Sunset Mesa Homes for Sale in Malibu
Built So No House Blocks Another's View
- Where: the easternmost tip of Malibu, on a bluff above Pacific Coast Highway between Pacific Palisades and Topanga Canyon.
- Size: about 485 homes on a plateau carved into the cliff.
- Layout: no through streets and no retail, which is the whole reason it stays quiet.
- Views: the original homes were sited so they would not block each other's ocean views.
The land came from the LA Athletic Club and the County in 1956, and two builders, April Builders and Consolidated Builders, laid out six tracts between 1961 and 1965. Buyers chose from roughly six models, one story or split level.
Real Estate in Sunset Mesa
- Original homes: one story and split level homes from about six models, most built between 1961 and 1965.
- Newer homes: modern construction now stands alongside the originals, so the street mix runs sixty years wide.
- Permits come from the County, not the City of Malibu. The address is Malibu 90265, the jurisdiction is unincorporated Los Angeles County.
- The SMPOA governs what goes up, through CC&Rs and architectural guidelines.
A Sunset Mesa parcel is reviewed by Los Angeles County Regional Planning under the County's coastal program rather than by the City of Malibu, which means a different counter, a different timeline and a different set of people to talk to than a house two miles west.
The second thing to know is that the property owners association runs a formal process for determining ocean view interference, and it uses LIDAR to measure heights, making sure that the views have remained unobstructed for 60 years.
Living in Sunset Mesa
- Topanga Beach: straight down the hill and across Pacific Coast Highway. Wide sand, a long easy break, and a parking lot right off the highway.
- The Getty Villa: sits just below the mesa. Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities in a recreated Roman country house, and one of the best free afternoons on this coast.
- Palisades Village: about ten minutes east for dinner and shopping.
- Quiet: no through-streets means no cut-through traffic. People walk in the road here.
Schools are in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. The commute is the real luxury: you are on Pacific Coast Highway in under a minute, Santa Monica in about fifteen, and the Malibu Civic Center in about twelve, without ever sitting in canyon traffic.
Buying in Sunset Mesa with a Malibu Real Estate Agent
Sunset Mesa rewards knowing which counter your plans go to and which views you are allowed to touch. Both answers are different here than anywhere else on the Malibu coast. We have sold this coast for 25 years and grew up on it. Come walk the mesa with us before you pick a street.
Thinking about buying or selling in Sunset Mesa? Get in touch with Shen Schulz.
Common Questions About Sunset Mesa
Who issues building permits in Sunset Mesa?
Los Angeles County, not the City of Malibu. The address is Malibu 90265, but the parcels sit in unincorporated county territory, so plans go to County Regional Planning under the County's coastal program. Confirm your specific parcel before you plan a timeline.
Is Sunset Mesa in Malibu or Pacific Palisades?
It is a Malibu address at the easternmost tip of the Malibu coast, overlapping the Palisades line. Agents on both sides claim it, which is why you will see the same house listed as Malibu by one brokerage and Pacific Palisades by another.
Does every home have an ocean view?
Close to it. The tracts were laid out so homes would not block each other, and the property owners association still runs a formal ocean view interference process to keep it that way. Views vary by street and elevation, so walk the block before you decide.
Can I add a second story?
Not without going through the architectural committee. The SMPOA reviews new construction against its guidelines and uses LIDAR to measure heights, specifically to protect the neighbors' views. Read the CC&Rs before you buy if a second story is the plan.