Marin County HOA Guide
Hamilton HOA Guide: The Levee, the CFD and Who Maintains What
Hamilton is the former Hamilton Field in south Novato, built behind a city-maintained levee where some homes sit up to two feet below sea level. A city maintenance tax pays for the levee, pump stations and perimeter landscaping, while the HOAs look after internal landscaping and entry features.
Owners in Hamilton deal with a city levee, a Mello-Roos district that never fully ends and several HOAs with different jobs. This guide sorts out what the public record shows, so a board knows where its responsibilities start.
Facts on this page were checked against City of Novato records and state documents on October 28, 2026. The most recent district tax report we could read was for 2022-23, and city records do not name every association, so confirm details with the city and your association before you rely on them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
Hamilton at a glance
The levee
The Hamilton levee was built in 1997 and is maintained by the City of Novato. It was raised about three and a half feet in 2007, with the splash wall raised about four feet, and it is designed for 100-year flood protection. The city submitted its levee operations and maintenance manual to FEMA in 2015 as part of accreditation. The Bay Trail runs along the bay side under a public access easement.
The city quotes the Hamilton Field CC&Rs, section 7.9: there may be no gate or opening in the part of a fence next to the levee slope. Architectural committees should keep that rule in front of owners on levee-side lots. Public Works: (415) 899-8246.
What to do about it: What Does Homeowners Association Insurance Cover? and Understanding HOA Reserve Studies.
The Hamilton CFD tax
The Hamilton Community Facilities District tax has two parts. The facilities part paid the bonds, which the city expected to retire in 2025. The services part pays to run and maintain the levee, storm drains and pump stations, plus landscape maintenance and irrigation, and the city says it continues in perpetuity, with the City Council approving the budget each year. It rises each year with a construction cost index.
In 2022-23, the maximum services tax was $935.95 per single-family home and $573.74 per condominium in Phase I, and $413.97 and $288.01 in Phase II. Hideaway (San Pablo Court) is outside the district and pays a matching landscape and lighting assessment instead. The amount on your own tax bill is the figure to use.
What to do about it: Planning Your HOA Budget and Buying a House in an HOA? Here’s What You Need to Know.
Who maintains what
A city-posted 2019 presentation on perimeter wall repairs, given with the Hamilton Fields HOA board, splits the work this way:
Check your own CC&Rs and recorded maps before budgeting for walls or landscaping, since the split can differ from one association to the next.
What to do about it: What Are HOA Assets? explains how to build a list of what your association owns, and Who Pays for Repairs in an HOA? helps sort out the rest.
City rules
Novato rules owners run into
Hamilton is inside the City of Novato, so city rules apply on top of the CC&Rs. A few that come up often:
Water rebates
North Marin Water District’s lawn rebate pays up to $100 per unit for HOA common areas, with approval required before work starts.
California rules: For the California rules behind these projects, see California HOA maintenance and repair responsibilities and California HOA reserves.
RVs and trailers
None on any city street without a temporary police permit.
California rules: For the state rules on enforcement, fines and hearings, see California HOA enforcement, fines and disputes.
Leaf blowers
Gas leaf blowers are banned citywide.
More: the Novato HOA Guide covers the rest of the city rules.
Sorting out a levee district, several HOAs and a wall nobody owns?
Shared infrastructure makes for a lot of moving parts. If your board is reviewing how the community is managed, start with Self-Managed vs. Professional HOA Management, or tell us about your community and we will send you options from affiliated management companies.
Compare HOA management optionsQuick answers
Questions Hamilton owners and board members ask
Who maintains the levee?
The City of Novato, paid for by the Hamilton CFD services tax.
Does the CFD tax end once the bonds are paid off?
The city says the services part, which pays for the levee, pumps and perimeter landscaping, continues in perpetuity. Check your tax bill for the current amount.
Who owns the perimeter walls?
A 2019 city presentation says residents own them. They were meant to be transferred to the HOA but never were.
Can I add a gate to my levee-side fence?
Not under the Hamilton Field CC&Rs the city quotes, which bar any gate or opening in the fence next to the levee slope.
Who to call
Hamilton contacts
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Novato Public Works | (415) 899-8246 | Levee, pump stations, CFD questions |
| Novato Planning | (415) 899-8989 | Permits, trees |
| Novato Code Enforcement | (415) 899-8928 | Property violations |
| NMWD water conservation | (415) 761-8944 | Rebates, water rules |
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Novato: Hamilton levee; community facilities districts; Hamilton CFD FAQ; Hamilton CFD annual tax report, 2022-23; perimeter wall presentation, 2019; temporary RV parking permit; gas-powered leaf blowers.
Other: State Coastal Conservancy, Hamilton Wetlands and Bel Marin Keys Unit V; North Marin Water District, rebates.
Professional management
Thinking about management help?
Tell us about your community and we will send you options from affiliated management companies.
Compare HOA management optionsBrowse all HOA topicsThis page is general educational information, not legal, financial or insurance advice. How2HOA is not affiliated with the associations or agencies named here. Ownership and maintenance vary parcel by parcel, so check your recorded maps and governing documents and talk with your association’s attorney or another qualified professional about your situation.