Marin · Woodacre · For Sale

Vacant Land in Woodacre, West Marin · APN 172-201-21

A 20,703 square foot parcel in the San Geronimo Valley, offered at $325,000.

Key features at a glance

• Approximately 20,703 square feet (0.47 acres) per Marin County tax records
• Vacant residential land use designation per county records (buyer to verify)
• Located in Woodacre, within the San Geronimo Valley of West Marin
• Access via the Carson Road area
• Within an established residential pocket, low-density character typical of Woodacre
• Public utilities present in the surrounding area; specific connections at the lot, septic, and water remain buyer-verification items
• Walking and driving distance to West Marin open space and trail systems
• Within the Lagunitas Union School District (buyer to confirm school assignment)
• Approximately 10 minutes to downtown Fairfax, 15 minutes to San Anselmo, with central Marin a short drive beyond

About this lot: a build-your-own-home opportunity in West Marin

Half-acre residential parcels in this part of West Marin are uncommon enough to be worth a careful look. At a list price of $325,000, this is positioned as the kind of opportunity a buyer who wants to design and build their own home in the San Geronimo Valley would investigate, with the understanding that everything past "the land is available" is something to verify with the right professionals before writing an offer.

Here is the honest framing: West Marin land is rarely as simple as a flat suburban lot. Slope, septic feasibility, water availability, county permitting posture, environmental review, and neighborhood context all factor into what can actually be built and how long it takes. Some West Marin lots are reasonably straightforward; others come with constraints that take real time and money to work through. This parcel sits in a residential pocket, which is generally a constructive starting point, but the path from "owned" to "occupied" depends on diligence the buyer needs to lead.

For the right buyer with patience, a clear vision, and a willingness to navigate the West Marin permit process, parcels like this one are how custom-built homes in the San Geronimo Valley start.

Living in Woodacre, honestly

Woodacre is one of four small communities that share the San Geronimo Valley, along with Lagunitas, Forest Knolls, and San Geronimo proper. The valley sits along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, west of Fairfax and east of the coast, and the character is unmistakably West Marin: redwoods, creeks, hillsides of oak and bay, low building density, and a slower rhythm than the rest of the county.

The outdoor access from Woodacre is the headline. Roy's Redwoods Open Space Preserve sits at the western edge of the valley, with old-growth redwoods accessible on a short loop trail. Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve runs along the ridge between the San Geronimo Valley and Lucas Valley, with miles of fire roads and singletrack. Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve, technically in Fairfax but minutes from Woodacre, offers another full network of trails. These are not weekend-destination trails for valley residents. They are the trails you walk before breakfast.

The trade-offs of valley living are real and worth understanding. Cell coverage is uneven. Cooler microclimates and tree cover mean less solar gain than central Marin. Wildfire awareness is a part of daily life: defensible space, evacuation planning, and PG&E public safety power shutoffs during high-risk wind events. Commute times to San Francisco are longer than from San Anselmo or Mill Valley, particularly during peak traffic on Sir Francis Drake. None of these are deal-breakers for the buyers who choose the valley; they are simply part of the package.

The Lagunitas Union School District is small and locally known for its alternative-education tracks: the Open Classroom multi-age program and other tracks that draw households who want something different from a standard suburban district. The district serves the valley communities through eighth grade; high-school students typically attend Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo. (School assignment policies change; buyer to verify current details with the district directly.)

For everyday errands, downtown Fairfax is roughly ten minutes east on Sir Francis Drake, with grocery stores, restaurants, and the kind of village commercial corridor that defines central Marin. San Anselmo, with a broader downtown and additional services, is another five minutes beyond that. The Marin market hub covers the broader Marin picture if you are weighing this valley against other parts of the county.

What to verify before writing an offer

A vacant lot is a different transaction from a finished home, and the diligence list is meaningfully longer. The items worth working through with the right professionals before you commit:

• Slope and topography. The site survey, contour lines, and a walkthrough with a civil engineer or experienced builder will tell you what a foundation actually requires
• Septic feasibility. Most of Woodacre is on septic, not municipal sewer. A percolation test (or review of any existing perc test on file) is essential. Some parcels perc easily; others require engineered systems that change the project's cost profile substantially
• Water service. Marin Municipal Water District serves much of the area, but verifying the specific service connection, meter availability, and any current restrictions is a buyer item
• Utility connections at the lot. Electric (PG&E), gas service (if applicable), and any required undergrounding or trenching from the road
• Zoning and permitted use. Confirm the current Marin County zoning code applicable to this parcel, the specific permitted uses, and any overlays (creek setback, ridgeline, oak preservation, fire-hazard severity zone)
• Environmental and biological review. Depending on the lot's specific features (creek, mature trees, sensitive habitat), the county may require CEQA-level review or specific biological assessments before permits issue
• Title and easements. A full preliminary title report, including any recorded easements, encroachments, or restrictions running with the parcel
• Realistic timeline. Permit timelines in unincorporated Marin are typically measured in many months, sometimes years for full custom builds. Plan accordingly

A good buyer's agent on land transactions has working relationships with the civil engineers, septic designers, and land-use professionals who can scope these questions quickly. Most of this diligence is best done before you go into contract, or with appropriate contingencies if you go in earlier.

Property details

Frequently asked questions

Interested in this Woodacre parcel?

Reach out for the parcel map, the preliminary title information, and a conversation about what diligence makes sense before writing an offer. No pressure, no commitment, just a clear read on what owning land in the San Geronimo Valley actually involves.

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