Garden Grove

Garden Grove covers about 18 square miles in the northern part of Orange County, with Anaheim, Santa Ana, Westminster and Seal Beach among its neighbors. Founded in 1874 and incorporated on June 18, 1956, it grew fastest during the real estate boom after World War II, and most of its homes are in neighborhoods of detached single-family houses.

It suits buyers who want a detached house in central Orange County, buyers weighing those homes against townhomes and condos on the main corridors, and commuters who use SR-22, I-405 or I-5. The city's Harbor Boulevard resort area sits just south of the Disneyland Resort district. Comparing nearby cities? See our Anaheim guide.

Neighborhoods and housing in Garden Grove

The city's 2021-2029 Housing Element says Garden Grove was developed as a community of single-family homes and has largely stayed that way: detached houses were more than half of all units in 2021, with apartments, condos, townhomes and mobile homes making up the rest. The General Plan steers new housing toward mixed-use focus areas on the corridors.

Civic Center and Historic Main Street

The Civic Center focus area covers roughly 130 acres along Euclid Street north of Trask Avenue, taking in City Hall, Historic Main Street, the Community Meeting Center and the Village Green. The General Plan calls for four- to seven-story mixed-use buildings with shops below and homes or offices above. The Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian Trail, dedicated in 2021 on the old Pacific Electric right-of-way, links the area to nearby neighborhoods.

Harbor Boulevard and International West

On the east side, the International West resort area follows Harbor Boulevard between Chapman Avenue and SR-22, with hotels and restaurants concentrated near Chapman. South of the freeway, between Harbor Boulevard, Newhope Street and Westminster Avenue, the General Plan designates a transit-oriented district anchored by multi-family housing around the OC Streetcar's terminus at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue.

Garden Grove Boulevard and the Brookhurst Triangle

Garden Grove Boulevard between Beach Boulevard and Brookhurst Street holds the Korean Business District, older shopping centers and residential planned unit developments. The General Plan allows mixed-use buildings of up to 10 stories at major intersections and in the Brookhurst Triangle, about 50 acres around Brookhurst Street and Garden Grove Boulevard. Planned developments and mixed-use buildings usually come with an association, so review dues and rules; our condo buying guide lists the documents to request.

Single-family tracts across the city

Away from the corridors, most housing falls in the General Plan's Low Density Residential designation: detached homes zoned R-1, plus planned unit developments for small-lot subdivisions. Low Medium Density areas allow duplexes, triplexes and detached condos, and the city aims to preserve its existing mobile home parks.

Getting around

• SR-22, the Garden Grove Freeway, crosses the city with a carpool lane each way and eight interchanges, from Valley View Street in the west to Garden Grove Boulevard/Haster Street in the east.
• I-405 serves the west end near Valley View Street and Bolsa Chica Road. OCTA's 405 Express Lanes, which require a FasTrak transponder, have an access point at SR-22.
• I-5 is outside the city, but its interchange at State College Boulevard and Chapman Avenue is less than a mile past the east border. Beach Boulevard (SR-39) and Harbor Boulevard are the main north-south routes.
• The city has no Metrolink station. OCTA's OC Streetcar, listed as starting service in early 2027, will run from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (Metrolink and Amtrak) to the Harbor Boulevard corridor.
• John Wayne Airport lies to the southeast and Long Beach Airport to the northwest.

Schools

Garden Grove Unified School District serves most of the city, along with parts of six neighboring cities. Census Bureau school district maps show small exceptions: a section on the south side is in Westminster School District for elementary and middle school and Huntington Beach Union High School District for high school, and a small area at the east edge is in Orange Unified School District.

Check any address with Garden Grove Unified's Find My School tool or the other district's office. For test results and other data, use the California School Dashboard.

Parks, beaches and things to do

• Garden Grove Park, about 40 acres, includes the Atlantis Play Center and a gymnasium.
• Village Green Park on Main Street hosts the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival over Memorial Day weekend; the festival debuted in 1958.
• Twin Lakes Park (23 acres) and West Haven Park (10 acres) are among the city's larger parks.
• The Garden Grove Historical Society's Stanley Ranch Museum is at 12174 Euclid Street, and the GEM and Grove theaters are near Main Street.
• There are no beaches in the city; Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley and the Santa Ana River Trail are nearby.

Local rules and costs to know

Utilities

Southern California Edison supplies electricity and SoCalGas supplies natural gas. The city's Water Services Division runs the water system, and the Garden Grove Sanitary District, governed by the city, is responsible for sewer and refuse service; the city publishes a district map.

Short-term rentals

Short-term vacation rentals are prohibited in Garden Grove's residential zones. The city treats stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days as hotel or motel use, allowed only in commercial zones with a conditional use permit, and violations are misdemeanors with fines of up to $1,000 per day.

ADUs

Through its ADU Go program, the city offers four pre-approved accessory dwelling unit plans free of charge: a 447-square-foot studio, a 630-square-foot one-bedroom, a 750-square-foot two-bedroom and a 1,000-square-foot three-bedroom. They cannot be used in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and the owner still supplies a site plan and structural plans. See our ADU guide and our guide to pre-approved ADU plans.

Flood and fire zones

The city's flood handout says Garden Grove properties fall in FEMA Flood Zone A, the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area, or Flood Zone X. Planning Services can confirm whether a property is in Zone A. Garden Grove does not appear on the State Fire Marshal's March 24, 2025 list of Orange County cities with recommended local Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Our homeowners insurance guide explains how flood coverage fits into a purchase.

Property taxes

Expect the 1% general levy on your new assessed value plus voter-approved rates and any special assessments listed on the tax bill. Read our Orange County property tax guide and try our property tax calculator for a first estimate.

Buying in Garden Grove

1. Check the First-Time Home Buyer Program. The city offers 0% interest, 30-year deferred loans of up to $110,000 for low-income households and up to $50,000 for moderate-income households. Buyers must not have owned a home in three years, put at least 3% down, complete a HUD-approved homebuyer workshop, live in the home and keep housing cost at or below 45% of income. Our down payment assistance guide compares other options.
2. Look up the flood zone on the city's flood map or with Planning Services before you remove contingencies. FEMA says homes in high-risk flood areas with a mortgage from a government-backed lender must carry flood insurance.
3. Do not plan on short-term rental income. Any rental of the house, an ADU or a junior ADU needs a term of 30 days or more.
4. Confirm the school district for the exact address.
5. Planning an ADU? Check ADU Go eligibility, including the flood zone, before you make an offer.

Selling in Garden Grove

1. Pull permits for additions, garage conversions and ADUs, and resolve any gaps before listing.
2. If the home is in Zone A, gather any elevation certificate and flood insurance history; buyers will ask.
3. In a planned development or condo complex, order association documents early.
4. Disclose known issues fully; our seller disclosure guide explains what California requires.

How Remark Homes can help

We are a veteran-owned brokerage in Tustin, and we help Garden Grove buyers line up down payment programs, flood checks and association reviews, and help sellers prepare permits and disclosures. Reach us on our contact page, or see how we work with buyers.

Frequently asked questions

Is Garden Grove in Orange County?

Yes. Garden Grove is in the northern part of Orange County and has been an incorporated city since June 18, 1956.

What school district is Garden Grove in?

Mostly Garden Grove Unified. Small areas are in Westminster School District with Huntington Beach Union High School District, or in Orange Unified, so check by address.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Garden Grove?

No. Rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days are prohibited in residential zones.

Does Garden Grove have a first-time homebuyer program?

Yes. Income-qualified first-time buyers can apply for a 0% interest, 30-year deferred city loan toward a home in Garden Grove.

Sources

• City of Garden Grove: General Plan Land Use Element
• City of Garden Grove: 2021-2029 Housing Element
• City of Garden Grove: General Plan Circulation Element
• City of Garden Grove: Short Term Vacation Rental Detailed Terms
• City of Garden Grove: ADU Go Pre-Approved ADU Program
• City of Garden Grove: First-Time Home Buyer Program
• City of Garden Grove: Questions About the Flood Zone
• Garden Grove Unified School District