Every floating home community in Sausalito is governed by some form of dock association, HOA, or marina management organization. These governing bodies set the rules that determine how you can use your home, who can live there, what you can do to the outside of the structure, and how shared dock infrastructure is maintained and funded. Understanding these rules before you make an offer — not after — is one of the most important steps in any floating home purchase.
What CC&Rs and Dock Rules Typically Cover
The specifics vary significantly from dock to dock, but most Sausalito floating home communities address several common areas in their governing documents:
- Liveaboard requirements — many docks require that owners (or tenants) actually live aboard the vessel rather than using it as a secondary or vacation property
- Subletting rules — who can rent your home, for how long, and under what conditions, including tenant approval requirements
- Pet policies — size and number of pets permitted, and whether dogs must be kept on leash on dock walkways
- Exterior modifications — what changes you can make to the outside of the vessel, including decks, additions, exterior painting, and dock plantings
- Noise and gathering rules — quiet hours, guest policies, and rules about amplified music or deck parties
- Slip subletting — whether the slip can be sublet separately from the vessel, and to whom
What Varies Dock to Dock
The range of rules across Sausalito's floating home communities is wide. Some docks have minimal rules and operate largely on social norms developed over decades. Others have detailed CC&Rs that cover everything from the color you can paint your vessel to the maximum number of houseguests allowed in a given month.
Liveaboard requirements are one of the most significant variables. Some docks require year-round liveaboard occupancy as a condition of slip tenancy. This matters for buyers who plan to travel extensively or who want to maintain another residence. Violating a liveaboard requirement — if enforced — can result in slip termination, which effectively makes the vessel unsellable in that location.
Pet policies vary more than buyers expect. Some docks are extremely pet-friendly with no size restrictions. Others limit pets to one small dog or have outright bans on certain breeds. If your pet situation is non-negotiable, the dock's pet policy should be verified before you make an offer.
What to Get in Writing
The most important advice Paul and Roman give buyers regarding HOA and dock rules: get everything in writing and read it before you're under contract. Ask the seller to provide the complete current CC&Rs, any dock association meeting minutes from the past two years, and the current fee schedule including any pending special assessments. Special assessments — one-time fees levied by the dock association for major repairs or infrastructure improvements — can be significant and are sometimes not disclosed promptly in the listing process.
If you have any specific use case that the rules might affect — a plan to do extensive renovation, a home business, frequent extended travel, short-term rental income — ask about it explicitly before you're emotionally attached to a specific home.