Marin County Civic Center Courthouse in San Rafael, CA

Address: 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903

Phone: (415) 444-7000

Criminal Division: (415) 444-7070 (Room C-10)

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

Court System: Marin County Superior Court

The Marin County Civic Center Courthouse is the central courthouse for the Marin County Superior Court, housed within the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center on Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. The building — Wright’s last major commission, completed posthumously — is a National Historic Landmark and one of the architect’s most distinctive designs. The courthouse is unusual in that it operates within the same building as the Marin County Jail (located at 13 Peter Behr Drive on the same grounds), making transport between the two extremely efficient.

Types of Cases Heard

The Marin County Superior Court hears all case types from this single location, including:

• Criminal cases (Room C-10) — felony and misdemeanor arraignments, preliminary hearings, motions, pretrial conferences, trials, and sentencing
• Civil cases (Room 113) — including unlimited civil, limited civil, and complex civil
• Family law (Room 113) — divorce, custody, support, domestic violence restraining orders
• Juvenile (Room 113) — both delinquency and dependency matters
• Probate — wills, estates, trusts, conservatorships, guardianships
• Small claims and traffic matters

Most case-related questions can be directed to (415) 444-7000 with the appropriate extension. Specific division numbers above will route you directly.

What to Expect at a Hearing

Court hearings typically start at 9:00 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., though specific times vary by department. The Civic Center building has three drive-through arches with public lobbies at each — courtrooms and offices are above the middle arch.

To reach the courtrooms, take the elevator to the “C” floor (court floor). After security screening, Courtrooms A through M are on the right; Courtrooms N through P are on the left.

A few things to know before your hearing:

• Dress conservatively — business or business-casual attire.
• All visitors pass through a metal detector. Handbags, briefcases, and backpacks may be X-rayed.
• Prohibited items: knitting needles, scissors, nail clippers, pocket knives, weapons, alcohol, and similar objects.
• Phones must be silenced or turned off in courtrooms.

Parking and Logistics

Free all-day parking is available on the Civic Center grounds. Going north on Civic Center Drive from North San Pedro Road:

• General parking: Immediately turn left onto Peter Behr Drive, drive up and under the building, then look for parking further down the hill and to the left.
• Juror parking: Turn right onto Matthew Hymel Way and continue into the parking area.
• ADA parking: Turn left onto Vera Schultz Drive, drive under the building, then immediately turn left into the disabled parking area.

The Civic Center is accessible via Highway 101 (North San Pedro Road exit) and is served by Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit bus routes.

If you have a court appearance at the Marin County Civic Center Courthouse, our team is ready to help. Learn how we defend Bay Area criminal cases.

Contact us for a confidential case evaluation.