The local magnetic properties of Yb³⁺ in the layered honeycomb material YbCl₃ were investigated by electron spin resonance on single crystals. For in-plane and out-of-plane field orientations the g-factor shows a clear anisotropy ( g_∥ = 2.97 ( 8 ) and g_⊥ = 1.53 ( 4 ) ), whereas the low temperature exchange coupling and the spin relaxation display a rather isotropic character. At elevated temperatures the contribution of the first excited crystal field level ( 21 ± 2 meV) dominates the spin relaxation.