Rent and Benchmark Information

Commission lease terms may run from several months to 49 years. Rent is generally based on a percent of the land value or an established benchmark appraisal. Below are the benchmarks we use to establish uniform rental rates:

  • Category 1 benchmarks are applied to private docks, piers, and buoys.
  • Category 2 benchmarks are applied to cantilevered decks, sundecks, or other non-water-dependent encroachments.

Note: Benchmarks are generally updated every five years.

Category 1 Benchmarks

LocationRental Rate ($/SF)Last UpdatedProposed Update
Tomales Bay berths
Proposed rate
$ 0.133
$ 0.133
December 2020October 2026
Tomales Bay buoys *
Proposed rate
$ 140.00
$ 167.00
December 2020October 2026
Lake Tahoe berths
Proposed rate
$ 0.814
$ 0.976
December 2021October 2026
Lake Tahoe buoys *
Proposed rate
$ 273.00
$ 565.00
December 2021October 2026
Lake Tahoe temporary/secondary submerged anchors ***
Proposed rate
N/A
$ 28.25
N/AOctober 2026
San Francisco Bay Area $ 0.227February 20222027
Southern California $ 0.451June 20222027
Colorado River $ 0.217February 20232028
San Pablo Bay $ 0.206February 20252030
Sacramento River $ 0.246August 20252030
Delta Area $ 0.197August 20252030

* per buoy
*** per anchor

Category 2** Benchmarks

** The Category 2 Benchmark may be discounted to reflect that the sovereign land being leased may not have the same utility as the upland property.

LocationRental Rate ($/SF)Last UpdatedProposed Update
Lake Tahoe
Proposed rate
$ 13.05
$ 23.85
December 2021October 2026
Huntington Harbour $ 41.22 June 20222027
Solana Beach $ 91.53 April 20242029
Corte Madera $ 5.22 June 20242029
Sandy Beach $ 5.13 August 20242029
Napa $ 7.02 April 20252030
Black Point $ 1.24December 20252030