Remodeling in Laguna Beach

42 percent of Laguna Beach homes were built before 1960

Census Bureau figures for 2020 to 2024 count 13,598 housing units in Laguna Beach, and 5,742 of them went up before 1960, including 2,139 from 1939 or earlier, and half of all units predate 1964. A house that age was framed and wired long before current seismic, energy and wildfire codes. Expect a remodel to open up more than the room on the plans, and budget for bringing older wiring, plumbing and insulation up to code once the walls are open.

Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, Year Structure Built, Laguna Beach

85 percent of Laguna Beach lies in a Very High fire hazard zone

The Laguna Beach Fire Department says 85 percent of the city is in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and the council adopted updated state fire hazard maps on June 24, 2025. The department's home hardening guidance calls for Class A roofs, vents screened with openings between 1/16 and 1/8 inch, and skylight mesh no larger than 1/8 inch. New construction and major remodels inside the fuel modification zone must also meet the department's landscape and fuel modification standards, which control what can grow near the house.

Source: Laguna Beach Fire Department, Defensible Space

Additions over half the original floor area go to design review

Laguna Beach reviews the look and bulk of most exterior work under its design review code. The city's exemption list lets an addition skip review only if it adds less than 50 percent of the original floor area, adds no new upper story and stays 15 feet or less above grade. A street-facing facade change must stay under 50 percent, decks must sit no more than 3 feet above grade and sheds must stay at 120 square feet and under 12 feet tall. Anything larger goes to staff or to the Design Review Board, which meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

Source: City of Laguna Beach, Projects Exempt from Design Review

How much does it cost to remodel a house in Laguna Beach?

Laguna Beach does not publish permit values as data, so the nearest figures are regional and local housing numbers. Metro owners in the Census Bureau's 2023 survey reported a median of $5,000 for window and door work, and roofers in the metro earned a median $30.56 an hour in 2025. Homes here have a median value above $2 million.

Does my Laguna Beach remodel need design review?

It depends on size. An addition skips design review only if it adds less than half the original floor area, adds no upper story and stays 15 feet or less above grade. A repaint, a Class A reroof with the same pitch, decks up to 3 feet high and sheds up to 120 square feet are also exempt. Larger work goes to staff or the Design Review Board.

Is Laguna Beach in a high fire hazard zone?

Most of it is. The fire department says 85 percent of the city lies in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and updated state maps were adopted on June 24, 2025. Remodels there call for Class A roofs and finely screened vents, and major work in the fuel modification zone must meet the city's landscape standards.

What work needs no permit in Laguna Beach?

Very little. The city lists interior painting, wallpaper, flooring, window coverings and portable plug-in appliances as work that needs no permit. Reroofs, fences, air conditioning units and window replacements need permits but can get over-the-counter planning review. New or larger window openings need the neighbor's consent, and construction is allowed only on weekdays.

Who issues coastal development permits in Laguna Beach?

The city does. Its Local Coastal Program was certified by the Coastal Commission on January 13, 1993, and it hands permit authority to Laguna Beach everywhere except Blue Lagoon, Lower Irvine Cove and Three Arch Bay, where the Commission keeps it. In appeal areas, a city approval can still be appealed to the Commission within 10 business days.