The mission of the City of Novato is to provide excellentservices and enrich the quality of life within the community in a fiscally responsible manner.

By 2011, Novato will be recognised as one of the most vibrant and desirable communities in california in which to live, work, learn, shop, play, and visit.

Novato, California is the northernmost city in Marin County, approximately twenty-nine miles north of San Francisco and thirty-seven miles northwest of Oakland. Novato covers twenty-eight square miles. As of the 2000 Census, Novato has a population of 47,630 which is 76.3% White, 13.1% Hispanic, 5.1% Asian, 1.9% Black and 3.6% all other races. The State of California estimates Novato's population at 48,754 as of January 1, 2002.

The City of Novato was incorporated on January 20, 1960 as a general law city.