- Population
- 22,391 (Census estimate, July 1, 2025)
- Area
- 8.84 square miles, per the city
- Founded
- June 29, 1927, per the city
- ZIP code
- 92651
- Area code
- 949
Facts at a glance
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Southwest Orange County, California | City of Laguna Beach |
| Population, July 1, 2025 estimate | 22,391 | Census Bureau |
| Population, April 1, 2020 Census | 23,032 | Census Bureau |
| Area | 8.84 square miles; Census land area 8.89 square miles (2020) | City; Census Bureau |
| Founded | June 29, 1927 | City of Laguna Beach |
| Government | Council-manager; five-person City Council | City of Laguna Beach |
| Visitors a year | 6 million | City of Laguna Beach |
| Coastline | 7.5 miles covered by the city lifeguards | City of Laguna Beach Marine Safety |
| Beach and cove guides on this site | 33 | Search Laguna |
| Marine protected areas | Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve and Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area | California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| Elevation | About 14 feet on Ocean Avenue; about 1,009 feet on Treetop Lane | USGS elevation service |
| ZIP code | 92651 | City of Laguna Beach |
| Area code | 949 | City of Laguna Beach |
| Time zone | Pacific | Federal time zone rules, 49 CFR Part 71 |
| Sales and use tax rate | 7.75%, rates effective October 1, 2026 | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration |
| Public school district | Laguna Beach Unified School District | City; district |
| Households | 10,839, with 2.08 people per household (2020 to 2024) | Census Bureau |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.0 minutes (2020 to 2024) | Census Bureau |
Population and area
The Census Bureau counted 22,723 residents in 2010 and 23,032 in 2020. Its July 1, 2025 estimate is 22,391. The 2020 Census put the density at 2,589.6 people per square mile of land. The city’s own page rounds the population to 23,000.
Government
The city says Laguna Beach operates under a council-manager form of government. A five-person City Council holds policy-making and legislative authority, and the City Manager carries out its policies and appoints department heads. City Hall is at 505 Forest Avenue, and the general line is 949-497-3311. See city government and voting and the city services directory.
Time zone and sales tax
Laguna Beach is in the Pacific time zone, which federal rules define as the part of the continental United States west of the mountain zone boundary, a line that follows the Arizona-California border. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration lists a sales and use tax rate of 7.75 percent for Laguna Beach in its rates effective October 1, 2026. The department puts the statewide base rate at 7.25 percent and says local district taxes add to it in most areas.
Local news
Two local news outlets cover Laguna Beach:
Coast, beaches and marine reserves
The city’s Marine Safety Department says its lifeguards cover seven and a half miles of the city’s coastline. The beaches section has a page for each of 33 beaches and coves. The Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve covers 4.4 miles of shoreline from Abalone Point to Goff Island. The Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area, a no-take area, runs 1.2 miles from Goff Island to Table Rock. See marine reserves.
Schools
The Laguna Beach Unified School District operates the public schools: two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. See schools.
Climate normals
These are NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 monthly normals for the Laguna Beach station. Temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit and precipitation is in inches.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Precipitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68.4 | 44.2 | 2.78 |
| February | 67.8 | 44.8 | 3.39 |
| March | 69.3 | 47.9 | 1.62 |
| April | 72.5 | 50.1 | 0.80 |
| May | 74.5 | 54.5 | 0.20 |
| June | 76.0 | 57.8 | 0.11 |
| July | 79.5 | 60.1 | 0.11 |
| August | 81.2 | 61.2 | 0.02 |
| September | 81.0 | 58.5 | 0.16 |
| October | 77.2 | 55.1 | 0.49 |
| November | 72.2 | 48.5 | 1.13 |
| December | 67.3 | 43.8 | 1.87 |
The monthly precipitation normals add up to 12.68 inches a year. See weather and climate for more.
Airports
Distances are approximate driving distances from Ocean Avenue by Main Beach, measured with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data, not official figures. Traffic changes the time.
| Airport | Distance by road |
|---|---|
| John Wayne Airport, Orange County | About 15.0 miles |
| Long Beach Airport | About 35.0 miles |
| Los Angeles International Airport | About 55.2 miles |
| San Diego International Airport | About 70.5 miles |
See getting around and commute and jobs.
Sister cities
Visit Laguna Beach lists the city’s sister cities as Menton, France; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; and St. Ives, England.
Questions
What is the population of Laguna Beach, California?
The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate is 22,391. The 2020 Census counted 23,032 residents.
How big is Laguna Beach?
The city says it covers 8.84 square miles. The Census Bureau lists 8.89 square miles of land area for 2020.
When was Laguna Beach founded?
The city says Laguna Beach was founded on June 29, 1927. Its financial report says the city was incorporated in 1927 under the General Laws of California.
What ZIP code is Laguna Beach?
The city prints 92651 in its City Hall address, 505 Forest Avenue. The city's general information number is 949-497-3311.
How many beaches does Laguna Beach have?
No official count was found. The city's Marine Safety Department says it covers seven and a half miles of the city's coastline, and this site has a guide to each of 33 beaches and coves.
Get the moving checklist
The printable checklist by email: before you move, moving week and your first 30 days.
Living here
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Last reviewed
Sources (20)
- City of Laguna Beach: 8.84 square miles, population of 23,000, six million visitors each year, council-manager form of government, five-person City Council, City Manager appoints department heads, founded June 29, 1927; City Hall at 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; general information 949-497-3311: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-28
- Census Bureau QuickFacts: population estimate July 1, 2025 of 22,391; Census population April 1, 2020 of 23,032 and April 1, 2010 of 22,723; land area 8.89 square miles and 2,589.6 people per square mile (2020); 10,839 households and 2.08 persons per household (2020-2024); mean travel time to work 29.0 minutes (2020-2024): census.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- City of Laguna Beach Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the year ended June 30, 2025: the city was incorporated in 1927 under the General Laws of the State of California: ocauditor.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- City of Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department: it protects over six million beach visitors along seven-and-a-half miles of the city's coastline: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-28
- Visit Laguna Beach fact sheet: the city has a Sister City Partnership with Menton, France; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; and St. Ives, England: visitlagunabeach.com, checked 2026-10-28
- Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve: 6.72 square miles and a 4.4 mile shoreline span from Abalone Point to Goff Island; Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area (no-take): 3.09 square miles and a 1.2 mile shoreline span from Goff Island to Table Rock: wildlife.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- USGS elevation service: about 14 feet at a point on Ocean Avenue in the Village: epqs.nationalmap.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- USGS elevation service: about 1,009 feet at a point on Treetop Lane in Top of the World: epqs.nationalmap.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- Laguna Beach Unified School District operates the public schools; two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school: lbusd.org, checked 2026-10-28
- The city lists the Laguna Beach Unified School District as the operator of public schools in the city: lagunabeachcity.net, checked 2026-10-28
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly, station USC00044647 Laguna Beach: average highs, average lows and precipitation by month: ncei.noaa.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- Driving distance from Ocean Avenue by Main Beach to John Wayne Airport, about 15.0 miles (OSRM route on OpenStreetMap data; not an official distance): router.project-osrm.org, checked 2026-10-28
- Driving distance from Ocean Avenue by Main Beach to Long Beach Airport, about 35.0 miles (OSRM): router.project-osrm.org, checked 2026-10-28
- Driving distance from Ocean Avenue by Main Beach to Los Angeles International Airport, about 55.2 miles (OSRM): router.project-osrm.org, checked 2026-10-28
- Driving distance from Ocean Avenue by Main Beach to San Diego International Airport, about 70.5 miles (OSRM): router.project-osrm.org, checked 2026-10-28
- 49 CFR 71.10 Pacific zone: the Pacific standard time zone includes that part of the continental United States west of the boundary between the mountain and Pacific zones described in 71.9 (Alaska excluded); 71.9(b) runs the boundary south along the Utah-Nevada, Nevada-Arizona and Arizona-California boundaries to Mexico: ecfr.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- CDTFA California City & County Sales & Use Tax Rates (effective October 1, 2026): Laguna Beach 7.750%, Orange County, city: cdtfa.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- CDTFA Sales and Use Tax Rates page: current rates are the Tax Rates Effective October 1, 2026; the statewide tax rate is 7.25%; in most areas local jurisdictions have added district taxes that increase the tax owed: cdtfa.ca.gov, checked 2026-10-28
- Laguna Beach Independent, the local newspaper for Laguna Beach (its About page: founded in 2003; local news, politics, arts, sports and events): lagunabeachindy.com, checked 2026-10-28
- Stu News Laguna describes itself as Laguna Beach's online newspaper and community forum: stunewslaguna.com, checked 2026-10-28