What is the Sausalito Fresh Catch Program?
The Sausalito Fresh Catch Program supports local fishermen selling their catch directly to the public off their boats at the waterfront. The program celebrates Sausalito's maritime heritage and gives residents and visitors access to fresh, sustainably harvested, local seafood, straight from the boat to the table.
The Good News: Most Off-Boat Sales Don’t Require a City Permit
Based on the City’s review of the Sausalito Municipal Code, temporary outdoor sales of fish directly from a boat do not require a permit from the City of Sausalito
, in any zoning district. This makes it easy for local fishermen to get started selling their catch right away, so long as any required state and county permits (below) are in place.
This is the City’s current interpretation of the Municipal Code. The City intends to formalize this interpretation and, where appropriate, update the code to reflect it, but fishermen do not need to wait for that process to begin selling.
Permits You May Need From Other Agencies
While the City doesn’t require a permit for temporary off-boat sales, other agencies may:
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Fisherman’s Retail Permit is required to sell your
catch directly to the public. - Marin County Health and Human Services (Environmental Health Services): Sales directly to
the public from a boat are treated as a fish market. A county health permit is not currently required, but you
must meet the county’s Temporary Food Facility (TFF) safety standards, including a handwashing station
and proper temperature control for your seafood. Note that the county has indicated a health permit will be
required once its fee structure changes in the future. - Selling directly to restaurants generally does not require a County Environmental Health permit; your valid
California Fish and Wildlife license already qualifies your catch as an “Approved Source.” - A City of Sausalito business license is required, as it would be for any commercial fishing operation based in
Sausalito.
Permanent Off-Boat Sales in the Waterfront-Marinship (W-M) District
- If you plan to sell fish off your boat on a permanent, ongoing basis and your boat is located within the
Waterfront-Marinship (W-M) zoning district, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the City of Sausalito
Community Development Department is required. This CUP requirement applies only to permanent sales in
the W-M district (temporary sales do not require a CUP, even within the W-M district). - To find out whether your boat is located within the W-M zoning district, refer to the City’s Zoning Ordinance or contact Community Development Department staff at cdd@sausalito.gov.
Restrictions and Requirements’
- Parking: Permanent off-boat sales require 3 parking spaces per boat. Temporary sales must provide
adequate parking, so long as sufficient open area is available on site, outside of public rights-of-way, to
accommodate employee and customer parking. - Outdoor display: Restrictions on the outdoor display of merchandise apply to permanent and temporary
outdoor sales operations. These restrictions impose limitations on outdoor display or merchandise, but do not disallow off-boat fish sales.
Contact Us
Questions about the Sausalito Fresh Catch Program? Contact the Community Development Department at
cdd@sausalito.gov.