Harbor guide
Richardson Bay
Sausalito, Marin County, CA
Overview
Richardson Bay is the shallow northwest arm of San Francisco Bay beside Sausalito, Belvedere, Tiburon and Mill Valley. It has long been a place where boats anchor, and it's a major eelgrass habitat. The Richardson Bay Regional Agency (RBRA), a joint powers agency whose member cities include Belvedere, Mill Valley and Tiburon, manages the bay's temporary anchorage while protecting the environment and the safety of the boats on it.
Anchoring rules
The RBRA code lets anyone anchor temporarily for no more than 72 hours in any seven-day period without a permit, in designated anchorage areas. The Harbor Master can issue permits for transient vessels that exceed 72 hours, valid for 30 days and renewable for two more 30-day periods when no permanent residential use is intended. Boats must be seaworthy and operable, currently registered with the California DMV or Coast Guard documented, and have a working marine sanitation device. Speeds are capped at 5 mph in the anchorage areas, Belvedere Cove and Sausalito Channel. Anchoring means ground tackle carried on board, while a mooring is permanent equipment left on the bottom.
Eelgrass Protection Zone
The RBRA created an Eelgrass Protection Zone in October 2024 in which vessels may not anchor. Eelgrass is a habitat that anchors and chains scar. The agency reports it removed boats from the zone gradually, and by April 2026 the last vessel had been moved out except for two exceptions with deadlines in October 2026. Restoration has gone well: planting in May 2026 brought total planted eelgrass to 16.5 acres, beating the 15-acre goal a year early.
The transition plan
The RBRA's Transition Plan, adopted in June 2020 and updated as Transition Plan 2.0 in 2022, set a policy of no unoccupied vessels and no extended stays for incoming vessels, with a Safe and Seaworthy program for eligible legacy vessels and housing outreach. The plan and the agreement with BCDC set an October 2026 deadline after which no vessel may anchor beyond the authorized time limits. The agency reported only six vessels in the bay in February 2026, down from the 100-plus present in 2022.
No discharge
Richardson Bay is an EPA-designated no-discharge zone, so hold sewage and use a pump-out at a marina.
Getting there & access
Getting there
From the Golden Gate, run east along the Marin shore past Sausalito into Richardson Bay. Currents are strong near the bridge, so time the passage, and watch depths as you go.
Where you can anchor
Anchor only in the designated anchorage, outside the Eelgrass Protection Zone. Without a permit you can stay for 72 hours in any seven-day period. For longer, the Harbor Master issues 30-day permits.
Contact RBRA
The RBRA office is at 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 308, San Rafael, CA 94903, phone (415) 971-3919. Check with the agency for current anchorage boundaries and mooring buoys.
Enforcement
The RBRA patrols and its Harbor Master can cite, remove and impound vessels. Citations have been issued for anchoring beyond 72 hours without a permit and for anchoring in a no-anchor zone.
Mooring buoys
The designated anchorage is marked by buoys. King tides in January 2026 damaged the system; as of March 2026, four of five buoys had been replaced.
Amenities
- Designated anchorage — Temporary anchoring, 72 hours without a permit
- 30-day transient permits — Issued by the Harbor Master for longer stays
- Nearby marinas — Sausalito marinas and Clipper Yacht Harbor's fuel dock are close by
- Eelgrass habitat — Restored beds, with annual drone surveys tracking recovery and anchor scour
- Patrols — RBRA staff patrol several days a week
Rules & official resources
- Anchoring is allowed for up to 72 hours in any seven-day period without a permit, in designated anchorage areas only
- 30-day transient permits are issued by the Harbor Master and can be renewed for two additional 30-day periods
- No anchoring in the Eelgrass Protection Zone
- Vessels must be seaworthy, registered or documented, and have a working marine sanitation device
- Maximum 5 mph in the anchorage areas, Belvedere Cove and Sausalito Channel
- Richardson Bay is an EPA-designated no-discharge zone
- California Boater Card required for all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025
Common boat service needs here
Transport and towing
Boats that must leave the anchorage or the Eelgrass Protection Zone sometimes need towing or delivery to a marina.
Find Boat Transport, Towing & Delivery providers →Marine mechanics
Seaworthiness and a working engine are required in the anchorage, so engine and electrical checks are common.
Find Marine Mechanics & Engine Service providers →Surveys and inspections
Vessels in the anchorage must be seaworthy, and surveys help owners confirm condition.
Find Marine Surveyors & Inspections providers →Marina and slip services
Owners leaving the anchorage often look for slips and storage in nearby Sausalito marinas.
Find Marinas, Storage & Dock Services providers →Guides & FAQs
Nearby providers
No providers listed near this location yet — check back soon.
Sources
Last verified October 2, 2026