From the Victorian Queen Anne and Italianate houses near downtown San Rafael and Mill Valley to the hillside homes that step down the slopes around Mount Tamalpais, Marin County has a lot of stairs. Many houses in places like Sausalito, Tiburon, Fairfax and San Anselmo were built into the hill, so getting from the garage to the kitchen or the bedroom often means climbing.
This page walks through how Marin's homes and terrain affect the choice between a straight, curved, outdoor or platform lift. It also lists the county, state and VA programs that may help with the cost, with the phone numbers to call.
Older town centers in San Rafael and Mill Valley hold Victorian-era Queen Anne and Italianate homes. Their staircases are often narrow and may turn at a landing, which usually calls for a curved rail built to the exact shape of the stairs.
The 1920s California Bungalows and shingle or Craftsman cottages tend to have shorter flights. A straight stair lift is often enough there, and it is typically the simpler install.
Mid-century Eichler neighborhoods, such as those in Lucas Valley, are known for one-level living. If you live in one, you may not need an interior lift at all, though a step at the entry or a sloped yard can still be worth a look.
Marin's terrain runs from sea level to Mount Tamalpais at 2,574 feet, with steep ridges and canyons in between. County hillside guidelines encourage homes to follow the slope, so many houses are split-level or multi-story with stairs you cannot avoid.
Split-level homes often have several short flights rather than one long one. Each flight may need its own straight lift, or a single curved rail can sometimes connect them if the layout allows.
Hillside homes also tend to have exterior steps from the street or driveway to the front door. An outdoor stair lift built for weather exposure, or a platform lift for a wheelchair user, can handle that part of the trip.
About 22.9% of Marin County residents are 65 or older, and the median age is 47.4 years. Roughly 63.5% of households own their home, which matters because owners can make permanent changes like installing a rail.
If someone in your family served, the VA grants listed below are worth checking before you pay out of pocket.
Most Marin homeowners pay privately for stair lifts. Public programs here are mostly means-tested, and several of them fund home modifications in general without naming stair lifts specifically.
A good first call is Marin County Aging and Adult Services at (415) 473-4636, or the Marin County Division of Aging (PSA 5) at (415) 499-7396, 10 North San Pedro Road, Suite 1012, San Rafael. Veterans can reach the Marin County Veteran’s Service Office at (415) 473-6193 in Suite 1010 of the same building.
Statewide, you can also ask about the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), VA Benefits for Veterans (HISA + Prosthetics) and the FreedomTech Low-Interest Assistive Technology Loan. The programs below have more detail.
A state Medi-Cal waiver for people who need nursing-facility level care but can be served at home; it funds home modifications such as ramps and grab bars, but the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (800) 300-1506.
Pays for in-home caregiver hours for Medi-Cal eligible people who are 65+, blind or disabled; it does not cover stair lifts or home modifications. Call (415) 473-4636.
The county's planning and referral hub, offering free contracted services to residents 60+, people with disabilities and family caregivers; the source does not mention stair lifts. Call (415) 473-4636.
A nonprofit that arranges home modifications like ramps and grab bars for older adults and people with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; whether stair lifts are covered is unknown. Call (415) 459-6245.
Offers loans between $25,000 and $75,000 to low-income Marin homeowners for repairs and accessibility items including stair repair, though stair lifts are not mentioned; the Marin program is currently closed to new applications with an interest form available. Call (415) 625-1036.
A federal grant of up to $126,526 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities to adapt a home they own; stair lifts are not specifically mentioned. Call (800) 827-1000.
A federal grant of up to $25,350 for FY2026 for veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of both hands or blindness; stair lifts are not specifically mentioned. Call (800) 827-1000.
Older adults
10 North San Pedro Road, Suite 1012, San Rafael, 94903
Veterans
10 North San Pedro Road, Suite 1010, San Rafael, 94903
IHSS does not cover stair lifts or home modifications. The Medi-Cal HCBA Waiver funds home modifications such as ramps and grab bars, but the source does not mention stair lifts, so call (800) 300-1506 to ask about your case.
Usually, yes. Split-level homes often have several short flights, which may need separate straight lifts or one curved rail, depending on how the stairs connect.
Marin County Aging and Adult Services serves residents 60 and older, people with disabilities and family caregivers. The HCBA Waiver has no age limit for those who meet its care and income rules.
Yes. Outdoor stair lifts are built for exterior steps, and a platform lift is an option if a wheelchair needs to go up with the rider.
Call the Marin County Veteran’s Service Office at (415) 473-6193 in San Rafael. They can help you look at the VA SAH and SHA grants, which you can also ask about at (800) 827-1000.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
