South Laguna

What it’s like

South Laguna is the southern end of Laguna Beach, a stretch of Coast Highway and coastal bluffs that runs toward Dana Point. The city’s Laguna Local map groups 25 stops under the name, from Coast Highway at Rockledge Road to Coast Highway at 9th Avenue. Several areas along this coast carry their own names and have their own pages: Victoria Beach, Lagunita, Blue Lagoon, Portafina and Three Arch Bay.

Realatrends.com describes beach cottages and modern homes, and its listings have included a duplex. Listed addresses in the South Laguna Village community include Coast Highway, Jewel Avenue, Fairview Road, 9th Avenue, 10th Avenue and Sunset Avenue. Craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s also stand in South Laguna.

The Coastal Commission lists seven public access points here. Aliso Beach Park, in the 31000 block of South Coast Highway, lists a fee, restrooms and tide pools. Camel Point has three access points, two of them stairs to parts of Aliso Beach. West Street Beach has stairs, and Table Rock Beach has a stairway to its cove at the end of Table Rock Drive. Thousand Steps Beach has a long stairway opposite 9th Avenue, with on-street parking and restrooms. The beach pages cover each one: Aliso Beach, West Street, Table Rock and Thousand Steps.

The Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area runs south from Goff Island to Table Rock, and West Street Beach lies on that stretch. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife does not allow fishing or any take of marine resources there.

Getting around

The free Coastal Route trolley runs on Coast Highway between North Laguna and Heisler Park, downtown, South Laguna and Mission Hospital, and on to the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point. On the off-season schedule, which covers September 8, 2026 to June 25, 2027, it comes every 20 to 30 minutes. Laguna Local, the city’s free on-demand shared ride, lists stops at Aliso Beach, Gelson’s Shopping Center, the Laguna Beach Community & Recreation Center, Lang Park, Table Rock, Eagle Rock Way and Mission Hospital. You book by app, online or through transit dispatch.

Mission Hospital Laguna Beach is at 31872 Pacific Coast Highway. West Street Beach lies about 3.4 miles from Main Beach in a straight line. The getting around guide has routes and hours, and the parking guide covers city permits.

Things to know before you buy or rent

South Laguna’s utilities differ from the rest of town. The city lists South Coast Water District for water and sewer and SDG&E for electricity here. The rest of the city uses the Laguna Beach County Water District, the city’s own sewer service and Southern California Edison. SoCalGas supplies gas citywide. Confirm the providers for an address.

The city is expanding its fuel break program to South Laguna, and goat grazing and hand crews maintain the breaks. The Fire Department also offers property owners a free wildfire consultation. According to the department, about 87% of the city’s land and about 65% of its buildable property sit in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The city’s evacuation zones include South Coast, Mar Vista, Wesley, Sunset and Balboa Nyes. Each has its own map, and the city recommends that you print yours and learn the routes.

Bluff-top and oceanfront lots carry extra review. Design review sends shoreline and bluff protective devices and any improvement taller than 15 feet to a public hearing, and development that is subject to design review, or exempt from it, may still need a coastal development permit. If you are looking at a lot, the city’s GIS shows whether the parcel carries a building-site designation.

The city no longer allows new short-term lodging, meaning stays of 30 days or less, in its R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts. Existing permitted units are legal nonconforming, and the use runs with the land. See the short-term rentals guide.

Laguna Beach Unified School District operates the public schools. Anneliese Schools, a private school, runs a South Laguna campus for nursery through kindergarten. For school names and locations, see the schools guide. Realatrends.com’s South Laguna guide lists the homes for sale now and the most recent sales.