Buena Park

Buena Park covers about 10.6 square miles on the northwestern edge of Orange County, bordered by Anaheim, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra and La Palma and by Cerritos and La Mirada in Los Angeles County. Interstate 5 and SR-91 both cross the city, and Beach Boulevard runs through its entertainment corridor. The city is mostly flat and fully built out: mostly single-family streets, many from the 1950s, with condos, apartments and new mixed-use projects along the main corridors.

It tends to suit buyers who want a detached house on a level lot, a commute by Metrolink or freeway toward Los Angeles County or central Orange County, or a lower-maintenance townhome near shopping, and who are ready to update an older home.

Neighborhoods and housing in Buena Park

The California Department of Finance estimated 26,219 housing units in Buena Park on January 1, 2026: about 57 percent detached single-family homes, about 9 percent attached single-family units such as townhomes, about 33 percent in buildings with two or more units, and 342 mobile homes.

Mid-century single-family streets

The city's 2021-2029 Housing Element, using Census survey data for 2015-2019, found that about 39 percent of Buena Park's homes were built in the 1950s and about 87 percent were more than 30 years old, while only about 2 percent were built in 2010 or later. The element notes that homes over 50 years old often need roofing, plumbing and electrical upgrades, so permit history and a thorough inspection matter on most resales.

Beach Boulevard and the Entertainment Corridor

City Hall sits on Beach Boulevard, and so does the city's Entertainment Corridor, which has its own specific plan and includes Knott's Berry Farm at 8039 Beach Boulevard, Medieval Times, Pirate's Dinner Adventure and several hotels. At the northeast corner of Beach Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue, a 12.5-acre mixed-use specific plan covers The Source, a retail, office, restaurant, hotel and entertainment complex.

New and planned housing

The Village at Buena Park, approved by the City Council on June 27, 2023, replaces a Sears store and auto center on a 25-acre site reached from La Palma Avenue and Stanton Avenue with 1,176 apartments and 126 gated townhomes. The Housing Element plans for 8,919 new homes with limited vacant land, so the city is creating six Housing Incentive Overlays for mixed-use housing on selected sites, under objective design standards adopted February 13, 2024.

Getting around

• Metrolink: the Buena Park station at 8400 Lakeknoll Drive is served by the 91/Perris Valley and Orange County lines, with 302 free parking spaces for riders. OCTA Route 25 links it to the Fullerton Park and Ride.
• Freeways: I-5 and SR-91 cross the city, with access from Valley View Street, Orangethorpe Avenue, Beach Boulevard, Knott Avenue and Auto Center Drive. The 91 Express Lanes begin farther east at SR-55 and require a FasTrak transponder.
• Bus and airports: OCTA runs 10 bus routes with 158 stops in Buena Park. Commercial flights leave from Long Beach, LAX and John Wayne.

Schools

The city lists six elementary districts serving Buena Park addresses: the Buena Park School District, Centralia, Cypress, Savanna, Magnolia and Anaheim Elementary. High school students are served by either the Fullerton Joint Union High School District or the Anaheim Union High School District, and the North Orange County Community College District covers the city. Assignments depend on the address, so confirm with the districts rather than the ZIP code, and use the California School Dashboard for data on any public school.

Parks, beaches and things to do

• Ralph B. Clark Regional Park: about 104 acres at 8800 Rosecrans Avenue, run by OC Parks, with a stocked three-acre fishing lake, trails, sports fields and a paleontology interpretive center (closed for improvements through December 2026).
• George Bellis Park: 22.5 acres at 7171 8th Street with lighted ball fields, tennis courts and a dog park.
• Henry Boisseranc and William Peak parks: Boisseranc, 20 acres on Dale Street, and Peak, 15.8 acres on El Dorado Drive, both have swimming pools, and Peak has a skatepark.
• Ehlers Event Center: at 8150 Knott Avenue, with a senior center, banquet rooms and a Veterans Monument.
• The coast: Buena Park is inland, so beach trips mean a freeway drive south.

Local rules and costs to know

• Electricity: Buena Park is a founding member of the Orange County Power Authority, which buys the power while Southern California Edison delivers it and sends one bill. The city's default plan for 2026 is Smart Choice, and customers can change plans or return to SCE generation at any time without a fee.
• Water, trash and sewer: the City of Buena Park Water Division supplies water, and the city bills water and trash together. The city maintains sewer mains, but the lateral serving a home is the owner's responsibility.
• Short-term rentals: a city permit, home inspection and business license are required. The city's FAQ for Ordinance 1675, effective February 14, 2020, says the owner must live on site, whole-home rentals are not allowed, each person may hold one permit, permits run three years and hosts remit a 12 percent transient occupancy tax. If an ADU exists on the property, no part of it can be rented short-term, including the main home.
• ADUs: the city's free Plan PreCheck, launched October 5, 2026, gives an advisory review of ADU and other plan sets before you submit, and the Building Division has a checklist for reviewing existing unpermitted ADUs under the state's AB 2533 process. See our ADU guide.
• Flood and fire zones: the Housing Element notes that most of the city is outside the 1 percent annual chance (100-year) floodplain, but certain portions lie in FEMA Zone AO, with shallow flooding of 1 to 3 feet. CAL FIRE's March 24, 2025 hazard maps include a small section in the northern part of the city. Fire service comes from the Orange County Fire Authority. Our homeowners insurance guide covers what these zones mean for coverage.
• Property taxes and Mello-Roos: Buena Park has no citywide Mello-Roos tax; the only community facilities district in the city's annual reports, CFD No. 2001-1, is tied to a mall project. Still check the tax bill for other special taxes. Read our property tax guide and run the property tax calculator.

Buying in Buena Park

• On a 1950s or 1960s home, budget for a full inspection, including a sewer lateral camera check, and ask for permits on additions and garage conversions; our home inspection guide covers repair requests.
• Confirm the elementary and high school districts for the exact address with the districts themselves.
• Check the FEMA flood map early, since a Zone AO address may need flood insurance for the loan.
• Near Beach Boulevard, The Village or a housing overlay site, ask the Planning Division about approved projects nearby and visit at different times of day.
• Do not plan on whole-home short-term rental income, and remember that an ADU rules out short-term renting on the whole property.

Selling in Buena Park

• Gather permits for remodels, additions and any ADU; if an ADU was built without permits, ask the city about the AB 2533 process before you list.
• Order the Natural Hazard Disclosure report early so flood and fire zone results are known up front; our seller disclosure guide covers the rest.
• If the home is near the Metrolink station or the I-5 and SR-91 ramps, note the distances in the listing.
• For condos and townhomes, request the HOA document package when you list so buyers can review dues and rules on time.

How Remark Homes can help

Remark Homes is a veteran-owned brokerage based in Tustin. We help Buena Park buyers check school districts, flood maps, permit history and tax bills before they offer, and help sellers prepare permits, inspections and disclosures. Contact us, or read how we handle buying and selling.

Frequently asked questions

Is Buena Park in Orange County?

Yes. Buena Park is on the northwestern edge of Orange County, bordering Cerritos and La Mirada in Los Angeles County.

What school district is Buena Park in?

It depends on the address. Six elementary districts serve parts of the city, including the Buena Park School District, and high school students attend either the Fullerton Joint Union or Anaheim Union high school district.

Does Buena Park have a Metrolink station?

Yes. The Buena Park station on Lakeknoll Drive is served by Metrolink's 91/Perris Valley and Orange County lines, with free parking for riders.

Does Buena Park have Mello-Roos?

Not citywide. The only community facilities district in the city's annual reports, CFD No. 2001-1, is tied to a mall project, but check any parcel's tax bill for special taxes.

Sources

• City of Buena Park: Short Term Rental
• City of Buena Park: Short Term Rentals FAQ
• City of Buena Park: Schools
• City of Buena Park: Orange County Power Authority
• City of Buena Park: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
• City of Buena Park: Housing Element Update
• Metrolink: Buena Park station
• California Department of Finance: E-5 Population and Housing Estimates, 2020-2026