La Jolla · Neighborhood

Bird Rock

La Jolla's south end, where a rocky shoreline meets a walkable stretch of La Jolla Boulevard.

Bird Rock is the south end of La Jolla, right before Pacific Beach. It has its own small main street, a stretch of La Jolla Boulevard you can walk end to end, with roundabouts instead of stoplights. West of the boulevard, the streets run down to a rocky shoreline and the rock the neighborhood is named after. I like showing Bird Rock because it's easy to picture a normal day here: walk for coffee, check the surf, walk home.

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Founded1906
Original nameCity by the Sea
Main streetLa Jolla Blvd
Roundabouts5

The place

Where it is. Bird Rock is a La Jolla neighborhood in the City of San Diego, on the ocean at the south end of La Jolla, just north of Pacific Beach.1

The name. Developer Michael Francis Hall subdivided the area in 1906 as "Bird Rock City by the Sea," most likely after the bird-shaped rock off the foot of Bird Rock Avenue, where pelicans still perch. A December 2010 storm knocked out its archway.1

The boulevard. In 2003 the Bird Rock Community Council worked with the City on a new plan for La Jolla Boulevard. Construction began in 2007: five roundabouts replaced signals, the road narrowed to two lanes with landscaped medians, and crossings shrank from 68 feet to 14 feet.2 It was unveiled in July 2008.3

The shoreline. Calumet Park, a small City park on Calumet Avenue, sits on the bluff above a surf spot known as the "Rock Pile."4

Community groups. The Bird Rock Community Council (founded 1994) runs the Bird Rock Maintenance Assessment District.1 The La Jolla Community Planning Association is the community's advisory planning group to the City.5,6

Building & remodel notes

Bird Rock is part of the La Jolla Community Plan area.6 The La Jolla Shores Planned District applies only within the Shores area (SDMC §1510.0102), so Bird Rock follows the City's standard zones. Look up your parcel's zone on the City's map.8,10

Height: 30 feet. The voter-approved Coastal Height Limit (Prop D, SDMC §132.0505) caps buildings at 30 feet on city land west of I-5, which includes Bird Rock. Only a citywide vote can change it.7

Many projects near the coast also need a Coastal Development Permit, and buildings 45 years or older can trigger the City's historical review.9,10,11

General information, not legal advice. Confirm with City Development Services for your parcel.

Bird Rock vs La Jolla Shores

Bird RockLa Jolla Shores
LocationSouth end of La Jolla, next to Pacific Beach1Along a mile-long sandy beach12
ShorelineRocky shore; Calumet Park overlooks the "Rock Pile"4Sandy beach, Kellogg Park, boat launch12,13
Main streetLa Jolla Blvd: five roundabouts, two lanes2Avenida de la Playa, near the sand13
Building rulesStandard City zones; 30-ft Coastal Height Limit7,10Own Planned District + Advisory Board; 30-ft limit7,8

Questions about Bird Rock

Where is Bird Rock in La Jolla?

Bird Rock is the oceanfront neighborhood at the south end of La Jolla, just north of Pacific Beach, in the City of San Diego. 1

How did Bird Rock get its name?

Developer Michael Francis Hall named the area "Bird Rock City by the Sea" when he subdivided it in 1906, most likely after the rock formation off the foot of Bird Rock Avenue that was described as bird-shaped. Its archway collapsed in a December 2010 storm. 1

Why does La Jolla Boulevard in Bird Rock have roundabouts?

The Bird Rock Community Council and the City planned a redesign starting in 2003. Construction began in 2007 and added five roundabouts, narrowed the boulevard to two lanes, and shortened pedestrian crossings. 2

Is Bird Rock part of the La Jolla Shores Planned District?

No. That district applies only within the La Jolla Shores area. Bird Rock follows the City's standard zones, and the voter-approved 30-foot Coastal Height Limit applies because it covers city land west of Interstate 5. Check your parcel with the City. 7,8,10

How is Bird Rock different from La Jolla Shores?

Bird Rock has a rocky shoreline and a walkable stretch of La Jolla Boulevard with roundabouts. La Jolla Shores centers on a mile-long sandy beach and Kellogg Park and has its own Planned District rules. 1,2,8,12

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Notes & sources

  1. Bird Rock Community Council: FAQ
  2. Project for Public Spaces: La Jolla Boulevard
  3. San Diego Reader, Mar 4, 2020
  4. City of San Diego Parks: Calumet Park
  5. La Jolla Community Planning Association
  6. City of San Diego: La Jolla Community Plan
  7. SDMC §132.0505: Coastal Height Limit (Prop D)
  8. SDMC §1510.0102: La Jolla Shores Planned District boundaries
  9. California Coastal Commission
  10. City of San Diego: Zoning
  11. City of San Diego: Reviews of buildings over 45 years
  12. City of San Diego Lifeguards: La Jolla Shores
  13. City of San Diego Parks: Kellogg Park

Weston Clark · Founding Member of the Dickinson-Clark Team at Compass · (858) 997-8998 · weston@sandiego.homes

Weston Clark, DRE #02122466 · Compass, DRE #01527365

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, compiled from sources deemed reliable but not verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

⌂ Equal Housing Opportunity. Place descriptions are general information, not legal, zoning, or permitting advice.