Free sandbags in Orange County, California, by city
Updated . By Landen Chu, Co-founder of OakTend. How we research
This guide is for Orange County, California homeowners, with a row for each city that posts where to get them. This is general information; your city has the final word.
Where can I get free sandbags in Orange County?
- A fire station. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) says most of its stations have empty bags, and it lists 15 that have sand too. Supply depends on demand. Call (714) 573-6200 to check a station.
- Your city. 16 cities post where to get them. Find yours in the city table.
- The county yard. OC Public Works has its own pickup site; see the county yard row for who can use it, and call first.
Do I have to fill the bags myself?
Usually you do. OCFA asks you to bring your own shovel, and crews may not be there to help. Irvine hands out filled bags, and so does Laguna Beach when heavy rain is expected.
Which cities have their own sandbag sites?
Each row comes from the city's own page. If your city is not here, we could not find a current page for it, so call your local fire station or use the county yard.
| City | Where | Limits and rules | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | Where: Sand and bags at the Public Works Operations Yard, 400 E. Vermont Ave. Fire stations also have empty bags. | Limits and rules: 10 bags per household, 25 for apartment and association communities. Bring proof that you live or own a business in Anaheim. The yard may have bags but no sand. | Source: City of Anaheim: sandbags |
| Brea | Where: City Yard, 545 N. Berry St., 24 hours a day while supplies last. | Limits and rules: Up to 10 per address. Bring proof of residency. | Source: City of Brea: flooding and storms |
| Buena Park | Where: Empty bags at Fire Station 61, 7440 La Palma Ave. | Limits and rules: For Buena Park residents, 10 bags per resident. | Source: City of Buena Park: Public Works FAQs |
| Fountain Valley | Where: City Yard, 17300 Mt. Herrmann St., and the Sports Park, 16210 Brookhurst St. | Limits and rules: Bags and sand are provided. Bring a shovel. | Source: City of Fountain Valley: sandbag information |
| Garden Grove | Where: OCFA Station 82, 11805 Gilbert St., and Station 83, 12132 Trask Ave. | Limits and rules: Up to 10 free bags, with sand, that you fill yourself. Bring a shovel and proof of residency. | Source: City of Garden Grove: sandbags |
| Huntington Beach | Where: Corporate Yard, 17371 Gothard St. (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Edison Community Center, 21377 Magnolia St., and Warner Fire Station, 3831 Warner Ave. | Limits and rules: Sand and bags for Huntington Beach and Sunset Beach residents, not businesses. 20 bags per household. Bring a shovel. | Source: City of Huntington Beach: sand bags |
| Irvine | Where: Operations Support Facility, 6427 Oak Canyon Rd., 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on business days. OCFA Station 36, 301 E. Yale Loop, has sand and bags. | Limits and rules: 10 free prefilled bags per household at the city facility. Bring proof of residency. | Source: City of Irvine: Be Rain Ready |
| La Habra | Where: Public Works City Yard, 621 W. Lambert Rd., and Los Angeles County Fire Station 192, 520 S. Harbor Blvd. | Limits and rules: The page gives no limit. Call (562) 383-4170 to schedule a pickup. | Source: City of La Habra: sandbags |
| Laguna Beach | Where: Filled bags, when heavy rain is expected, at the ACT V lot, 1900 Laguna Canyon Rd., and the Aliso Beach East lot, 31132 S. Coast Hwy. Empty bags at the city's four fire stations. | Limits and rules: 10 filled bags per property, for residents with ID. For empty bags, bring your own sand, not from city beaches or playgrounds. | Source: City of Laguna Beach: sandbags |
| Newport Beach | Where: City Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave., ready at least one business day before a storm. | Limits and rules: 10 bags. Bring proof of Newport Beach residency. Empty bags may be filled with beach sand. Call (949) 644-3055 to check they are ready. | Source: City of Newport Beach: flooding and sandbags |
| San Clemente | Where: Steed Park, 247 Avenida La Pata, and San Gorgonio Park, 2916 Via San Gorgonio, during park hours. | Limits and rules: Free sand, bags and shovels on site. You fill them, limit 25. | Source: City of San Clemente: emergency preparedness FAQ |
| Seal Beach | Where: The fire stations, the 10th Street beach lot and the City Yard, in the winter months. | Limits and rules: The page gives no limit and no addresses. | Source: City of Seal Beach: FAQ |
| Stanton | Where: Corporate Yard, 8100 Pacific St., Monday to Thursday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Limits and rules: Free sand and bags for residents through the rainy season, 10 per resident. You fill them. | Source: City of Stanton: sand bags |
| Tustin | Where: Self-serve at Columbus Tustin Gymnasium, 17522 Beneta Way, and Tustin Sports Park, 12850 Robinson Dr. | Limits and rules: For Tustin residents. Sand and shovels are on site. | Source: City of Tustin: free sandbags |
| Westminster | Where: City Yard, 14381 Olive St., weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., during bad weather. | Limits and rules: 12 bags per resident. Bring ID that shows you live in Westminster. | Source: City of Westminster: emergency preparedness |
| Yorba Linda | Where: Fire Station 53 has bags and sand. Stations 10 and 32 have empty bags. | Limits and rules: Bring your own shovel. Supply may be limited. | Source: City of Yorba Linda: storm preparedness |
| County yard (OC Public Works) | Where: OC Public Works, 2301 N. Glassell St., Orange, or seasonal staging sites. Call (714) 955-0200. | Limits and rules: OC Public Works says residents living in Orange County can get up to 50 free empty bags a year, October 1 to April 30. Not for contractors or businesses. OCFA describes this yard as for unincorporated area and recent burn area residents, so call first. | Source: OC Public Works: emergency response |
This table was checked on October 28, 2026.
When are the king tides this winter?
King tides are the highest predicted tides of the year. The California King Tides Project lists these dates statewide:
- November 24 to 26, 2026
- December 23 to 25, 2026
- January 21 to 22, 2027
Its tide map has the times for your stretch of coast. If your street floods on high tides, have sandbags in place before these dates.
Before the rain, also clear your yard drains. City pages: Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Laguna Beach and Irvine, or every city on the Orange County hub.
Sources
- Orange County Fire Authority: sandbags
Most OCFA fire stations have empty sandbags; 15 listed stations have sand and sandbags; residents are encouraged to bring their own shovel, and crews may or may not be present to help; limited supply based on demand and availability; (714) 573-6200. The county yard is listed for unincorporated area or recent burn area residents, (714) 955-0200 (checked 2026-11-01). - OC Public Works: emergency response (sandbags)
Each year from October 1 to April 30, residents living in Orange County can get up to 50 free empty sandbags at 2301 N. Glassell St., Orange, or seasonal staging locations; contractors and commercial entities are not permitted; (714) 955-0200. - California Coastal Commission: California King Tides Project
King tides are the highest predicted tides of the year; statewide dates November 24-26, 2026, December 23-25, 2026 and January 21-22, 2027; check the tide map for local dates and times. - City of Irvine: Be Rain Ready (October 21, 2026)
10 free prefilled sandbags per household at the Operations Support Facility, with proof of residency. - City of Laguna Beach: sandbags
Filled sandbags are provided self-serve during anticipated heavy rain, limit 10 per property, for residents with ID.