Gutters and Roofing for Corte Madera
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Corte Madera, in short
Can I use copper gutters in Corte Madera?
The Town’s roofing guide lists “Copper rain gutters and/or downspouts are not allowed.” under its heading “NOT ALLOWED”. The guide calls itself “general and intended as a guide only”, so ask the Town’s Building Division about your roof.
The story of Corte Madera
Corte Madera, the Marin County town whose General Plan says “The physical forms of the Town offer interesting contrasts, from extensive marsh and tidal lands along San Francisco Bay to hillsides that provide gateways to Mount Tamalpais and regional open spaces of Marin County.”
The Town’s General Plan (2009) says “The Town provides a mixture of housing types, styles and densities. While the majority of housing in Corte Madera was built in the 1950s and 1960s, some of the oldest homes were built in the late 1800s, and new homes continue to be built today.”
The County of Marin’s Flood Control District says “Native Americans have called Marin County home for more than 10,000 years before the arrival of European colonists,” and that “Marin County is within the traditional territory of the Coast Miwok.”
The Corte Madera Memories history site, a volunteer site set up for the 2016 centennial, says “Most local residents know that ‘Corte Madera’ means ‘Cut Wood’ or ‘Cord Wood,'” It says “The Spanish soldiers called the place Arroyo Corte Madera, meaning the stream where cord wood is found.” How the name “became attached to our locale is a bit of a mystery”, it says.
The history site says “Many homesteaders started dairy ranches on the grassy hillsides and meadows within the boundaries of Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio.”
Of the hill that became Christmas Tree Hill, the history site says “Soon, campers, artists, and others escaping the City came to inhabit tent cabins and bungalows on the Hill, particularly after the 1906 earthquake.”
The Town’s General Plan says “In 1916 the citizens of Corte Madera voted in favor of incorporation.”
The history site says “As early as the ’20s, street lamps on the Hill were changed out at Christmas time with colorful bulbs, and people all over town began to recognize the shape of a Christmas tree made by the zig-zag streets of the Hill.” It says that from then on “the neighborhood has been officially known as Christmas Tree Hill”.
The history site says “Originally called Railroad Square, the area around the train station took on the name Village Square after the trains stopped running in 1941.” It says the name changed again when a developer named a new shopping center The Village: “local officials decided to change the name of the historic area to Old Corte Madera Square.”
The history site says “Within seven years after the end of World War II, the landscape of Corte Madera had been massively changed, as all of the marshlands west of the highway were filled in by quarrying the surrounding hillsides.”
The history site says that in 1975, “when a developer submitted an application to carve up 58 acres on Corte Madera Ridge into sites for 32 homes, local conservationists launched a grassroots effort to purchase the property for permanent public open space.”
The Town’s Archive and History Center page says the center’s foundation “was laid in 1976” when a resident began collecting photographs and conducting oral history interviews.
Fire safety
Leaves and needles on roofs and gutters
The fire department’s page prints a section of the Town’s fire code, “Fire Hazard Reduction”, for owners “within specific Wildland-Urban Interface areas”. One of its items reads “Clean any leaves and needles from roof and gutters.” The page prints the text without an ordinance number or date, so ask the department which parts apply to your home.
Department page undated, read Nov 6 2026
The free home-hardening inspection
The department’s Inspections page says “This free program identifies specific steps that homeowners can take to reduce vegetation hazards and harden structures against ember intrusion, radiant heat, and direct flame contact.” It says inspections “focus on all zones of defensible space-including Zone 0 (0-5 feet from structures), where ignition risk is highest” and “assess home hardening features like vents, roofing, decks, and fencing”. It adds “You’ll also see which issues are required by law and which are recommended best practices.” The page also says “Inspections can not be individually scheduled due to the volume of properties we must inspect by law.”
Department page undated, read Nov 6 2026
See 2 more
The fire chief’s questions for homeowners
The fire chief’s handout on the Town’s site asks “Do I have dry leaves, needles or branches on my roof or in my rain gutters?” It is a list of questions, not a rule, and the handout is undated.
Town handout undated, read Nov 6 2026
The State’s Zone 0 rule: where it stands
The State’s rule for the first five feet around a home, called Zone 0: adopted by the Board; in final review with the Office of Administrative Law; no effective date known.
Standing check of Nov 7 2026
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Corte Madera this month
Storm season: the Town’s sandbag page lists free sandbags at Fire Station #14 and, in winter months only, at the Paradise Drive parking lot at San Clemente Park (“Open for the season as of 10/1/2026”).
The Corte Madera blog starts when there is enough local news to keep it current.
Culture and history
Town parks
The Town’s park map page lists Corte Madera Town Park, The Cove Park, Granada Park, Skunk Hollow Mini-Park and Menke Park. The Town’s Parks & Recreation page gives “Town Park Hours (Mon-Sun 6am to 10pm)”.
Town pages read Nov 6 2026
Open space around the town
The Town’s General Plan says “Corte Madera is bordered on three sides by open space areas that weave into the Town as ridges, creeks, and wetlands.” It adds “Mount Tamalpais lies immediately west of the Town.”
General Plan chapters of April 2009, read Nov 6 2026
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Oktoberfest
The Corte Madera Memories history site, a volunteer site set up for the 2016 centennial, calls Oktoberfest “THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER FOR OUR TOWN’S BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE” and puts it on the “2nd SATURDAY EVERY OCTOBER”. Check the Committee’s own page for the next date.
History-site page undated; Committee page read Nov 6 2026
The Fourth of July parade
The Corte Madera Memories history site says a July 4th parade through Larkspur and Corte Madera “was revived in 1966, when Corte Madera celebrated its 50th anniversary”, and that it has been held every year since. The Corte Madera Town Band, which marched in 1996, says “we have been in every 4th of July Parade since then”. No 2026 event page was read, so check this year’s parade.
History-site and Band pages undated, read Nov 6 2026
How Christmas Tree Hill got its name
The history site says street lamps on the Hill “were changed out at Christmas time with colorful bulbs” in the 1920s. More in The story of Corte Madera, below.
History-site page undated, read Nov 6 2026
How the Town began
The Town’s General Plan says “In 1916 the citizens of Corte Madera voted in favor of incorporation.” More in The story of Corte Madera, below.
General Plan chapter of April 2009, read Nov 6 2026
Old Corte Madera Square
The history site says the area around the train station was “Originally called Railroad Square”. More in The story of Corte Madera, below.
History-site page undated, read Nov 6 2026
Community
Corte Madera Community Foundation
The Foundation’s page gives its mission: “To improve the quality of life in Corte Madera through our projects, programs, and grants to local organizations.” It says it was “Established in 1994 as a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization.” Its concert page speaks of a “long standing tradition of sponsoring music for the community”.
Foundation pages undated, read Nov 6 2026
Corte Madera Beautification Committee
The Committee’s site calls it “an all-volunteer organization established in 1993”. It says its hanging baskets “can be seen throughout the Town from May through December”.
Committee pages undated, read Nov 6 2026
See 3 more
Corte Madera Town Band
The Band’s site calls it “a volunteer organization made of folks with a passion for playing music” and says “There are about 40 musicians”.
Band site undated, read Nov 6 2026
Archive and History Center
The Town’s page for the Archive and History Center carries the line “Small Town. Big Stories.” It describes “the vast library of photographs, artifacts, and interviews with longtime residents that have been collected over many years.” The Town’s History Group page lists “When: First Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM” at the Corte Madera Community Center, so check it before you go.
Town pages undated, read Nov 6 2026
Neighborhood Response Groups
The Town’s Neighborhood Response Program page speaks of “more than 40 Neighborhood Response Groups” in Corte Madera, Larkspur and the Greenbrae Hills. The Town-sponsored network at nrgmarin.org lists 17 group areas under Corte Madera.
Town page and network site undated, read Nov 6 2026
City rules and regulations
Re-roofs and the Town’s permit
The Town’s Submittal Requirements page says “Residential reroof permits and residential resale reports are issued automatically by creating an account and completing an application in the online portal.” The Town’s adopted fee schedule has a line “Re-Roof – Residential (without calculations)”; check the Town’s fee page for the current fee.
Town pages read Nov 6 2026; the fee schedule is the one adopted for fiscal 2025-26
Who can pull a re-roof permit
The Town’s Submittal Requirements page says “Owner-Builder permits cannot be issued for Reroofs, Electrical Permits or Commercial Building Permits”.
Town page read Nov 6 2026
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Gutters and downspouts in the Town’s roofing guide
The Town’s roofing guide lists “Copper rain gutters and/or downspouts are not allowed.” and “Buildings with eave overhangs cannot collect or direct water over adjacent properties (must install gutters)”. For the final inspection it says “If gutters and rain leaders existed prior to the installation of roofing, they must be installed at the time of the inspection with splash blocks in place.” The guide says it is “general and intended as a guide only”. Its header lists the 2022 codes, and the Town’s code page says plans submitted from January 1, 2026 follow the 2025 codes, so ask the Town whether a rule has changed.
Town guide (file name dated June 4, 2024), read Nov 6 2026
Roof water and the sanitary sewer
Sanitary District No. 2’s Outdoor Drainage page says “Rainwater and stormwater may not be discharged into the Sanitary District No. 2 (SD2) sanitary sewer system.” The page lists “Roofs and gutters” among the drainage this covers. The District’s page on protecting the sewer system during storms says “Never direct roof downspouts, yard drains, or sump pump discharges into the sanitary sewer.”
District pages on the Town’s site, read Nov 6 2026
Re-roof inspections
The Town’s Inspections page says “All Inspections are scheduled online”. The roofing guide lists the re-roof stages “TEAR OFF (802)”, “SHEATHING/ROOF NAILING (803)”, “IN-PROGRESS (805)” and “FINAL (808)”.
Town page and guide read Nov 6 2026
Trees that need no permit
The Town’s Tree Permit form lists exemptions, the first being “Trees with a single trunk circumference less than fifty inches (or multistemmed trees having an aggregate circumference of less than one hundred twenty inches), measured four and one-half feet above grade”. The Town’s sidewalk brochure says “Before you remove a tree, you must contact the Planning Division of the Department of Community Development to determine whether a Tree Permit is required.”
Town form and brochure undated, read Nov 6 2026
The Town’s list of undesirable species
The same form exempts what it calls “Undesirable species”: blue gum, sugar gum and manna gum eucalyptus, black and green wattle acacia, Monterey pine, juniper and Lombardy poplar. It adds that “inspection of the tree and its confirmation as being an undesirable species by an Arborist are required prior to removal.”
Town form undated, read Nov 6 2026
Chimney spark arrester
The roofing guide asks for a spark arrester on a solid-fuel chimney when the roof is replaced, altered or repaired: “All chimneys attached to any appliance or fireplace that burns solid fuel/wood burning shall be equipped with an approved spark arrester.”
Town guide (file name dated June 4, 2024), read Nov 6 2026
Old roofing and recycling
The roofing guide says “Remember to dispose of old roofs at an approved local recycling center to achieve C&D requirements.” The Town’s forms page lists a “Construction and Demolition Recycling Form”.
Town guide and forms page read Nov 6 2026
Copper on a roof
The Town’s rooftop-equipment handout says “Copper roofing materials shall not be permitted for use on any residential, commercial or industrial building. Most historic structures are exempt provided the material used is pre-patinated at the factory.”
Town handout undated, read Nov 6 2026
When you buy or sell The Town’s report before a sale
The Town’s form says “Prior to the sale or exchange of any residential building or residential site in the Town, the owner or his authorized agent shall obtain from the Town a Report of Residential Building Record showing the regularly authorized use, occupancy and zoning classifications of such property and all other pertinent information relating thereto.” It says “the owner or his authorized agent shall deliver this report to the buyer or transferee prior to the consummation of sale.” The form adds “Turnaround time on Residential Building Record reports is approximately 10 business days.” It is a building-records report from the Town, not a fire inspection. The Town’s fee schedule lists it as “Residential Building Record (Resale Report)”; check the Town’s fee page for the fee.
Town form and fee schedule read Nov 6 2026
Need a hand with this? Roofing
Storms, flood and drainage
Clear gutters, downspouts and street drains
The Town’s flood-preparedness page asks owners to “Clear gutters, downspouts, and street drains.” It also asks you to “Avoid landscaping materials like bark and mulch that can float away and block storm drains.” The same page asks you to “Ensure that your gutters and other drains are properly installed so that they do not discharge to the sanitary sewer system and cause overflows.” The Town’s weather-alerts page says “Leaves left in the street will block storm drains and may lead to flooding.”
Town pages undated, read Nov 6 2026
Sandbags
The Town’s sandbag page says “The Public Works Department maintains a supply of sand bagging materials for use by residents and local businesses.” It lists Fire Station #14 and the Paradise Drive parking lot at San Clemente Park, “only available during winter months”, and notes “Open for the season as of 10/1/2026”. The page says “Sandbags are for low-flow protection up to two feet.” and “Because sandbags are intended for use on private property, residents are responsible for moving and placing them.” Its information was “updated on 10/5/2026”, so check the page again before the rains.
Town sandbag page, information updated 10/5/2026, read Nov 6 2026
See 3 more
Storm drains and check valves
The Town says “The storm drains are typically maintained twice a year by Town maintenance staff.” It says “Check valves have been installed in many areas to prevent water from coming up through storm drains but have not yet been installed in all storm drains.” The flood-preparedness page asks you to “Report malfunctioning check valves on street drains”.
Town pages read Nov 6 2026
What the Town does about flooding
The Town’s flood-protection page says “The Public Works Department is responsible for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of all flood control facilities within the Town of Corte Madera.” It says “Due to the relatively flat terrain within a large portion of the town, nine pump station facilities have been constructed in key locations.”
Town page last updated April 2023, read Nov 6 2026
The flood map
The Town’s flood-protection page says “A portion of Corte Madera lies within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)”. FEMA’s community status book lists “CORTE MADERA, TOWN OF” as taking part in the National Flood Insurance Program, with a currently effective map date of 03/16/16.
Town page last updated April 2023; FEMA report dated 11/05/2026; read Nov 6 2026
Need a hand with this? Gutter cleaning
Programs, loans and insurance
Free curbside chipper
The department’s chipper page says “Corte Madera, Larkspur, and Greenbrae residents have access to free curbside chipping through the 2026 Chipper Program.” The page lists pickup weeks only for 2026 and none yet for 2027, so check back. The page says “Place your pile at the curb by 8:00 AM on Monday of your pickup week.” It accepts “Tree limbs and branches (up to 8 inches in diameter)” and does not accept “Leaves, lawn clippings, poison oak, oleander, bamboo roots, rocks, trash, or lumber”. The program’s registration site asks you to “Enter your address to check eligibility and available pickup dates.”
Department page undated, lists 2026 weeks; read Nov 6 2026
Curbside cleanups from Mill Valley Refuse Service
The hauler’s cleanup page says it “provides a limited number of free curbside cleanups with regular residential garbage service when scheduled in advance of your pickup day.” For Corte Madera it says “cleanups may be trash only, one cleanup per year may be yard waste only.” Its list of what it cannot take includes “construction material”. Branches must be “tied in bundles less than 5′ in length and light enough for one person to lift”.
Hauler’s page undated, read Nov 6 2026 in this run
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Marin Water rain barrel and cistern rebate
Marin Water’s page says “Rain barrel and cistern rebates available for Marin Water customers”. It says “Marin Water is offering customers $0.75 per gallon of water stored – with a cap of $2,000 per customer. The rebate is for new rain barrel installations only and cannot exceed system cost.” The page says “Recycled barrels not eligible for rain barrel rebate.” The Town says “Residents of Corte Madera are served by Marin Water”. The page carries no date, so check Marin Water’s page before you buy.
Page undated, read Nov 6 2026
County-wide EmberReady wildfire risk consultations
Marin Wildfire’s EmberReady page says it “offers free, virtual one-on-one wildfire risk consultations to review residents’ wildfire risk reports, help prioritize which areas of risk to tackle first, identify ways to make the most of available resources”. The page does not say which towns the general offer covers, so ask the program.
Page undated, read Nov 6 2026
County-wide Marin Wildfire Resident Grants: check back
Marin Wildfire’s Resident Grants page says “We are currently accepting applications from residents who have recently received a full evaluation.” It says “In Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Marin Wildfire will award up to $2,500 per parcel for the above listed items.” and lists “Installing metal gutters and guards”. The page adds “If your property has combustible gutters, you may be reimbursed to upgrade these to metal before installing gutter guards.” and “The lifetime maximum that a resident may be awarded through these assistance programs is $15,000.” The department’s home page lists “Grants” among “Our Services” and links to this page, but the grant page names no town and only fiscal year 2024/2025, so ask whether it reaches Corte Madera now. The page names no later fiscal year and no Corte Madera place, so check back.
Page names fiscal year 2024/2025 only, read Nov 6 2026
Check back Roadside Vegetation program: check back
The department’s page describes work “clearing approximately 25 miles of evacuation routes in Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield, Ross, Fairfax, and San Anselmo”, “fully funded through MWPA”. It says “This is a one-time clearance effort.” and names no later round, so check back.
Department page undated, read Nov 6 2026
State-wide Earthquake Brace + Bolt
Earthquake Brace + Bolt, run by a joint body, the California Residential Mitigation Program, lists Corte Madera 94925 on its ZIP list, which carries the note “Eligibility based on ZIP Code only, city provided as reference.” The program page says “EBB provides up to $3,000 toward a code-compliant seismic retrofit to a qualifying house.” and “EBB program registration is open for a limited time each year.” The page does not say whether registration is open today, so check back.
Program pages undated, read Nov 6 2026
County-wide MCE Home Energy Savings
MCE’s page offers “Free home energy upgrades – valued at up to $7,000 – such as attic insulation, duct sealing, and more.” It names Corte Madera among the Marin places a contractor “will be visiting”: “Marin (Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, and Larkspur)”. The upgrades it names are home-energy ones, with no roof or gutter item, and MCE’s page refused today’s read, so check it before you rely on it.
County sheet reading of MCE’s page, Oct 7 and Oct 29 2026 (MCE refused the read on Nov 6)
County-wide BayREN EASE Home
BayREN’s EASE Home page says “BayREN covers 80% of the cost for essential weatherization upgrades, including insulation and duct sealing.” To qualify you “Have a household income under or at 120% AMI.”, “Live in a single-family home (four or fewer units) built before 2010.” and “Are a PG&E customer.” The page lists no gutter or roof work, and PG&E’s service-area page lists Corte Madera under Marin.
BayREN page read Oct 7 2026 (county sheet); PG&E’s page read Nov 6 2026
County-wide Check back PG&E Energy Savings Assistance: check back
PG&E’s Energy Savings Assistance page says participants “must live in a house, mobile home or apartment that is at least five years old”, and its income table is “Valid through May 31, 2027.” The page names no town, and PG&E’s service-area page lists Corte Madera under Marin. The page does not say whether it is taking applications, so check back.
Income table valid through May 31, 2027; PG&E page read Oct 7 2026 (county sheet)
County-wide Check back Habitat for Humanity home repair loans: check back
Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco says “Our Home Preservation Program in Marin County is currently fully subscribed, and we have temporarily closed applications.” When applications reopen, the page says, “loan amounts between $25,000 and $75,000 will be available for home improvement and repair needs.” Its list of repairs includes “Replacing and repairing roofs, windows and siding”, and “Homeowners who live in Marin County are eligible to apply.”
Habitat’s page read Oct 7 2026 (county sheet), undated
County-wide CalHome rehabilitation loans (Marin Housing Authority)
The Marin Housing Authority’s page says its CalHome Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Loan Program “provides low-interest property improvement loans and technical assistance to qualified low-income homeowners to make basic repairs and improvements, correct substandard conditions, and eliminate health and safety hazards.” The Authority’s guidelines say loans “may be made for improvements to units located within the county limits of the County of Marin.” The page names no roof or gutter item and no date, so ask the Authority whether it is taking applications.
Authority pages read Oct 7 2026 (county sheet), undated
County-wide Help with home energy bills (Community Action Marin)
Community Action Marin says it “is the local administrator of the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)”. The program “helps eligible families get assistance with utility payments and wood and propane home energy costs”, which is bill help, not repair money. Ask Community Action Marin about eligibility and dates.
Community Action Marin page read Oct 7 2026 (county sheet), undated
Who serves your home in Corte Madera
- Fire: Central Marin Fire Department, a consolidated department of Corte Madera and Larkspur. Its home page says “Serving Corte Madera and Larkspur, California since 2018”. The Town’s own page calls the governing body the Central Marin Fire Authority.
- Water: Marin Water, the Marin Municipal Water District. The Town’s Climate and Sustainability page says “Residents of Corte Madera are served by Marin Water, which promotes water conservation through education, programs, and incentives.” Marin Water’s own pages read name a region, not the Town: “Today, we provide local water service to more than 191,000 people in central and southern Marin.”
- Sewer: Sanitary District No. 2, a subsidiary district of the Town. Its page says “Currently, the boundaries of the Town and District are essentially contiguous, with three principal exceptions.” Treatment is by the Central Marin Sanitation Agency.
- Garbage and recycling: Mill Valley Refuse Service. The Town says it is “the approved solid waste, recyclable material and organic waste hauler for the Town of Corte Madera.”
- Schools: The Larkspur-Corte Madera School District serves kindergarten to grade 8, and the Town lists it on its community page. The district’s site says “Please note that district boundaries do not always coincide with municipal boundaries.” The Reed Union School District’s boundary-maps page has a link named “Corte Madera Detail Map”. For high school, the Tamalpais Union High School District’s list gives “Corte Madera (94925) – Redwood”.
Useful links: Town of Corte Madera: Sandbags · Town of Corte Madera: Flood Preparedness Resources · Town of Corte Madera: Flood Protection · Town of Corte Madera: Building Division · Town of Corte Madera: Submittal Requirements · Town of Corte Madera: Roofing Guidelines · Town of Corte Madera: Adopted Fee Schedule · Town of Corte Madera: Tree Removal Permit · Town of Corte Madera: Sanitary District No. 2, Outdoor Drainage · Central Marin Fire Department · Central Marin Fire Department: Defensible Space Inspections · Central Marin Fire Department: Curbside Chipper · Marin Water: Rainwater Catchment · Mill Valley Refuse Service · Mill Valley Refuse Service: Curbside Cleanups
The homes of Corte Madera
Corte Madera’s median home was built in 1962, and about 69 percent of its homes were built before 1970, our own calculations from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 tables. Of the occupied homes, about 69 percent are owner-occupied and about 31 percent are rented.
Across the Town
House types
About 70 percent of the homes are detached houses, about 10 percent are attached houses and about 19 percent are in buildings of two or more units, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
The streets
Wide on the flats, narrow in the hills
The General Plan says “Many of the Town’s streets are wide and well landscaped, while streets in hillside areas tend to be narrow and winding.”
Early homes
Still standing
The site says a local researcher lists “107 homes built in 1916 or earlier (100 years or more ago) and still recognizable today (2018)”.
Older roofs and gutters need a different hand: Gutter Repair · Roof Repair · Gutter Installation
The story of Corte Madera
History and character
The County of Marin’s Flood Control District says “Native Americans have called Marin County home for more than 10,000 years before the arrival of European colonists,” and that “Marin County is within the traditional territory of the Coast Miwok.”
The Corte Madera Memories history site, a volunteer site set up for the 2016 centennial, says “Most local residents know that ‘Corte Madera’ means ‘Cut Wood’ or ‘Cord Wood,'” It says “The Spanish soldiers called the place Arroyo Corte Madera, meaning the stream where cord wood is found.” How the name “became attached to our locale is a bit of a mystery”, it says.
The history site says “Many homesteaders started dairy ranches on the grassy hillsides and meadows within the boundaries of Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio.”
Of the hill that became Christmas Tree Hill, the history site says “Soon, campers, artists, and others escaping the City came to inhabit tent cabins and bungalows on the Hill, particularly after the 1906 earthquake.”
The Town’s General Plan says “In 1916 the citizens of Corte Madera voted in favor of incorporation.”
The history site says “As early as the ’20s, street lamps on the Hill were changed out at Christmas time with colorful bulbs, and people all over town began to recognize the shape of a Christmas tree made by the zig-zag streets of the Hill.” It says that from then on “the neighborhood has been officially known as Christmas Tree Hill”.
The history site says “Originally called Railroad Square, the area around the train station took on the name Village Square after the trains stopped running in 1941.” It says the name changed again when a developer named a new shopping center The Village: “local officials decided to change the name of the historic area to Old Corte Madera Square.”
The history site says “Within seven years after the end of World War II, the landscape of Corte Madera had been massively changed, as all of the marshlands west of the highway were filled in by quarrying the surrounding hillsides.”
The history site says that in 1975, “when a developer submitted an application to carve up 58 acres on Corte Madera Ridge into sites for 32 homes, local conservationists launched a grassroots effort to purchase the property for permanent public open space.”
The Town’s Archive and History Center page says the center’s foundation “was laid in 1976” when a resident began collecting photographs and conducting oral history interviews.
Corte Madera, roof and gutters
The Town’s General Plan (2009) says “The topography of Corte Madera is varied, from the lowlands along the edge of the San Francisco Bay to the steeply sloping hillsides of residential neighborhoods on Chapman Hill and on Christmas Tree Hill along the Corte Madera Ridge.” For the western part of town it says “Oak-bay woodland is the dominant terrestrial habitat type and includes live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and the California bay (Umbellularia Californica).”
According to NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals, the rain in a year is about 36 to 44 inches, from the two weather stations nearest Town Hall: 44.39 inches at the Kentfield station, about 2.3 miles away, and 36.24 inches at the Muir Woods station, about 3 miles away. The two stations differ by about 8 inches, so this page gives the range, rounded to whole inches, rather than one number. By our own calculation from the same monthly normals, about 84 percent of a year’s rain falls from November through March (85.4 percent at the Kentfield station and 83.1 percent at the Muir Woods station), and both stations are wettest in December. June to August together bring 0.41 and 0.62 inch.
The Town’s flood-preparedness page says “Most flooding in Corte Madera is considered nuisance flooding, or non-life threatening, and does not require evacuating.” It also says “In most cases, bayside flooding is related to tidal conditions and subsides in 3-4 hours.” The General Plan says “Flooding in Corte Madera generally results from a combination of high tides and storm runoff in low-lying areas.”
We have been working on Bay Area roofs and gutters since 2002. If yours hasn’t had a look in a while, we’d be glad to come by.
Landmarks and parks
Old Corte Madera Square
The General Plan speaks of “the many historic buildings that adjoin the Square (a reminder of the Town’s development origins)”.
Holy Innocents Episcopal Church
The history site says the church “was completed in 1901” and that “the original building is still there, more than a century after it was built.”
Meadowsweet Dairy
The history site says “Meadowsweet Dairy still stands where it has since 1926.”
How we can help in Corte Madera
Why Sunshine Gutters and Roofing
- Family-owned since 2002, trusted by thousands of returning Bay Area homeowners
- Licensed (CSLB #1053780), bonded, with $2 million in general liability coverage
- Our own crew, never subcontractors
- We keep track of local regulations, fire safety rules and insurance programs
- We show you what we found, with photos, so you decide what happens next
The year in Corte Madera
| May | The Beautification Committee says its hanging baskets can be seen throughout the Town from May through December |
|---|---|
| June | The dry months begin: June to August together bring under 1 inch of rain at either station |
| July | The Fourth of July parade through Larkspur and Corte Madera: the history site says it has been held every year since 1966 (no 2026 event page was read) |
| October | The rainy months begin: by NOAA’s monthly normals, October to May each average at least 1 inch of rain at the two weather stations nearest Town Hall Oktoberfest, the Beautification Committee’s annual fundraiser, is on the second Saturday of October, the history site says |
| November | The wettest stretch begins: November through March brings about 84 percent of a year’s rain (our calculation from the two stations’ monthly normals) |
| December | Wettest month: December, at both stations |
Corte Madera questions
What Corte Madera homeowners ask us
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Corte Madera?
The Town’s Submittal Requirements page says “Residential reroof permits and residential resale reports are issued automatically by creating an account and completing an application in the online portal.” Its fee schedule has a line “Re-Roof – Residential (without calculations)”, and the page says “Owner-Builder permits cannot be issued for Reroofs, Electrical Permits or Commercial Building Permits”. If you wish, we can also pull the permit for you, as most of our customers ask us to.
Do I need a permit to remove or trim a tree on my property in Corte Madera?
The Town’s Tree Permit form lists exemptions, the first being “Trees with a single trunk circumference less than fifty inches (or multistemmed trees having an aggregate circumference of less than one hundred twenty inches), measured four and one-half feet above grade”. The Town’s sidewalk brochure says “Before you remove a tree, you must contact the Planning Division of the Department of Community Development to determine whether a Tree Permit is required.”
Do I need a report from the Town before I sell my house in Corte Madera?
The Town’s form says “Prior to the sale or exchange of any residential building or residential site in the Town, the owner or his authorized agent shall obtain from the Town a Report of Residential Building Record”. It says the owner “shall deliver this report to the buyer or transferee prior to the consummation of sale.” It is a building-records report from the Town, not a fire inspection.
Can I send my downspouts to the sewer in Corte Madera?
The District’s page on protecting the sewer system during storms says “Never direct roof downspouts, yard drains, or sump pump discharges into the sanitary sewer.” Its Outdoor Drainage page says “Rainwater and stormwater may not be discharged into the Sanitary District No. 2 (SD2) sanitary sewer system.” The Town’s flood page asks you to “Ensure that your gutters and other drains are properly installed so that they do not discharge to the sanitary sewer system and cause overflows.”
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Corte Madera neighbourhoods we serve
Christmas Tree Hill
The Town’s General Plan says “The Christmas Tree Hill Community Plan was adopted by the Town in May 1992.”
Chapman Hill
The General Plan’s land-use chapter says “This residential designation applies to areas located in the Chapman Hill and Christmas Tree Hill areas of Town.”
Old Corte Madera Square
The General Plan has a “Mixed-Use: Old Corte Madera Square” designation and calls Menke Park “the primary focal and gathering point in the center of the Square”.
Madera Gardens
The Town runs a residential parking permit program for “residents in the northern portion of the Madera Gardens Neighborhood”. Its Resident Services page says “Learn how you can get a parking permit for the Madera Gardens neighborhood.”
Mariner Cove
The General Plan speaks of “focused design approaches for specific residential neighborhoods, including Mariner Cove and Christmas Tree Hill.” The Neighborhood Response Group network lists it too.
Marina Village
The Neighborhood Response Group network the Town sponsors lists it under Corte Madera. The Corte Madera Memories history site says it was built for “homes to house returning veterans” after World War II.
Tamal Vista Corridor
The Town’s Tamal Vista Corridor page describes “the area bounded by Madera Boulevard to the south, Tamal Vista Boulevard to the west, Wornum Drive to the north, and US Hwy 101 to the east”.
Madera del Presidio
The Corte Madera Memories history site calls it a planned neighborhood built in the 1990s on meadows at the western edge of Ring Mountain. The Neighborhood Response Group network lists it under Corte Madera.
Also serving nearby: Larkspur · Mill Valley · Strawberry