From the book βWelcome to the Villageβ. Short cards you can read in a minute.
Each household may keep up to 3 pets (no more than 2 dogs), and a new pet must be registered with the HOA within 15 days. In common areas a leash of 6 feet or shorter is required, and pets are not allowed on the golf courses or lawn parks. Coyotes come out in the evening and at dawn, so do not leave small pets alone outside.
Kitchen and bathroom remodels, new flooring, air conditioning, and electrical or plumbing work all need advance approval from the HOA Manor Alterations department (949-597-4616). Work without approval can bring a stop-work order, fines and the cost of undoing the work, and can cause trouble later when you sell. After HOA approval you also need a City permit before work can begin.
Laguna Woods is private property, so even family cannot pass the gate without being registered in advance. Log in with your resident ID at community.dwellinglive.com/lagunawoods.aspx to register guests, or if the internet is hard for you, call 949-597-4301 with the guest's name and the date and time of the visit. The guest's name must match their driver's license exactly. Use "Send ePass" to send a QR code straight to your guest's phone for a fast entry. For overnight guests, also request an Overnight Parking Pass (OPP).
The HOA master policy covers only the building exterior and common areas, with high deductibles: $100,000 for general damage, and for earthquake damage 5% of the building value (at least $100,000). Your unit's interior upgrades, furniture and appliances, and your personal liability are not covered at all, so you must have your own HO-6 policy. HO-6 premiums run about $35-$60 a month; include at least $300,000 of personal liability and a loss assessment rider of $10,000-$100,000 to cover your share of an HOA deductible. When you talk to an agent, be sure to say it is an HOA community with a $100,000 deductible so you get the right coverage.
Trash and recycling are included in your monthly HOA fee, so you do not pay CR&R separately. Trash and recycling are picked up on set days by building number; food waste goes out every Wednesday in the green-lid cart, and bulky items are picked up free every week without a call. For yard waste, book with Resident Services at (949) 597-4600 by noon Thursday for Friday pickup. Batteries, paint and other hazardous waste are picked up free at your door by WM Curbside, (800) 449-7587. General questions: CR&R, (949) 625-6735.
In Laguna Woods Village, both co-ops and condos allow no more than 20% of all units to be rented (lowered from 25% this year), and once the cap is reached you may have to join a waiting list. Leases run from 30 days to 12 months and can be extended only by applying again each year; short stays under 30 days, such as Airbnb, are strictly prohibited. At least one tenant must be 55 or older, and the board's written approval through the Golden Rain Lease Permit Office is required before the tenant moves in. Review takes at least 7 business days, so apply 2-3 weeks before the move-in date.
If you need care, a formally registered caregiver of any age may live with you, but before move-in you must submit a letter of medical necessity from your doctor and get the HOA's written approval. Co-ops (United Mutual) also require a national criminal background check for the caregiver. As of 2026, when the caregiver is the third occupant, co-ops charge only the $50 monthly Mutual fee and waive the $131 GRF fee, while condos charge both (a total of $181 a month). A caregiver may use community facilities only as a guest, not as an independent resident, and must return the ID card as soon as care ends.
When you sell, you need an HOA first inspection around the opening of escrow (co-op $360 / condo $250), and after the required repairs are done you must pass a final inspection (co-op $110 / condo $90) for escrow to proceed. The seller pays the Mutual transfer processing fee (co-op $350 / condo $400), the HOA document package ($540) and fines for unreturned ID cards ($125 each); if co-op stock certificates are lost, a lost-certificate bond costing up to 1.8% of the sale price must be bought. Under California law the seller must give the buyer the required disclosures, including the TDS (Transfer Disclosure Statement), SPQ (Seller Property Questionnaire) and NHD (Natural Hazard Disclosure); if they are not provided, the buyer can cancel. Start preparing at least 2-3 months ahead.
Fees, rules and phone numbers can change. Check with the Village or your Mutual before you act.
