- Main ZIP
- 90803
- Soil Type
- Beach Sand
- Clay In Topsoil
- 1.5%
- Sand In Topsoil
- 93%
- Elevation
- 6 to 11 ft
- Miles To The Shore
- 0.0
- Empty Street Tree Sites
- 7
- Typical Home Built
- 1965
The Peninsula is the one spot in the city USDA maps as Abaft sand and open beach. Sand this clean drains in minutes, so wind and salt set the plant list more than anything else.
The Ground In Peninsula
USDA maps this as Abaft sand, about 93 percent sand and under 2 percent clay. Most of the points we checked are zoned P, which means parks or public use.
| Soil | Share Of Map Unit | Clay | Sand | pH | Drainage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abaft | 60% | 1.5% | 93% | 7 | Excessively drained |
What That Means For Your Yard
- Water runs straight through, so short and frequent drip cycles beat one long soak.
- Work in compost, then top with mulch. Plain sand holds almost nothing a plant can use.
- Pick plants that take wind and salt air. A lawn is the hardest thing to keep alive here.
The city flood map shows FEMA zone AE at points we sampled here, which marks ground with mapped flood risk. Plan drainage around that, and check your own parcel before you regrade.
Weather And Homes
At about 0.0 miles from the open shore, this area gets the steady salt air and marine layer. Foggy mornings cut how much water plants use, so a schedule copied from inland yards will overwater here.
Census figures for the tracts here put the typical home at about 1965. Newer tracts often have builder soil, tight side yards and shared rules. Check any HOA papers before you pick plants, though California law limits how far an HOA can go against low water yards.
About 51 percent of homes in these tracts are owner occupied and about 43 percent are houses. With a mix like that, low care plantings are often the better buy on a rental, while an owner may want more.
Your Parkway And Street Trees
A city tree inventory logged 7 empty street tree sites in this neighborhood. The typical logged parkway there is about 8 feet wide. If one is in front of your place, the city runs a free street tree program. Ask for a parkway tree before you plan the rest of the strip.
Your parkway follows the same city rule as the rest of Long Beach. Fake turf is out, and street trees belong to the city, so trimming one takes a Public Works permit. If you still have living lawn there, Long Beach Utilities runs a free native plant parkway kit.
Popular Work In Peninsula
Questions We Hear
What kind of soil does Peninsula have?
USDA maps this as Abaft sand, about 93 percent sand and under 2 percent clay. It is also rated excessively drained. Your own yard may differ, especially if soil was brought in, so a test is cheap insurance.
Can I put artificial turf in my Peninsula parkway?
No. City code limits parkways to living plants plus permeable materials such as mulch, decomposed granite or pavers on sand, and those must cover under half of the strip. Turf is allowed in the front yard itself.
What days can I water in Peninsula?
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m., for up to 10 minutes per station, under the Level 1 rules from Long Beach Utilities.
Next Door To Peninsula
Where These Facts Come From
- USDA NRCS Soil Data Access
- City of Long Beach open map layers
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- Long Beach Utilities, Water Use Restrictions
- City of Long Beach memo, Green Parkways Initiative Analysis, May 4 2026
- Long Beach Utilities, Lawn to Garden Terms
- USDA NRCS Soil Data Access