Zip code 90290, Mar 2026 to May 2026, from the Redfin Data Center. 90290 is Topanga, and sales are few, so medians can swing a lot from one period to the next. Zip codes don't line up neatly with neighborhood borders, and medians hide a wide range of homes, so treat these as a rough feel for the area.
In 1917 Oscar Trippet Sr. bought part of an old canyon homestead as a weekend escape from the city, and after 1923 his son added a superintendent's house, horse stables and a skeet lodge designed by LA architect Sumner Spaulding. Voters approved buying the ranch and surrounding land in 1964, and the park opened in 1974. Today it covers about 11,000 acres of oak woodland and sandstone ridges, with Trippet Ranch as its front door.
The homes
Topanga is a canyon town, and its homes follow the land. Some of the oldest are small cabins and cottages from the 1920s, when the canyon became a weekend getaway from the city. Around them you'll find owner-built and artist-built houses, mid-century homes, and contemporary custom homes set into the hillsides to catch views of the canyon and, from the higher ridges, the ocean.
Lots are generally larger than in the city, often sloped and wooded, and some parcels have room for horses, gardens or a guest house. Homes along the main canyon sit closer to the boulevard, while side roads and ridge-top areas like Topanga Skyline feel more tucked away. Many homes rely on septic systems and some on private roads, which adds homework you won't find in the flats.
The feel
- Topanga State Park has about 36 miles of trails and unpaved roads, with Trippet Ranch's oak meadow and pond as the main trailhead and views from Eagle Rock over the mountains.
- Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, founded in 1973, stages Shakespeare and other plays in an outdoor amphitheater set into the canyon.
- The boulevard. Topanga Canyon Boulevard winds past small shopping centers, cafes, galleries and vintage shops, with Pine Tree Circle as a central stop.
- Topanga Beach and the lagoon sit where the creek meets the ocean, a well-known surf spot just off Pacific Coast Highway.
- Topanga Days fills the Topanga Community House grounds every Memorial Day weekend with music, crafts, food and a parade.
Eat, drink, shop
- Inn of the Seventh Ray (Old Topanga Canyon Rd). A creekside restaurant under the sycamores since the 1970s, with candlelit dinners, a big weekend brunch and a garden setting. Spectrum News
- Hidden Treasures (S Topanga Canyon Blvd). A roadside vintage and costume shop in a ramshackle, pirate-ship style building, stocked with everything from varsity jackets to antique sleepwear. Time Out
- Theatricum Botanicum picnics. The outdoor theater invites guests to bring a picnic before the show and eat under the oaks. Theatricum Botanicum
Getting around
Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27) is the main road, running from Pacific Coast Highway up through the canyon to Woodland Hills and the 101. From the center of the canyon, Santa Monica and Woodland Hills are each often 25 to 35 minutes away off-peak, and Pacific Palisades and Malibu are just down the coast. It's a winding mountain road with one main route in and out, so plan regular drives around it and check conditions with Caltrans.
What's new
- Topanga Lagoon restoration. A multi-agency project would grow the lagoon from about 1 acre to 8 acres, lengthen the PCH bridge from 79 to 440 feet, and add parking, trails, better bus stops and a new lifeguard building at Topanga Beach. Design work advanced in 2026. (LA County)
- Theatricum's 2026 season. The outdoor theater ran a full repertory season from June into early October 2026, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Treasure Island. (KPFK)
Good to know
- Unincorporated county. Topanga is not in any city, so building permits and planning go through LA County. Parts of Topanga are in the Coastal Zone under the county's Santa Monica Mountains Local Coastal Program, which can add review time. Verify with LA County Planning.
- Septic and private roads. Many homes use septic systems, and some sit on private or shared roads. Inspect the septic system, review its permits, and ask about road maintenance agreements.
- Hazard maps and insurance. Check any address on CAL FIRE's hazard zone map and talk to an insurance broker early in your search.
- Hillside lots. Slopes, drainage and unpermitted additions are common topics. A geotechnical review and a permit history check are worth considering.
Questions people ask
Is Topanga part of Los Angeles?
No. Topanga is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, so permits and planning run through the county rather than the City of LA. It sits in the Santa Monica Mountains between Pacific Palisades and Malibu, and parts of it fall in the California Coastal Zone.
What kind of homes are in Topanga?
A wide mix: 1920s weekend cabins and cottages, owner-built and artist-built houses, mid-century homes, contemporary custom homes with canyon or ocean views, and larger parcels with room for horses or gardens. Lots are often large and sloped, and many homes use septic systems.
How far is Topanga from the beach?
Close. Topanga Canyon Boulevard runs down to Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Beach, often 10 to 20 minutes from the center of the canyon. Santa Monica is often 25 to 35 minutes away off-peak, and Woodland Hills in the Valley is about the same distance north.
What is Topanga known for?
Topanga State Park and its trails, the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum outdoor theater, a long creative and artistic streak, vintage shops and cafes along the boulevard, Topanga Days over Memorial Day weekend, and Topanga Beach and lagoon where the canyon meets the ocean.
