News

Safety & Training Short: Emergency Response Training Short 2.0

WHAT IS EMERGENCY RESPONSE?                                       Simply put, emergency response is how you respond to emergencies. A good Emergency Response Program involves taking action before a possible emergency occurs.Remember: Call 911 if the situation has escalated and danger is imminent!GENERAL SAFETY RULES If you see something suspicious, say something. You can help prevent the domino effect — when an emergency happens and spreads quickly, increasing the danger as it grows. Click here to

Be Vigilant – Recent Burglaries Targeting Plumbing Businesses

Recently, a contractor member of both PHCC and MBA experienced a burglary at their shop. They’ve since learned of multiple robberies targeting plumbing companies and supply houses locally. To help protect your business, they’ve shared these recommendations based on their experience. Be Vigilant!Always set alarms when closing—do not skip this step.Keep detailed records for high-value items, including: Date purchasedVendor purchased fromSerial numberModel numberPurchase amountPhotographs of the itemsIf

Kunst Painting Wins Readers' Choice ''Best Painting Company''

Kunst Painting has been named the Readers’ Choice “Best Painting Company” in Marin County for the 4th year in a row! This award means the world to us because it comes directly from you — our loyal clients, friends, and neighbors who take the time to vote and share your experiences. Your trust in our work and your kind words have helped us earn this honor year after year. From the first brush stroke to the final walkthrough, our goal has always been to bring color, quality, and craftsmanship to every Bay

Safety & Training Short: Proper Pipe Handling

Improper pipe handling can lead to severe injuries ranging soar back and muscle strains, to broken bones and death. Always ensure that the utmost caution is taken when performing work that requires pipe handling.Stay out of the path of rolling pipe. Stay clear of pipe when it is being transported. Wear gloves and goggles when needed. The wearing of safety shoes is also recommended. Wear your hard hat. Keep pipe balanced when it's in a sling. Keep your hands on the outside of the pipe while guiding. Check

HammerLoop seeks MBA members for BETA launch

HammerLoop is a new platform that aims to centralize construction workers and construction employers.  HammerLoop will allow employers the opportunity to find workers based on their trade, and their location, and reach out directly to them for jobs.  Subsequently, it will also allow the workers to get a much better feel for the market, as they can see who is hiring, what trades are in demand, where jobs are located, pay rates, and other important items. We launch our BETA Monday, 8/11, and are looking for

Safety & Training Short: Confined Spaces - Permit Required Confined Spaces

Protect yourself in and around confined spaces. A confined space is a working area with limited openings for entry or exit, large enough for entering and working, and not designated for continuous occupancy.  Examples of confined spaces include tanks, storage bins, underground vaults, pits, manholes, silos, and pipelines.Permits are required to enter confined spaces that:May contain a hazardous or potentially hazardous atmosphereContain materials which can engulf an entrantContain walls that converge

Keep Your Grip: Preventing Hand Injuries in Construction

Did you know that over 1 million workers are treated in an emergency room for hand injuries each year? According to the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), fingers and hands are the most injured body parts among construction workers, accounting for 1/3 of all emergency room visits (yikes!)  Not only can an occupational injury cause initial pain, it may also require weeks or months of rehabilitation. Throughout the day, your hands come in contact with a multitude of hazards, including

Don't Be Litigious; Give Notice

Don't Be Litigious; Give Notice Stakeholders in complex construction projects tend to use words and phrases like “partnering,” “proactive,” “flexibility,” “no punch list,” “early completion,” and “under budget” early in the project. Then comes the inevitable roadblock threatening to squash the optimism. Fearing that the relationship will sour, contractors often elect not to follow the formal notice requirements in the contract and try to work around the problem or talk through the issue with the owner.

Safety & Training Short: Ladder Safety - Selection and Maintenance

Ladders must be selected based on hazards and tasks. Also, ladders require maintenance in order to function properly. Each ladder type requires different inspection criteria and maintenance. If a ladder is neglected, it may become unsafe to use. For this reason, it is extremely important that ladders are inspected prior to each use and repaired periodically. Types of ladders: Length:Stepladder users must be able to reach about four feet from the top of the ladder while standing on the second step from

RFP HVAC Replacement at Marin County Juvenile Hall - Bidding Notice

County of Marin is inviting sealed proposals of bids for an HVAC Replacement at Marin County Juvenile Hall. The bid opening date is Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 2:00pm via Zoom. To view the full Notice to Bidders, please Click Here.  Important NoticesMandatory Pre-Bid Conference: There is a mandatory pre-bid conference for this project on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 10:00am. The location is 16 Jeanette Prandi Way, San Rafael, CA, 94903.Mandatory Background Check: All attendees are required to submit a

Capitol Connection #1417

Capitol Connection Q&A for ContractorsBy Shauna Krause, President, Capitol Services, Inc.   I have heard that failure is just a stop on the way to success! You can bet in Nevada, money matters. Contractors also need to see a day in the future when they can put down their tools. As your expert assistant I can help with all these issues, as I do daily in my Sacramento offices… Q: We have a pending contractor’s license application with the CSLB and my boss just took the Trade exam yesterday and didn’t pass.

Safety & Training Short: Machine Safeguarding - Interlocking Guards

Objective: To assure workers understand the types and safe use of interlocking guards Interlocking guards, also called interlocks, use a tripping mechanism to shut off the machine when a guard or cover is open or removed. They protect workers and coworkers from reaching into moving machinery.Types of Interlocking Guards Interlocking guards with: Proximity switches use a magnetic field to control machine movement. - The disadvantage to this type of guard is that any type of metal placed in close

Legislature Caps Retention Amount at 5% for Many Private Works Projects!

In one of the most significant legislative moves in favor of construction contractors in decades, the Governor signed SB 61 into law on July 14, 2025. For new contracts after January 1, 2026, and with limited exceptions, the new law reduces the amount by which contractors may be forced to help finance private works construction by limiting to 5% the amount that owners, contractors, and subcontractors may withhold from progress payments to subcontractors until the end of the project. Read more. Daniel F.

Introducing Design For You, the SLI Studio Collection

Award-winning designer Stacey Lapuk, ASID, has just launched her new affordable, professional interior design service called Design For You.  Created for those who want a space that feels personal and beautiful, but may feel full-service design is out of reach. Rather than a catalog-page room, you can access expert design advice without the full-service price tag. After completing a detailed questionnaire, submitting inspiration images and taking your own measurements (with our step-by-step guide),

Interior Design Mastermind Group

Are you interested in joining a monthly interior design Mastermind Group? Whether you're a design enthusiast, a homeowner tackling a renovation or a professional seeking creative input or advice, this group will be a space for open dialogue, support and idea exchange.  There will be 2 groups: one for non-professionals, and one for professionals. Hosted via Zoom, three 60-minute sessions are packaged to discuss whatever is most in need for the group. The cost is $150. per 3-session package. Topics can

Announcing Construction Suicide Prevention Week

SAVE THE DATE:  September 8-12, 2025Together we can save lives. In 2019, a mission-driven group of volunteers from across the construction industry came together with the goal of saving lives. They collaborated to launch the inaugural Suicide Prevention Week for the industry — a week dedicated to raising awareness about the higher-than-average number of suicides in the construction industry, and to providing resources to help prevent those deaths. Every year, during September — National Suicide Prevention

Safety & Training Short: Cement-Related Skin Irritation Hazards

Objective: To reinforce awareness of the potential skin irritation risks from working with cement.  Cement-Related Skin Irritation Hazards Cement is a major cause of skin irritation. Its lime content (primarily calcium hydroxide) and heat-producing properties when water is added cause skin irritation on contact.   Cement contact with dry skin is likely to crack the skin and may lead to ulcers, reddening, and irritation, collectively referred to as dermatitis. Additionally, frequent contact with cement

Fix the (Wildfire) Risk Video Series

We’re excited to share a new video series called Fix the Risk, designed to help homeowners understand the wildfire risks around their homes—and more importantly, what they can do about them. These short, practical videos walk viewers through simple steps to reduce vulnerability to embers, which are a leading cause of home ignition during wildfires. The first three videos focus on key areas: Create Zone 0: How to create an ember-resistant zone by removing vegetation within the first 5 feet of a home and

Safety & Training Short: Hazard Communication Awareness 2.0

WHAT IS HAZARD COMMUNICATION? The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard Communication standard, also referred to as “HAZCOM,” ensures employees have access to vital safety information about chemicals used in the workplace. It provides employees with the information they have the “right to know” while working with hazardous chemicals.HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM Your workplace has a hazard communication program available. This program is federally required in all facilities

DB and IPD Contracts: Who is responsible for the design when unforeseen conditions arise and why does it matter?

Published June 19, 2025 Morgan C. Eddy Associate There has been a rise recently in the construction industry in Design-Build (DB) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) contracts. These newer models aim to improve project efficiency, foster collaboration, and reduce costs. With this recent rise, we are seeing an increase in design liability conflicts. Traditionally, construction projects often followed a Design-Bid-Build model (DBB), where the design responsibilities and construction responsibilities were

Marin Builders Association Members: Save on your Workers' Comp!

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

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  

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.

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

Liens & Completions 2024-2025

Click the links below to view a current list of Liens & Completions published and provided by the County of Marin. 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 Paula Krause

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