Portuguese Bend, Point Vicente and the homes around them
Rancho Palos Verdes sits on the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula at about 220 feet above sea level. It is a separate city, incorporated on September 7, 1973, with about 42,300 residents at the 2020 census. Landmarks such as the Point Vicente Lighthouse, built in 1926 on a cliff 130 feet above the water, and the Terranea Resort on the former Marineland site help locate it for dispatch.
When you call from a hillside street, mention the nearest landmark and whether your house is on a slope. Slope and access change how equipment is carried in, and a driveway that tilts or a narrow lane affects where a truck can park.
When water is spreading in Rancho Palos Verdes
Emergency calls here include supply line failures in hillside homes, roof leaks during winter storms and irrigation or sprinkler lines that fail under landscaping. The emergency line is open 24/7. While you wait, close the valve at the fixture or the main valve, lift valuables and keep everyone away from wet outlets.
ZIP and geography
ZIP code 90275 is Rancho Palos Verdes, and its mailing names also include Palos Verdes Estates, Palos Verdes Peninsula and Rolling Hills Estates, so give your street when you call.
Water service
The Palos Verdes system of California Water Service has served the peninsula since 1970, including Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills.
Permits
The city runs an online permitting portal for repairs, so ask about permits for drywall, plumbing and electrical before work begins.
Dispatch
Emergency dispatch is available around the clock for the whole peninsula side of the service area.
Ground movement, pipes and the Portuguese Bend landslide
Rancho Palos Verdes has an active landslide of about 260 acres, roughly 4 percent of the peninsula's land, with an average thickness of 135 feet. In September 2024 the governor declared a state of emergency, and utilities to hundreds of homes were shut off. Wayfarers Chapel closed in February 2024 because of land movement. By early 2025 the movement had slowed, and gas service began returning to most homes in May 2025.
For a homeowner, the water angle is straightforward. Moving ground can strain buried supply and sewer lines, and a leak can add water to soil that is already unstable. If you live near the landslide area, shut off the water at the main and call us for any wet interior. Ask your insurer how your policy treats earth movement, because many policies handle it separately from water damage.
The city posts updates about land movement and utility shutoffs on its own website, and that is the right place to check for area closures. We deal with the water inside the building.
| Hillside problem | What it looks like | First move |
|---|---|---|
| Supply line failure | Water pooling in a lower level or garage | Close the main valve, then call the 24/7 line. |
| Roof or window leak in a storm | Drip on an upper ceiling, damp wall below a window | Move belongings, catch the water and call. |
| Irrigation line break | Soggy landscaping and water near the foundation | Shut off irrigation at the valve and report any water inside. |
| Sewer line backup | Gurgling drains and water at the lowest fixture | Stay out of the water and call the 24/7 line. |
Before we arrive: if water is still spreading
Stop the flow
Find the main water valve and turn it off. In older hillside homes it may be on the exterior wall or in the garage.
Power safety
Do not touch outlets or panels while standing in water. Cut power at the panel only from dry ground.
Protect what you can
Move rugs, electronics and documents up and away from the water. Take photos first.
Hold off on drains and fans
If the water came from a drain, keep people out and avoid running fans.
Which services fit peninsula homes
Peninsula calls usually begin with emergency water removal when a pipe has failed and with water damage repair when the damage is a ceiling stain after a storm. In ZIP 90275, a roof leak that goes unnoticed for a week may need mold remediation, and the drying that comes first is explained under water mitigation.
Neighbors on the other side of the city line in Lomita and in Harbor City reach the same 24/7 line. White Point, on the coast along the Palos Verdes side of San Pedro, is within the same service reach.
Water inside a Rancho Palos Verdes home? Call the 24/7 line. Scope and price are explained before work starts.
☎ Call (424) 550-5662Questions from Rancho Palos Verdes callers
Is emergency water removal available in Rancho Palos Verdes?
Yes. The line is answered 24/7, and crews work out of San Pedro, next door. Same-day response is offered when available.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Rancho Palos Verdes?
Rancho Palos Verdes is served as ZIP code 90275, which spans the peninsula bluffs from the Point Vicente area to the streets near Portuguese Bend. Mailing names such as Palos Verdes Estates or Rolling Hills Estates share the ZIP, so give your street name when you call.
Does ground movement affect my water damage claim?
It can. Many policies treat earth movement separately from water damage, so ask your insurer how yours reads. A written scope and moisture records still help either way.
Who is my water provider in Rancho Palos Verdes?
Most of the peninsula is served by the Palos Verdes system of California Water Service. Check your bill for the provider and the customer service line.
Do I need a permit for repairs?
It depends on the work. The city has a permitting portal, so ask the city before replacing drywall, plumbing or electrical.
Rancho Palos Verdes on the map
The map is centered on Rancho Palos Verdes, on the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula west of San Pedro.