News

May is Wildfire Awareness Month - Let’s Get Prepared, Together

Wildfire Awareness Month is here, and there’s no better time to take action. May marks the start of peak wildfire season in California — a critical window for communities, contractors, and builders to strengthen fire resilience through education, collaboration, and proactive planning. This month, we’re highlighting tools and trainings to support you and your clients in reducing wildfire risk: California Fire Safe Council Vendors List A curated list of wildfire resilience products and professionals is

Safety & Training Short: Trenching and Shoring - Access, Egress, and Crossings

Objective: To reinforce awareness about the technical requirements for trench access points and surface crossings.Access and Egress: A stairway, ladder, or ramp must be present in excavations that are four feet deep or more. Do not enter a trench without an established means of egress. Stairways, ladders, or ramps must be located within 25 feet of employees.Ladders must extend 3 feet above the excavation.Ladders must be a single piece of equipment. Do not lash multiple ladders together to meet height

Celebrating our 2025-26 Marin Home Resource Guide Ad Partners!

We want to express our deep gratitude to our wonderful 2025-26 Marin Home Resource Guide Ad Partners! Their generous support of our signature publication made this edition possible - and our best yet!Celebrating in alpha order:A and P Moving, Inc.Aaero Heating & Sheetmetalbuilding LabCanty Real Estate Group, IncCentral Valley EnvironmentalCity Carpets, Carpet OneClough ConstructionCounty of Marin Community Development Agency Sustainability TeamCruise Americard/Boyett PetroleumDesign Set

Celebrating our Member Referral Partners - Thank You for Helping Us Build Our Community!

We would like to recognize and celebrate our wonderful REFERRAL PARTNERS!2025:Julie Feinstein, Arana Craftsman Painters, who referred Ange McLane De-Levi, Strategic HR Partners (SHRP)Adam Jackson, Ceramic Tile Center, who referred Deena and Steve Adkins, Surface Art CountertopsJason Pech, Mayan Climber Tree Service, Inc., who referred Robert Bovero, Marin County Arborists, Inc.Leo Bakerian, Professional Computer Concepts, Inc., who referred Adrienne Broadbear, BROADBEARARCHDonalyn Hellar, Ferguson Home, who

Big Skills Tiny Home is Looking for Learning Leaders

Get Ready for Our May Complimentary Workshop - Kickstart to Power BI

Get Ready for Our May Complimentary Workshop - Kickstart to Power BI We’re excited to offer live, instructor-led workshops designed to help you and your team get the most out of Microsoft’s most powerful tools. These hands-on sessions cover Excel, Power BI, Microsoft Forms, OneDrive, SharePoint, and more—providing the skills you need to work smarter and boost productivity. Upcoming Live Workshop: Kickstart to Power BI ?? Date & Time: Friday, May 30 · 11am – 12pm PDT ?? Learn more &

Safety & Training Short: Electrical Safety - Energized Electrical Work

Objective: To reinforce proper preparation procedures for instances when working with energized work is necessary.Electrical equipment must be worked on in a de-energized state unless you are qualified and properly equipped to work on it when energized: Employees face potential arc flash and shock injuries from energized equipment when equipment is not properly guarded against shock hazards, or when not locked out and tagged-out in its de-energized state. Qualified persons may work on systems when

Workers Comp Insurance Fraud: It costs more than you think

For more information, download this printable brochure here or contact: Marin County District Attorney's Office Attn: Insurance Fraud Unit 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 130 San Rafael, CA 94903 415.473.6450co.marin.ca.us/da  

Every Touchpoint Matters: The Secret to Creating Remarkable Employee & Customer Experiences

Unreasonable Hospitality in Action: Turning Everyday Moments into Extraordinary Culture Will Guidara’s philosophy of unreasonable hospitality isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about intentionality. At his restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, the number one restaurant in the world, the team examined every single touchpoint a guest might encounter and asked: “How can we make this better?” Imagine applying that same lens to your business, not just for customers, but for your employees too. As one of only a

Enhancing Employee Well-being and Reducing Healthcare Costs Through Blood Pressure Management

Invest in your employees' well-being and manage long-term healthcare costs by proactively addressing a major health risk: high blood pressure.   Affecting nearly half of U.S. adults and significantly increasing the risk of costly conditions like heart disease and stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure represents a substantial health burden for employees and a potential financial strain for employers. Blood pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls. Maintaining healthy levels is crucial

April Workshop - Copilot for Word

Free Live Microsoft Workshop – Copilot for Word (April 25) At Professional Computer Concepts, we believe that when businesses have the right tools—and know how to use them—everyone wins. That’s why we’ve partnered with LearnIT to offer complimentary, instructor-led Microsoft workshops to help our community boost productivity and make the most of the tools they already use. This month’s featured session is perfect for anyone ready to tap into the power of AI:Copilot for Word Thursday, April 25, 202511

Support the Legacy of the Marin Builders Association Scholarship Program

Since 1978 the Marin Builders Association Scholarship & Workforce Training Fund has provided nearly $1 million in scholarship awards to deserving high school seniors. Scholarship winners have gone into nearly every profession, including the building trades, construction management, engineering, architecture, and more. Our Scholarship Program offers an opportunity for all students pursuing a college, university, or trade school education to apply for a financial award. We emphasize the need for trained

Resilient Neighborhoods Presents: FREE Online Climate Action Workshops

Resilient Neighborhoods empowers people to take personal and local action to reduce their household greenhouse gas emissions and create connected communities resilient to disasters. We offer two workshops every season. Workshops are virtual and can be done from the comfort of your own home. You'll meet 5 times over 8 weeks with a team of Marin County community members. Meetings are 90 minutes followed by an optional Q&A session.Thursday Team Dates: Jun 12 (Kickoff), Jun 26, Jul 10, Jul 24 & Aug 7 6:30 -

Safety & Training Short: Pressure Washers

Objective: To ensure safe operation, pressure washer users must be trained, inspect equipment before use, wear appropriate PPE, and follow safety precautions to mitigate potential hazards. A pressure washer is a mechanical sprayer that uses increased water pressure to clean surfaces. If not used properly, pressure washers can cause injuries. Before using a pressure washer, prepare for its potential hazards.   Possible hazards include: Excessive noise and flying debris, which can affect both you and

Safety & Training Short: Bloodborne Pathogens - Sharps Safety

Objective: To raise awareness of sharps hazards and safe handling practices. Improper handling or disposal of needles and other sharps, such as scalpels, broken glass, and razors, can result in serious infections, including the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), the Hepatitis C virus (HBC), and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. If you work around sharps, take precautions to limit your exposure. In addition, follow universal precautions: treat all blood and other potentially infectious

The National Waste & Recycling Association Announces Patty Garbarino, President of Marin Sanitary Service, as an Inductee into 2025 Hall of Fame

Arlington, Virginia—(March 27, 2025) —The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) announced the list of 2025 Hall of Fame inductees, including Marin Sanitary Service’s President, Patty Garbarino.  “I am deeply honored to follow in my Father’s footsteps and be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Garbarino said.  “This honor belongs to all the Marin Sanitary staff, the cities, and the residents that we serve every day.  Together, we are recycling materials to make our community and the world a better

Standing Room Only at MBA's March Member Morning

If you BUILD it, they will come! We welcomed over 130 guests at our March Member Morning on Thursday, March 20th. Thank you to everyone who attended and filled the room with such incredible energy!  The theme of the event was Member Connections and we could not be more proud to have provided our members with this opportunity to do just that. Special thanks to our delicious coffee and donut sponsor, George Petersen Insurance Agency! We hope to see all of you at the next one!

The Power of Unreasonable Hospitality: How Putting Employees First Transforms Business Success

When people hear the word hospitality, they think about restaurants & hotels. But what if hospitality wasn’t just about guests what if it became the foundation for how businesses treat their employees? Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, revolutionized the fine dining industry by creating extraordinary guest experiences. But his philosophy isn’t just for restaurants, it’s a game changer for all businesses. We embrace this mindset in our consulting & strategy sessions to help businesses be

Free Safety Training Options for MBA Members

Marin Builders Association has been awarded a Susan Harwood Training Grant which will provide FREE safety training to contractors and their workers throughout Marin County. Your interest in the potential topics will help us determine what trainings to offer to you, our members. Your reply will take less than 2 minutes and will help us meet our grant requirements. We appreciate your help!   Take 2 minute survey

OSHA’s Final PPE Rule for Construction: What Contractors Need to Know

On January 13, 2025, OSHA’s final rule took effect regarding the standard for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the construction industry. PPE, which includes hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, safety glasses, welding helmets, hearing protection, respirators, coveralls, vests, harnesses, and full body suits, is now required to be made available in proper sizes by companies in the construction industry to their workforces. Previously, the construction industry was excluded from the proper fitting

Elevate Your Leadership with Adaptive Strategies

In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying ahead means embracing change and leading with agility. I want to share with you how adaptive leadership can transform challenges into opportunities and how my team and I are here to help you make that shift.  What Is Adaptive Leadership? Adaptive leadership isn’t just another buzzword; it’s a powerful mindset that helps you navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change. It’s about understanding that the landscape is constantly evolving and

Marin Housing Authority Requests Bids on Several Projects

Marin Housing Authority is seeking a range of services, from electricians, to general contractors, to painters and several others. Solicitations can be found here: https://www.marinhousing.org/bids.

City of Novato Launches Express Building Permit Service

City Launches Express Building Permit ServiceStreamlined permitting process for registered and licensed contractors The City of Novato is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Express Permit Service for registered and licensed contractors. This service is designed to streamline and expedite the permitting process for select residential projects, saving you valuable time and effort. What is Express Permit Service?  Express Permit Service provides a faster and more convenient option for minor

Permit Archive: Marin County & City Building Permits

Please find a current list of permits published and provided by the County of Marin. To search by a specific jurisdiction click here and contact the appropriate office. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or email us at mba@marinbuilders.com.   County of Marin Building Permits Report Powered by Socrata Click Here to View the 2024 Permit Archive

Marin County Office of Education School to Career Partnership: Internship Opportunity

Developing Our Workforce The Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) is actively seeking civic-oriented businesses to host spring and summer internships for students at San Rafael High, Terra Linda High, Novato High, and San Marin High Schools. MCOE's School to Career Partnership provides students with direct support to engage in hands-on work-based learning experience and career exploration, leading to high-demand, high-wage jobs. Student's interests cover a broad scope of industries. Your participation

California Employers, Get Ready! Wide Range of Employment-Related Laws Will Take Effect January 1, 2025 + 4 Essential California Employee Handbook Updates for 2025

New California employment laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. These laws address a variety of issues, including the state minimum wage, discrimination protections, paid time off, and employers’ messages about unionization.  Quick HitsCalifornia’s minimum wage will increase from $16.00 to $16.50 per hour.New legislation clarifies that employers may not discriminate against workers because they have a combination of protected characteristics or do not have a driver’s license.California

New Law Changes in 2025 Affecting Licensees, Applicants and Stakeholders

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is advising licensees, applicants, and other stakeholders of key legislative updates following the implementation ofSenate Bill 1455 (Ashby, 2024). This bill, effective January 1, 2025, extends the Board’s “sunset” date from 2025 to 2029 and makes other changes to the law, which are described below. Key Provisions of SB 1455    1. Public Works Project LicensingWhat’s New?  Awarding authorities must now ensure that public works project bidders

Home Hardening in Action

When wildfire swept through Camarillo, California, Steven Snyder’s fire-hardened home emerged unscathed amid widespread destruction in his neighborhood. By choosing to build with fire-resistant materials—Class A roofing, fireproof siding, ember-resistant vents, and a fully cleared defensible space—Snyder’s home stood resilient against the flames. His story underscores the critical role of wildfire-ready construction as California’s seasons grow more intense, especially in high-risk areas like Marin

2024 Marin County & City Building Permits

Click the links below to view a current list of permit reports published and provided by the County of Marin and the individual cities/towns including Corte Madera, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito and Tiburon. If what you're looking for is not listed below, please don't hesitate to call our offices directly at 415.462.1220 or contact Gabriela Shea at mba@marinbuilders.com. Important Note: This list is updated monthly with the most current information we receive from

Biggest Workers’ Compensation Mistakes by Contractors

In this crazy time of the COVID-19, it is not the time to cut corners to your detriment. While well intentioned contractors are always attempting to keep costs down to make a profit, they make some mistakes regarding workers’ compensation insurance.   Most common mistakes are:Certifying with the Contractors License Board that they do not need workers’ compensation insurance as they have no employees when they may have employees or use day laborers. . Not checking the sub-contractors to make sure they are

Lien Protection Checklist - SUBCONTRACTOR

Click here for Subcontractor Lien Protection Checklist to protect your Lien rights provided by the Marin Builders Association and Dan McLennon of Smith, Currie & Hancock, LLP.Reviewed and Updated February 2024

Lien Protection Checklist - GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Click here for General Contractors Lien Rights Protection Checklist to protect your Lien rights provided by the Marin Builders  Association and Board member Dan McLennon.Reviewed and Updated February 2024