available from the county health department (local registrar). |
| Official website | marincounty.org |
| Sources | cdph.ca.gov/…/county-registrars-and-recorders.aspx ↗ cdph.ca.gov/…/Obtaining-Vital-Records-From-County-Offi ↗ |
| Last verified | October 16, 2026 |
See the full Marin County records page →
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