Tustin neighborhoods we cover
- Old Town Tustin
- Tustin Ranch
- Tustin Legacy
- Tustin Meadows
- Peppertree
- Laurelwood
- Columbus Grove
- Columbus Square
- Greenwood
- Lockwood Terrace
What's hard on roofs around Tustin
Old Town's Cultural Resources District
Tustin created the Cultural Resources District over Old Town in 1988. Exterior changes to buildings there go through design review, and the city's residential guidelines say when a Certificate of Appropriateness is needed. For a house from before 1940, that can include the roof's form, pitch and material, so check with the Community Development Department before planning a re-roof.
Postwar tracts at re-roof age
Most of Tustin's growth came in the 1960s and 1970s, when orchards became tracts such as Tustin Meadows, Peppertree and Laurelwood, and 1950s houses filled Lockwood Terrace north of First Street. These homes have been through several roofs. Old layers, worn decking and original vents are what a licensed roofer looks for first.
Tile roofs and HOA rules in Tustin Ranch
Tustin Ranch was built as a master-planned community from the late 1980s, with Mediterranean and Tuscan style homes. Tile roofs last, but the underlayment beneath them wears out first, and cracked or slipped tiles let water reach it. Homes in a planned community like Tustin Ranch are often under an association whose rules cover roof material and color, so check yours before choosing.
Fire hazard zones on the new map
The state's 2025 fire hazard map marks portions of Tustin as Very High, High and Moderate zones. Just north, the foothills of Lemon Heights and Cowan Heights back onto wild brush. In these zones, roof covering, vents and gutters matter more, because embers often land on roofs first.
Newer homes need roof care too: tiles and shingles shift in wind, and flashing around vents and skylights is where leaks often start.
