It Pays To Know

If you are thinking about buying a home in one of the Manhattan Beach Undergrounding Districts, you need to know if you will assume payments for the cost of undergrounding as the new owner.

What is Undergrounding?

Manhattan Beach homeowners in several areas have formed Utility Undergrounding Districts to place overhead wiring underground. Removal of overhead wires for electrical, telephone and cable service significantly improves the views and neighborhood aesthetics. Undergrounding is also reputed to improve safety and may contribute to more reliable service, since the wires are less likely to be damaged underground. You can download a 2007 City of Manhattan Beach Factbook about undergrounding, by clicking HERE.

Undergrounding Districts

You can download a PDF version of the map shown here, to zoom in and better see the districts.

Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6 have approved undergrounding and the work is complete or nearly so.

Districts 4, 7, 9, 10 & 11 have been dissolved based on resident votes in those areas. They do not appear on the map shown. District 8 was dissolved by the City Council in October 2009.

Districts 12, 13, 14 & 15 are still under evaluation. They have not yet been approved or dissolved.

The Manhattan Beach city website provides additional details about the Utility Undergrounding. Read more >>

Cost of Undergrounding

Homeowners in approved undergrounding districts are assessed for a portion of the cost of undergrounding. There are three payment options available.

• Pay the assessment in full within 30 days
• Finance the expense over 20 years
• Defer the cost until the property is sold or transferred

Put it in the Purchase Agreement

If you are buying a home in Manhattan Beach Utility Undergrounding District 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6 be sure to find out whether the assessment has been paid, financed, or deferred. If the assessment has not been paid in full it will be a lien on the property assumed by the new owner, unless otherwise agreed in the purchase agreement.

If you are buying a home in District 12, 13, 14, or 15 check with the City of Manhattan Beach to learn the current status for that district. If homeowners have recently approved undergrounding, you could be liable for the undergrounding assessment on the home you purchase. Responsibility for the undergrounding assessment should be documented in the purchase agreement.