The Marin County Department of Weights & Measures – They Do What?

Nestled off of 7th street in Novato is a small county building whose work impacts our lives every single day. Most Marinites probably couldn’t tell you what the Marin County Weights and Measures Department does, but their work affects each trip we take to the grocery store, every stop we make to fill our gas tank and significantly impacts our household finances.

Weights and Measures’ mission is to ensure equity in the market place for all of Marin citizens. This means that every ounce of food you purchase and every gallon of fuel you pump is uniformly regulated. Their work ensures that when you purchase 16 ounces of tomato sauce or a pound of beef, you are receiving what you pay for.  And when you fill up at the pump, Weights and Measures’ employees make sure the scale that measures the gas is fairly charging you for what you use — if the scale was off, you as a consumer could end up grossly overpaying and never know it.

By having a uniform system throughout the country that is enforced by municipal agencies, the department enhances consumer confidence and enables U.S. businesses to compete fairly at home and abroad.

Weights and Measures is a great example of a county service most people don’t know about but is crucial to the smooth functioning of our economy and quality of life. The dedicated workers of the Marin County Weights and Measures department keep Marin balanced and keep prices fair for Marin consumers and businesses.