City, Los Angeles County
© McCormack's Guides
Zip Codes: 90263, 90264, 90265
City of fame and the famous. One of longest shorelines in California, 27 miles. Home to movie stars and magnates but mostly to upper-middle professionals. www.mccormacks.com
Residences from opulent to middle to somewhat ratty (at least on outside). Great views of Pacific but many homes are built on flat lands without views.
School rankings among highest in state. Crime low. Population 13,700. Median age of residents is 43. Under 18 years, 20 percent. Over 55 years, 27 percent. Many adults, few kids.
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Several forces influenced Malibu’s residential development. A good deal of the town was erected before tough building and zoning codes were passed. This pretty much left quality and positioning up to developers and individual owners. Their tastes varied. A few homes look worn and pinched but increasing values are encouraging owners to remodel or rebuild.
Malibu incorporated as a city in 1990 in large part because it wanted to bring development under control. Anything built now faces stricter rules.
Malibu backs up against the Santa Monica Mountains. The terrain, especially in south, is steep. Home pads are small. As you move north, the ruggedness eases off, creating mesas ideal for large homes pointed toward the Pacific. www.mccormacks.com
The civic center, main supermarket and many stores are located near Malibu Lagoon where the land levels. Beaches, with exceptions, are not deep. Many homes on south side are built on pilings washed by ocean waves.
On the Riviera (a neighborhood) homes sit on high bluff overlooking Pacific, and often away from Pacific. To be near the ocean is not necessarily to have the best view.
All this notwithstanding, this city is unusually blessed with its mountains, hills and shore. When Malibu kids square off for soccer on a shore mesa, the backdrop is the blue Pacific.
The state in 2008 counted 6,382 housing units: 4,039 single homes, 491 single attached, 1,242 multiples, 610 mobiles.
Served by the Santa Monica-Malibu School District. Almost all schools score in 90th percentile. Bond passed to improve schools and build classrooms and gym at Malibu High. In 2003, a parcel tax was renewed to maintain instructional quality — strong support for schools. www.mccormacks.com
Malibu has within city limits three elementary schools, kindergarten through grade five, and a middle-high school that goes from six through 12. See Schools.
One homicide in 2005, zero from 2004 to 2001. Previous years, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 2, 4. Richer homes and streets have guards and gates. Arguments over beach access. See Crime .
Headlines over happenings on the Pacific Coast Highway, called PCH, the only arterial for Malibu. (Also called Highway 1.) Nick Nolte and Mel Gibson, while driving under the influence of this or that, have had on the PCH memorable encounters with the cops.
Beaches galore. Horse ranches. Regional parks along the shore and in the mountains. Little League, surf camp. Restaurants. Shops.
Pepperdine University sits in the middle of Malibu, a lovely campus. www.mccormacks.com
The Pacific Coast Highway gets snarled and occasionally washed out by slides. Back roads to San Fernando Valley. About 25 miles to downtown L.A.
The canyons and mountains east of Malibu are fire prone and their residents are cautioned about the fire dangers. The beach is considered more fire safe but in January 2007 Santa Ana winds fueled a blaze that destroyed five shore homes, one owned by Suzanne Somers. Many policies for the coast are set by a state commission. Malibu officials say they are pushing for changes that would allow more brush to be removed from environmentally sensitive areas.
For orientation on cities, towns and neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, see County Overview.
Chamber of commerce: (310) 456-9025.
City web site: www.ci.malibu.ca.us
