San Rafael, CA Office Overview
The San Rafael real estate market includes the Canal, Civic Center, and Terra Linda commercial real estate submarkets. With a population of over 261,000, the local demand for office space is driven in large part by the healthcare and technology industries.
As of mid-2017, the San Rafael office market encompassed over 2.6 million square feet of space in properties larger than 50,000 square feet. The commercial real estate market in San Rafael is driven in large part by the rich variety of business attracted to the affluence of its Marin County location, which is the wealthiest area in the country in terms of median income.
San Rafael, CA Office Inventory Description
San Rafael is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area and at one time was the worldwide center for video game developers. Now, with an annual gross metropolitan product of over $17 billion, the economy in San Rafael is driven largely by the medical industry, along with large technology company headquarters. Class B office space in San Rafael accounts for nearly 2.4 million square feet of space, while there is less than 200,000 square feet of Class A space in San Rafael, when looking at buildings larger than 50,000 square feet.
The North San Rafael market is one of the many areas of the city that see consistent interest from both office tenants and investors alike. Located south of Lucas Valley Road along either side of Highway 101, this area is home to investment-grade properties such as 4040 Civic Center Drive, the Regency Center I, and the 1600 Los Gamos Drive building.
San Rafael, CA Commercial Inventory Breakdown
Office Spaces
Total: 3,040,924 SF
By square footage range:
- 50k to 100k SF: 1,116,116 SF / 36.7% of total office
- 100k to 500k SF: 1,924,808 SF / 63.3% of total office
By class:
- Class A: 86,540 SF / 2.85% of total office
- Class B: 2,524,338 SF / 83.01% of total office
- Class C: 150,650 SF / 4.95% of total office
Top 10 Largest Office Buildings
in San Rafael
| Office building | Address | Sqft | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marin Commons | 1600 Los Gamos, 94903 | 315,000 | 1973 |
| The Albert Building | 1010 B Street, 94901 | 162,247 | 1930 |
| Kaiser Permanente Los Gamos Medical Offices | 1650 Los Gamos Drive, 94903 | 145,000 | 1980 |
| Marin Executive Center | 4000 Civic Center Drive, 94903 | 142,341 | 1985 |
| Regency Center II | 200 Smith Ranch Rd, | 124,196 | 1988 |
| 111 McInnis Pkwy | 111 McInnis Pkwy, 94903 | 115,514 | 1994 |
| Bayview Landing | 2350 - 2370 Kerner Blvd, 94915 | 114,618 | 2008 |
| Regency Center I | 100 Smith Ranch Rd., 94903 | 104,000 | 1988 |
| Courthouse Square | 1000 4th Street, 94901 | 97,770 | 1975 |
| Civic Center Plaza | 3900 & 3950 Civic Center, 94903 | 96,000 | 1989 |
Largest Office Properties Recently Completed
in San Rafael
| Office building | Address | Sqft | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael Corporate Center - 791 Lincoln Avenue | 791 Lincoln Avenue, 94901 | 86,540 | 2016 |
| 1033 3rd Street | 1033 3rd Street, 94901 | 34,025 | 1999 |
| 22 Pelican Way | 22 Pelican Way, 94901 | 31,577 | 1999 |
| 1101 5th Avenue | 1101 5th Avenue, 94901 | 80,000 | 1998 |
| Bayview Business Park - Building G | 150 Pelican Way, 94901 | 29,450 | 1998 |
| 111 McInnis Pkwy | 111 McInnis Pkwy, 94903 | 115,514 | 1994 |
| 111 Smith Ranch Road | 111 Smith Ranch Road, 94903 | 27,200 | 1993 |
| Cal Land Plaza | 700 Irwin Street, 94901 | 26,615 | 1987 |
| 1401 Los Gamos Drive | 1401 Los Gamos Drive, 94903 | 30,499 | 1986 |
| Bayview Business Park - Building B | 2597 Kerner Blvd, 94901 | 28,135 | 1986 |
San Rafael, CA Green Office Space
Even though there is a small percentage of Class A office space in the city, there is a very large percentage of green office space in San Rafael. Over 20% of the buildings in the city that are larger than 50,000 square feet are rated as green certified buildings, bringing a combined total of nearly 750,000 square feet of LEED-certified, EPA Energy Star-rated, or green certified space to the San Rafael market.
One example of a LEED-certified is the San Rafael Corporate Center - 750-790 Lindaro Street & 781 Lincoln Avenue. Located in the San Rafael Downtown commercial real estate submarket, this building was constructed in 2001 and adds nearly 315,000 square feet of Class B LEED Gold-certified office space to the green inventory in San Rafael, California.
According to the most recent National Green Building Adoption Index (completed in 2017), California is home to six of the top 30 largest green office markets in the U.S. The report notes that since 2005, the average amount of green office space in these top markets has increased to about 38%.
San Rafael, CA's Top Office-Using Sectors
The San Rafael commercial real estate market sees consistent growth from the top office-using sectors of healthcare, technology, government & education, and large corporate headquarter users.
- Healthcare–White-collar employment in San Rafael is created by institutions such as Kaiser Permanente, which is also the largest employer in the city;
- Technology–Autodesk and Comcast are two of the larger companies in this top office-using sector of San Rafael;
- Government & Education–The City of San Rafael and the Dominican University of California help to drive demand for commercial real estate in San Rafael, California;
- Corporate Headquarters–Demand for white-collar office space in San Rafael comes from firms such as Westamerica Bank, GIS Data Resources, and In Defense of Animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does office space cost in San Rafael, CA?
The average office rental rate in San Rafael, CA is $31.23 per square foot. Asking prices vary based on the property’s location, overall rating, amenities, proximity to restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues, as well as public transport, airports and highways. Check San Rafael Office Market Trends for more stats.
What is the size of available office spaces in San Rafael, CA?
The San Rafael, CA office market can accommodate various businesses, sporting a range of office space availabilities. The average size of office space availabilities is 41,437 square feet. If you’re just starting out as a company or as an entrepreneur, the smallest available office space in San Rafael, CA is 74 square feet, while the maximum rentable space on the market now is 82,800 square feet.
How do I get office space in San Rafael, CA?
Start your search for office space in San Rafael, CA by using our filters that allow you to find the best space for your business needs. Filter listings by location, property size, available space or lease rate. Property pages will offer details about an office building’s rating, year built, availabilities, price per square foot and more. After drawing up a shortlist, make sure you contact the listed broker(s) to schedule a viewing and begin the negotiation process for your lease contract.
How many office listings are available in San Rafael, CA?
There are 89 office listings on the San Rafael, CA market. See all available office spaces for rent.
Where to rent an office space in San Rafael, CA?
Popular San Rafael neighbourhoods with available office spaces include Downtown San Rafael, Canal and North San Rafael Commercial Center.
What other property types are available for lease in San Rafael, CA?
In addition to traditional office spaces, commercial real estate listings on our platform also include coworking & shared office space options, retail spaces, industrial buildings, warehouses, distribution facilities, and more.
San Rafael Demographics
Population
- Total Population58,775
- Male Population(51.0 %) 29,967
- Female Population(49.0 %) 28,808
- Median Age41.10
Income/Financial
- Average Household Income$138,756
- Median Household Income$91,742
- Median Income Under 25$51,660
- Median Income 25-44$100,173
- Median Income 45-64$118,969
- Median Income Over 65$72,917