Irvine

City overview

A community where people can live, work, and play in an environment that is safe, vibrant, and beautiful.

Irvine is one of the world’s largest and premier master-planned communities, encompassing 66 square miles in the heart of Orange County, California.  The city is culturally diverse with approximately 260,000 residents. Irvine was ranked among the Best Places to Live in America in Money Magazine’s 2016 list for cities with 50,000-300,000 population.

Incorporated in 1971, Irvine has flourished and is recognized as one of the safest cities in the country.  It has a great school system with highly ranked schools and is home to several higher education institutions including the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Concordia University, and Irvine Valley College.  Irvine provides a high quality of life for its residents through environmental stewardship, state-of-the-art transportation programs and systems, and master-planned community features that raise the living standards.  Irvine features more than 16,000 acres of parks, sports fields and dedicated open space, and is home to the Orange County Great Park. The city’s mission is to create and maintain a community where people can live, work, and play in an environment that is safe, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing.

Irvine is also a growing business hub with a number of corporations headquartered in the city, particularly in the technology, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor sectors.

City demographics

City attractions and highlights

Irvine boasts 16,000 acres of preserved natural habit and many other attractions

Parks & Outdoors

Orange County Great Park | Quail Hill Preserve | Bommer Canyon Open Space | San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary | William R. Mason Regional Park | William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center | The Irvine Ranch Historic Park | Sea & Sage Audubon Society | Harvard Skate Park | Oak Creek Golf Club | Strawberry Farms Golf Club | Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course | Loma Ridge Open Space | Limestone Open Preserve

Business & Entertainment

Diamond Jamboree Center | Irvine Spectrum Center | Improv Comedy Club | Tanaka Farms | Boomers & Irvine Lanes | Irvine Business Complex | City Hall | Irvine Barclay Theatre

Museum/Art/History

The Irvine Museum | Pretend City Children’s Museum | Beall Center for Art & Technology | Colonel Bill Barber Memorial Park | Irvine Fine Arts Center |
Katie Wheeler Library | Old Towne Irvine Duck Club | UCI Arboretum | University Park Library | Heritage Park Regional Library | Irvine Historical Society and Museum

There is an abundance of community centers, special facilities, and community parks and fields

Walk Score Index
Map Facility Name
24 Adventure Playground
27 Bommer Canyon Trailhead
30 Bommer Vista Point
13 Central Bark Dog Park
10 Child Resource Center
9 Cypress Community Center
14 Deerfield Community Center
11 Harvard Community Center
11 Harvard Skate Park
10 Heritage Park Community Center
13 Irvine Animal Care Center
20 Irvine Civic Center
10 Irvine Fine Arts Center
4 Jeffrey Open Space Trail
19 Lakeview Senior Center
29 Las Lomas Community Center
21 Los Olivos Community Center
10 Middle School Program Office
5 Northwood Community Center
2 Northwood High School Aquatics Center
12 Orange County Great Park
1 Portola Springs Community Center
22 Quail Hill Community Center
23 Quail Hill Trailhead
24 Rancho Senior Center
17 Sweet Shade Ability Center
Map Facility Name
8 Trabuco Center
26 Turtle Rock Community Center
26 Turtle Rock Nature Center
25 University Community Center
10 William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center
6 Woodbury Community Center
28 Bommer Canyon Community Park
9 Cypress Community Park
20 Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park
7 David Sills Lower Peters Canyon Park
14 Deerfield Community Park
11 Harvard Community Park
10 Heritage Community Park/Athletic Fields
3 Hicks Canyon Community Park
29 Las Lomas Community Park
21 Los Olivos Community Park
18 Mark Daily Athletic Field
19 Mike Ward Community Park — Woodbridge
5 Northwood Community Park
15 Oak Creek Community Park
1 Portola Springs Community Park
22 Quail Hill Community Park
26 Turtle Rock Community Park
25 University Community Park
16 Windrow Community Park
6 Woodbury Community Park

School Information

Kindergarten through 12 Grade

The Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) consistently ranks among the finest educational systems in the nation educating a diverse student population numbering over 30,000 (K-12) in 25 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 5 comprehensive high schools, and 1 continuation high school.  IUSD has nationally recognized schools and Irvine students lead Orange County in SAT test scores, with more than 90% of IUSD high school graduates attending college.

IUSD is supported by its nonprofit partner, Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF), which provides financial support and enrichment programs for all students. Click here to learn more.

The Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) serves residents who live in the western and northern areas of Irvine. The District has 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 2 comprehensive high schools, a continuation high school, and alternative and adult education programs.

In the past decade, nine schools in TUSD have been recognized as either state or nationally distinguished schools. Two elementary schools are National Exemplary Schools, and a middle school and a high school are National Blue Ribbon Schools. Five other schools, an elementary, two middle and two high schools, are California Distinguished Schools.   Nearly 90 percent of all district graduates attend colleges and universities.

Universities/Colleges

The University of California at Irvine is consistently ranked among the nation’s best universities.  In the U.S. News & World Report 2015 annual college survey, UCI is ranked 39th among all universities nationally and ranks 9th among all public universities.

Graduate and postgraduate studies are further complemented in Irvine by programs at Irvine Valley College, Concordia University, and Brandman University. Irvine is also home to satellite campuses that include California State University, Fullerton, University of La Verne, Pepperdine University, University of Southern California, and Western State College of Law.

Research school rankings

Learn more about Irvine’s school rankings.  GreatSchools.org provides comprehensive data on local school ratings and demographics.

Featured neighborhoods

Irvine is home to many impeccable master-planned communities. 

City services

Irvine provides a wealth of services for its residents just a phone call away

City of Irvine

General Information 949-724-6000
City Clerk/Voter Information 949-724-6205
Mayor/City Council Offices 949-724-6233
Orange County Great Park 949-724-6247
Public Information Office 949-724-6248
Office of Records 949-724-6281

Resident Services

Abandoned Vehicles 949-724-7200
Animal Control 949-724-7092
Bicycle Licenses 949-724-7000
Business Registration 949-724-7128
Graffiti Hotline 949-724-7196
Irvine Recycles Hotline 949-724-7669
Report (potholes, down trees, hazards) 949-724-7600
Special Event Permits 949-724-7022

Business Services

Business Licenses 949-724-7128
Certificate of Occupancy 949-724-6321

Disability Services

Irvine Disability Services 949-724-6637
Disability Parking 949-724-7000

Emergency Services

Police Emergency 9-1-1
City of Irvine Police 949-724-7000
False Alarm 949-724-6467
Emergency Preparedness 949-724-7235

Employment

City of Irvine Job Line 949-724-6067

Senior Centers

Lakeview 949-724-6900
Rancho 949-724-6800
Senior Resource Center 949-724-6926
Trabuco 949-724-7300

Education and Libraries

Heritage Library 949-936-4040
Irvine Historical Museum 949-786-4112
Irvine Unified School District 949-936-5000
Katie Wheeler Library 714-669-8753
University Library 949-786-4001

Housing Information

Affordable Housing 949-724-6114
Homeowners Associations 949-724-6308

Recreation and Community Services

General Information 949-724-6600
Program Registration 949-724-6610
Adult Sports Leagues 949-724-6605
Animal Services 949-724-7740
Aquatics 949-724-6717
Athletic Field Reservations 949-724-6830
Child Care Services 949-724-6632
Facility/Picnic Reservations 949-724-6620
Field Conditions-MUDD Line 949-724-6833
FOR Families 949-724-6650
Open Space Programs 949-724-6600
Youth Sports 949-724-6830

Planning, Zoning and Building

Building Codes 949-724-6371
Building Inspection 949-724-6396
Building Permits 949-724-6300
Encroachment Permits/Plan Check 949-724-6313
Grading Permits 949-724-6367
Inspections 949-724-6501
Zoning & Planning 949-724-6308

Transportation

iShuttle (OCTA) 714-636-7433 Ext 2
Irvine Station 949-724-7678

Irvine public utilities

Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD)
949-453-5300

Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) provides domestic water service, sewage collection and water reclamation to the City of Irvine and portions of surrounding communities.

Waste Management of Orange County
(949) 642-1191

Waste Management of Orange County provides trash and recycling services for residential neighborhoods and exclusive village commercial districts in Irvine.

Southern California Edison (SCE)
800-655-4555

Southern California Edison (SCE) is the electrical utility provider for Irvine providing electrical power to homes and businesses, in addition to other energy efficiency services.

Southern California Gas Company
800-427-2200

Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) is the provider of natural gas to residential and business customers in Irvine in addition to appliance services & safety checks.

Source for statistics and charts: 2016 City of Irvine Brochure