Elk, CA Real Estate & Homes for Sale
By Matthew Martinez, Founder, CEO & Managing Broker, Diamond Real Estate Group. California DRE #01869679.
Elk is a tiny unincorporated village on Highway 1 on the Mendocino Coast of Mendocino County, California, about 16.7 miles south of the town of Mendocino, whose old lumber landing is now Greenwood State Beach. So few homes sell here that there is no reliable median: Redfin’s ZIP 95432 figure for the three months ending June 2026 rests on what Redfin counts as a single sale. Mendocino County sets the rules, and the village core runs on a small water district formed in 1957.
- County
- Mendocino County
- Government
- Unincorporated (county coastal rules)
- ZIP code
- 95432
- Sales
- 1 in Redfin’s 3 months to June 2026
- Water
- Elk County Water District (village); wells elsewhere
- Fire and emergency
- Elk Community Services District
Elk homes for sale
Any current MLS listings in Elk and ZIP 95432 appear below. Because Elk rarely has more than a handful at once, our property search is the better way to follow the stretch of coast from Albion to Manchester.
What do homes in Elk sell for?
1
Three months to June 2026, Redfin (ZIP 95432)
165
Same period, Redfin
$480,000
September 2026, C.A.R.
We don’t publish an Elk median because there isn’t a meaningful one. Redfin’s page for ZIP 95432 showed $1.7 million for the three months ending June 2026, up 136.3% on a year earlier, but Redfin counts only one sale behind it, while the same page’s recently sold list shows three closings between June 2 and July 6, 2026, at $802,000, $2.6 million and $2.8 million. A single oceanfront house or a single cabin can set the figure.
| Measure | Figure | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Homes sold, ZIP 95432 | 1 | Three months to June 2026, Redfin |
| Redfin’s median (one counted sale) | $1.7 million | Same period; not a market indicator |
| Recent closings on Redfin’s sold list | $802,000, $2.6 million, $2.8 million | June 2 to July 6, 2026, Redfin |
| Developed lots on the village water system | About 102 | Mendocino LAFCo, February 2025 |
| Mendocino County median, for context | $480,000 | September 2026, C.A.R. |
To price an Elk home, we work from the few local closings over several years, then from comparable coastal sales in Albion, Manchester and the Irish Beach subdivision, adjusting for ocean frontage, water source and septic. Expect that conversation to take longer than it would in a town with weekly sales.
Living under Mendocino County’s coastal rules
Elk has no city government. Building permits, coastal development permits and zoning all run through Mendocino County Planning and Building Services, under the county’s Coastal Zoning Code (Title 20, Division II) and its Local Coastal Program, whose main coastal segment was certified in 1992 (California Coastal Commission). Confirm the coastal-zone status of each parcel, but in a Highway 1 village, assume a coastal permit is part of most projects until the county says otherwise.
- Transfer tax: only the county’s documentary transfer tax applies, $1.10 per $1,000 of value.
- Vacation rentals: the coastal code defines a vacation home rental as a single-family home let as a whole to short-stay guests. The permit path for a stand-alone rental outside the town of Mendocino isn’t spelled out in what we reviewed, so get a written answer from the county before you count on rental income. Guests pay the county’s 10% lodging tax plus a 1% lodging assessment.
- Second units: the coastal code has its own chapter on accessory dwelling units, and county Environmental Health lists a separate coastal water production test for second residential units, so a second unit depends on proving water as well as on zoning.
Our Mendocino County real estate guide compares these county rules with those in the four incorporated cities.
Water, wells and septic in Elk
The Elk County Water District was formed on April 22, 1957, and covers 128 acres in and around the village. When Mendocino LAFCo reviewed it in February 2025, it served about 102 developed lots, counting about 45 permanent residents and up to 100 seasonal ones. Its main supply is groundwater, backed by small surface diversions on Greenwood Creek and Bonee Gulch, averaging about 21.5 acre-feet a year, and the system ran at 62% of capacity (Mendocino LAFCo).
The district’s 2014 review shows the system’s weak points. Its two original wells, under the Highway 1 bridge, had to be shut down after Caltrans replaced the bridge; a new well beside Greenwood Creek needs regular cleaning for iron deposits, and storage was two tanks of 30,000 and 84,000 gallons (2014 service review). The district also serves two small areas outside its boundary: 10 parcels east of Highway 1 and 12 parcels to the south, west of the highway.
Off the district’s lines, water depends on what the parcel itself can produce. Ask for the well completion report, a recent flow test and water-quality results before you remove contingencies, and don’t assume a new well will be approved or productive.
The water district doesn’t handle wastewater, and LAFCo’s review lists no sewer provider for Elk, so plan on a septic system unless the seller documents otherwise. County Environmental Health handles septic and well permits and the rules for percolation and wet-weather soil testing, and publishes Coastal Groundwater Development Guidelines; ask for the septic permit file and have the system inspected.
Highway 1 and getting around
Highway 1 is Elk’s main street and its link to everything else: north to Navarro River Junction, where Highway 128 heads inland to Anderson Valley, and south to Irish Beach, about eight miles away, then Manchester and Point Arena. Mendocino Transit Authority Route 75 stops in Elk on weekdays, leaving at about 8:45 a.m. for Navarro River Junction, Philo, Boonville and Ukiah and coming back at about 4:55 p.m.; riders bound for Fort Bragg transfer to Route 60 at Navarro River Junction (MTA timetable). On Saturdays, Route 75 runs only between Navarro and Ukiah.
Electricity comes from Sonoma Clean Power, delivered over PG&E’s lines. Ask the seller about outage history and whether the house has a generator, and confirm internet options at the specific address.
Greenwood State Beach and the village
Elk was once Greenwood, a lumber town from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. Greenwood State Beach, in the middle of the village, tells that story: the L.E. White Lumber Company built a wharf on the rocks, and schooners loaded redwood lumber, tanbark, railroad ties and passengers for San Francisco. Today the park has beach access, a visitor center and trails, and lists no entrance fee. State Parks places it about 15 miles north of Point Arena.
Fire and emergency services in and around the village come from the Elk Community Services District, and the water district maintains fire hydrants on its system. For homes beyond the hydrants, ask your insurer early how it rates the property, because water supply and road access can affect both price and availability of cover.
Elk compared with nearby areas
| Area | Government | One verified difference |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | Unincorporated | About 102 developed lots on a 128-acre water district |
| Manchester | Unincorporated | ZIP 95459 includes the Irish Beach subdivision and its own water district; Redfin median $755,000 (three months to July 2026, very few sales) |
| Fort Bragg | Incorporated city | City water and its own short-term rental rules; Redfin median $499,478 (three months to June 2026) |
| Navarro | Unincorporated | Inland on Highway 128; a Route 75 stop on the way to Ukiah |
| Philo | Unincorporated | In the Anderson Valley wine appellation (AVA) |
How Diamond Real Estate Group helps Elk buyers
In a village this small, the work is in the details of one parcel. We confirm whether it is on the Elk County Water District or a well, pull the septic permit history, check coastal permits for past additions, and ask the county in writing about any rental or second-unit plan before you rely on it. We also look at access, generator and insurance questions that matter more on the coast than inland.
If you already own in Elk, see how we sell homes, or read how we work with buyers across Mendocino County.
Selling a home in Elk
For a house in a Highway 1 village like Elk, the record buyers study most closely is the coastal permit history. Under Mendocino County’s coastal zoning code, development in the coastal zone requires a coastal development permit, and no building or grading permit may be issued before it. Repair and maintenance that does not enlarge a structure is exempt. Confirm your parcel’s coastal status with Planning and Building Services.
Permits to gather
- Coastal development permits and building permits for each addition, deck, outbuilding or second unit, with their conditions of approval.
- Any recorded offer of public access required as a permit condition; it will show in the preliminary title report.
- For a second unit, the water production test results. County Environmental Health keeps a coastal testing policy for second residential units.
Water and septic
Homes in the village core may be on the Elk County Water District; others rely on a well. Tell buyers which applies, and for a well, request the well completion report from Environmental Health and order a flow test. The county sewage code attaches no septic inspection to a sale, and the department is digitizing its files, so ask for the septic permit record well before you list.
Vacation rental history
If the house has hosted short-stay guests, the county occupancy tax registration certificate stays with you, not the house: it is not transferable and is surrendered with the final return when the property sells. Settle the account, because a recorded county judgment for unpaid occupancy tax becomes a lien on the property.
Transfer tax and statements
Elk owes only the county transfer tax of $0.55 per $500, about $1,100 on a $1 million sale. Sellers usually pay it in Diamond’s North Bay markets, though it is negotiable; our transfer tax guide has the details. If the parcel is mapped High or Very High fire hazard, provide AB 38 documentation or a buyer agreement. Smoke alarm and water heater statements and the plumbing fixture disclosure apply to every sale.
Coastal sales are few, so price from several years of them: request a home valuation or read our Mendocino County seller guide.
Sources for this section: Mendocino County Code (GoCodebook): Chapter 20.532, Coastal Development Permit Regulations; Mendocino County Environmental Health: Land Use (on-site sewage and water wells); Mendocino County Code (GoCodebook): Chapter 16.08, On-Site Sewage Systems; Mendocino County Code (GoCodebook): Chapter 5.20, Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax; Mendocino County Code (GoCodebook): Chapter 5.24, Real Property Transfer Tax; CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal: Information Bulletin 21-007, defensible space inspections in real estate transactions (2021); Justia: California Civil Code section 1102.19; California Public Law: Health and Safety Code section 13113.8; California Public Law: Health and Safety Code section 19211; California Public Law: Civil Code section 1101.4.
Elk real estate FAQs
Where is Elk, California?
Elk is on Highway 1 on the Mendocino Coast, about 16.7 miles south of the town of Mendocino according to Mendocino LAFCo, with Irish Beach and Manchester to the south. State Parks places Greenwood State Beach, in the village, about 15 miles north of Point Arena.
Is Elk a city?
No. Elk is an unincorporated community, so Mendocino County handles zoning, building and coastal permits. Local services come from special districts, such as the Elk County Water District and the Elk Community Services District for fire and emergency services.
How much do homes in Elk cost?
There isn’t enough data for a reliable figure. Redfin’s ZIP 95432 median for the three months ending June 2026 was $1.7 million, but Redfin counted only one sale behind it, and its sold list showed three closings from $802,000 to $2.8 million in June and July 2026. The Mendocino County median was $480,000 in September 2026, and nearby Manchester’s ZIP showed $755,000 for the three months ending July 2026.
Does Elk have public water?
The village core does, through the Elk County Water District, which served about 102 developed lots in 2025. Homes outside its lines rely on private wells or other small water districts, so confirm the source and the supply for each parcel.
Is Elk on a sewer system?
Plan on septic. The water district provides water only, and LAFCo’s 2025 review lists no sewer provider for Elk. County Environmental Health permits septic systems; ask for the permit file and an inspection.
Is Elk in the coastal zone?
Check each parcel on the county’s coastal zone boundary. Inside the zone, Mendocino County applies its Coastal Zoning Code and a Local Coastal Program certified in 1992, and most new building and many changes of use need a coastal development permit.
Can I rent out a home in Elk to vacationers?
Possibly, but get it confirmed first. The county’s coastal code defines vacation home rentals, but the permit path for a stand-alone rental outside the town of Mendocino isn’t clear from the code, so ask Planning and Building Services in writing. Guests pay a 10% lodging tax plus a 1% lodging assessment.
Can I add a second unit or ADU in Elk?
The county’s coastal code has its own ADU chapter, and Environmental Health lists a coastal water production test for second residential units. In practice that means proving there is enough water on the parcel, as well as meeting zoning and septic rules.
Is there a bus from Elk?
Yes, on weekdays. MTA Route 75 stops in Elk in the morning on its way to Ukiah through Anderson Valley and comes back in the late afternoon, and riders can transfer to Route 60 at Navarro River Junction for Fort Bragg.
What is Greenwood State Beach?
It’s the state park in the middle of Elk, on the site of the old Greenwood lumber landing, where the L.E. White Lumber Company’s wharf loaded schooners for San Francisco. It has a visitor center, beach access and trails, and State Parks lists no fee.
Which school district serves Elk?
The Mendocino County Office of Education lists no school district based in Elk; the nearest are Mendocino Unified to the north and Manchester Union Elementary and Point Arena Joint Union High School to the south. Ask MCOE or the district which schools serve a specific Elk address.
What transfer tax applies to an Elk purchase?
Only Mendocino County’s documentary transfer tax, $1.10 per $1,000 of value, because Elk isn’t in a city. Your escrow officer will show it on the estimated closing statement.
Sources & notes
- Redfin: ZIP 95432 housing market (three months to June 2026) and C.A.R.: September 2026 sales and price report
- Mendocino LAFCo: Elk County Water District service review workshop (February 3, 2025) and 2014 water and wastewater service review
- California State Parks: Greenwood State Beach
- California Coastal Commission: LCP status chart (October 2020) and Mendocino County Coastal Zoning Code, Ch. 20.316
- Mendocino County Environmental Health: land use (septic and wells)
- Mendocino Transit Authority: Routes 65 and 75 (2026) and Mendocino County Office of Education: district directory
Figures carry their dates where they appear. This is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice; confirm rules for a specific property with the agency named. Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
Plan your next move
Share your preferred location, budget, property requirements and timing. We can help organize a focused search, arrange showings or discuss preparing a property for sale.
Local resource: Mendocino County planning resources. Check official information for the address you are considering; area descriptions do not establish a property’s permitted uses.
