Although California is the heart of the range of this lizard, it is also found in eastern and southwest Oregon, southwest Idaho, Nevada, western Utah, and northwestern Baja California, and some of the islands off the coast of both California and Baja California. It is found in scrub and chaparral, up to heights approaching 2000 meters, but it is not found in the desert.

The Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a common lizard of California and surrounding areas. It is also known as the Blue-belly or Swift.