Selling a house in Laguna Beach, CA: what the city requires

Orange County, California · Last checked November 2026

Required at sale

Laguna Beach requires a Real Property Report before a sale.

What Laguna Beach requires

Real Property Report

Who does it
City of Laguna Beach
Cost
$400 per the 2026 title-company list

Who to call

Laguna Beach Community Development
(949) 497-0712
Official page

Housing in Laguna Beach

Median year homes were built
1964
Median home value
$2 million or more
Owner-occupied homes
7,165 of 10,839 (66%)
Total housing units
13,598

Homes here are typically from 1964 or later, so inspections tend to focus on safety items like smoke and CO alarms, GFCI outlets and handrails.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Laguna Beach city, California.

Need this done in Laguna Beach?

Get quotes from a local local permit expediter, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.

What do you need?

How the city presale report process works

Some California cities require a presale records report before escrow closes. It tells the buyer what the city has on file: legal use, permits, open violations, and sometimes items found on an inspection.

  1. Order the report from the city as soon as you list. Processing can take days to weeks.
  2. Read it for unpermitted work or open violations. These are the items that slow a sale.
  3. Give the report to the buyer before the deadline in the city ordinance, usually before close of escrow.
Typical cost ranges (estimates, not quotes)
ItemTypical range
City report fee$0 to $1,050, depending on the city

Read the full city presale report guide

If the house fails

You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.

Frequently asked questions

What does Laguna Beach require before I sell my house?

Laguna Beach requires a Real Property Report before a sale.

How much does the real property report cost in Laguna Beach?

$400 per the 2026 title-company list Typical related costs: city report fee $0 to $1,050, depending on the city.

What if my house fails?

You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.

Who pays, the buyer or the seller?

The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.

How old are the homes in Laguna Beach?

The median home in Laguna Beach was built in 1964, and the median home value is $2 million or more, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

Nearby: Los Angeles & Orange County

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Sources

Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.