We have studied the local transport properties in an epitaxial YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 - x (YBCO) film on LaAlO 3 (LAO) using variable temperature scanning laser microscope (VTSLM) near the superconducting transition. A map of the superconducting transition temperature (T c * ) is generated from a series of VTSLM images. The map of T c * indicates there are inhomogeneities in the film large enough to create nonuniform current flow near the superconducting transition. The evaluated T c * varies between 90.3 and 91.0 K in the film. Even though such change in T c * is not large enough to be detected by other localized compositional and structural characterization techniques, this along with an area of lower T c * and/or higher resistance affects current flow near the superconducting transition temperature as shown in VTSLM images. This inhomogeneity may be caused by slight variations of the stoichiometry and/or oxidation of the YBCO film.