Floating Homes Viewpoint

Sausalito’s floating homes community isn't a tourist attraction in the usual sense – it’s a residential neighborhood built on the waters of Richardson Bay. The community of over 400 permanent homes is moored in the Waldo Point Harbor marina, where they rise and fall with the tide on concrete, wood, or fiberglass hulls. Public docks branch off from the main sidewalk along Gate 5 and Gate 6 Roads, allowing you to walk out over the water and through the neighborhood. These homes are known for their eclectic and fiercely independent architecture. You’ll see everything from repurposed WWII-era barges and rustic shacks to multi-story modern designs, pagodas, and Victorian-style structures. The community’s origins trace back to the artists and bohemians who settled here after the war, repurposing surplus vessels from the decommissioned Marinship Shipyard. This history explains the creative, counter-culture spirit that still defines the area today. As you walk the narrow wooden piers like Issaquah Dock and Liberty Dock, you’ll pass personal gardens in planters, floral trellises, and nautical art that decorate the exteriors. The thing to know is that while the docks are public, this is a quiet residential area. Residents call them “floating homes,” not houseboats, a distinction that underscores their permanence. To respect the tight-knit community, keep noise low and leave dogs, bicycles, and cigarettes behind. For a wider perspective that doesn’t crowd the narrow walkways, some of the best views of the homes are from the shore. Public parking is available in a lot on Gate 6 Road.