Directory
Gated Communities in Orange County
36 guard-gated and card-gated communities grouped by city, with gate type, HOA range, price range, and a one-line read on each. Figures marked "verify" are unconfirmed for 2026.
Jump to: Coto de Caza / Rancho Santa MargaritaLaguna Hills / Laguna NiguelNewport Coast / Newport BeachIrvineAnaheim HillsLaguna BeachDana Point / Monarch BeachLadera RanchHuntington Beach
Coto de Caza / Rancho Santa Margarita · Mission Viejo market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coto de Caza detached (some attached in The Village / Oak Knoll) | 24-hr guard-gated | $1.6M–$6M+ (median list ≈$2.2M–$3.2M, 2026) | $312–$350/mo master + $100–$400 sub-HOA (≈$400–$750 combined) | Unincorporated 5,000-acre master plan with two private golf courses, equestrian center and trails; Capistrano USD schools; two-tier HOA plus private club (separate dues). |
| Dove Canyon detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $1.5M–$3M+ (median ≈$1.7M, late 2025) | $300–$400/mo (plus Mello-Roos on most lots) (verify) | Guard-gated golf community around the Jack Nicklaus-designed Dove Canyon Golf Club; 1990s tracts, Saddleback foothills, quiet cul-de-sacs. |
Laguna Hills / Laguna Niguel · Mission Viejo market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nellie Gail Ranch detached | gated, unmanned | $2.2M–$6M (median sale ≈$2.35M; median list ≈$3.35M, 2026) | $150–$300/mo (covers trails, swim/tennis/pickleball club base membership) (verify) | Equestrian estate community on half-acre-plus lots with 25 miles of bridle trails; the main ranch is NOT gated — only a few small interior enclaves have card gates. Listed here because buyers ask; confirm gate status per street. |
| Bear Brand Ranch detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $3M–$10M+ (verify) | $500–$900/mo combined (Bear Brand Master + Bear Brand Ranch sub-HOA) (verify) | Laguna Niguel's most prestigious address — custom estates on oversized lots with ocean and city-light views, minutes to Salt Creek Beach; dual-HOA structure (master + sub). |
Newport Coast / Newport Beach · Newport Beach market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Cove detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $5M–$26M+ (median sale ≈$11.8M, Mar 2026) | $615–$945/mo (Sea Point/Sea Crest/Oceana/Seabourn); $3,030/mo Custom Estate Collection | Newport Coast's flagship oceanfront enclave above Crystal Cove State Park; Canyon Club with pool, tennis and fitness; walkable tunnel to the beach and Crystal Cove Promenade. |
| Pelican Hill detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $8M–$30M+ (median sale ≈$15.5M, Jan 2026) | $700–$1,000/mo (no community pool/clubhouse — keeps dues lower) (verify) | Custom Mediterranean and Tuscan estates (5,000–10,000+ sq ft) on the ridge above Pelican Hill Resort and its two Tom Fazio courses; Pacific and Catalina views. |
| Pelican Crest detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $10M–$26M (median ≈$11.8M, Mar 2026) | $1,470–$1,520/mo | Roughly 100 custom estate lots on the highest Newport Coast ridge — the grandest view sites in the master plan; very thin turnover. |
| Pelican Point detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $12M–$40M+ (verify) | $1,200–$1,600/mo (verify) | The only oceanfront custom-estate enclave on Newport Coast — lots sit on the bluff directly above Crystal Cove State Beach with private stair access. |
| Big Canyon detached/attached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2M–$12M (12-mo median sale ≈$2.6M, 2026; customs much higher) | $250–$600/mo (varies: custom lots vs. Fairway One / Deane / Villas sub-associations) (verify) | Guard-gated golf community wrapped around Big Canyon Country Club between Fashion Island and the Back Bay; mix of 1970s customs, townhome enclaves and view lots. |
| Harbor Ridge detached/attached | 24-hr guard-gated | $3M–$12M (median list ≈$6.0M, Aug 2026) | $230/mo (Harbor Ridge Custom) to $773/mo (Harbor Ridge Crest, incl. pools/tennis/fire & EQ insurance) | Hilltop guard-gated enclave off San Joaquin Hills Rd with harbor-to-ocean panoramas; four sub-communities (Custom, Estates, Crest, Harbor Ridge) under one gate. |
Irvine · Irvine market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shady Canyon detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $5M–$20M+ (median list ≈$10.1M, Jul 2026) | $300–$700/mo (master + tract sub-HOA; ≈$600/mo typical combined) | Irvine's top address — ~400 custom Tuscan/Spanish estates around the private Shady Canyon Golf Club (separate $150K initiation), open-space canyon setting, no Mello-Roos on many lots. |
| Turtle Rock — gated tracts (Turtle Rock Summit, Turtle Rock Crest, The Pointe, Turtle Rock Glen) detached/attached | gated, unmanned | $2M–$5M+ detached (Turtle Rock median ≈$2.9M, 2026); $1.5M–$2.5M attached | $150–$400/mo (Turtle Rock Crest ≈$366/mo; most tracts lower; generally no Mello-Roos) | Irvine's original 1967 prestige village next to UCI and Bommer Canyon; 25 sub-neighborhoods, several with card gates (Summit and Crest hold the view lots), University High attendance. |
Anaheim Hills · Anaheim market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Pointe (The Summit) detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2.1M–$2.9M (active listings early 2026) | $200–$350/mo (verify) | Guard-gated ridge tract at the top of Anaheim Hills with canyon and city-light views; 1990s semi-custom homes, larger lots than the surrounding tracts. |
| Belsomet detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2M–$3.5M | $300–$450/mo (verify) | Intimate guard-gated enclave of fewer than 100 homes (c. 1993), 3,000–4,200 sq ft; only 3–5 sales a year. |
| Hidden Canyon detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $3M–$6M+ | $350–$600/mo (verify) | Anaheim Hills' largest custom-estate gate — acre-scale lots, equestrian-friendly, the top of the Anaheim Hills price ladder. |
| Peralta Hills (NOT gated — reference only) detached | guard-gated at entry | $2.5M–$5M+ | No HOA / no gate — unincorporated county estate area | Checked and confirmed NOT a gated community: Peralta Hills is an unincorporated county pocket of acre-plus equestrian estates with open streets. Included so the site can say so explicitly; do not market as gated. |
Laguna Beach · Laguna Beach market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Bay detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $5M–$40M+ (verify) | $650–$1,200+/mo (funds gate, private beach, pool, tennis/pickleball, park) | North Laguna's private-beach community (~500 homes) with its own cove, pool, tennis and a 24/7 gate; a century of ownership continuity and some of OC's highest per-foot values. |
| Three Arch Bay detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $4M–$25M+ (verify) | $300–$500/mo (gate, tennis, basketball, park, clubhouse; no pool) (verify) | South Laguna's gated private-beach cove (~600 homes, lower and upper bay) with a beach club vibe, 1930s–present cottages and oceanfront customs on Mussel Cove. |
Dana Point / Monarch Beach · Dana Point market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niguel Shores detached/attached | 24-hr guard-gated | $1.6M–$12M oceanfront (median ≈$2.6M, 2026) | $260–$386/mo | 960-home oceanfront community beside Salt Creek Beach and the Ritz-Carlton with private bluff park, pool, tennis and beach access; mix of 1970s townhomes, Broadmoor tracts and bluff-front customs. |
| Monarch Bay detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $4M–$25M (median ≈$6.5M, 2026) | $203–$255/mo HOA (Monarch Bay Club beach-club membership separate) | Guard-gated beachfront enclave with the members-only Monarch Bay Club on the sand (run by the Waldorf Astoria); single-story mid-century and rebuilt customs on the bluff and terrace. |
| Ritz Pointe detached/attached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2M–$8M (verify) | $500–$1,200/mo (Monarch Beach guard-gated range; Ritz Pointe varies by tract) | Guard-gated golf-course community between the Ritz-Carlton and Monarch Beach Golf Links with a walking path down to Salt Creek Beach; 1990s Mediterranean tracts plus estate lots. |
Ladera Ranch · Mission Viejo market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covenant Hills Village detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2.5M–$8M (median list ≈$3.09M, Apr 2026) | ≈$235/mo Ladera master (LARMAC) + Covenant Hills gate/club sub-HOA (≈$200–$500/mo; customs higher) | The only guard-gated village in Ladera Ranch — custom estate lots plus semi-custom tracts, its own clubhouse/pool, Capistrano USD schools; Mello-Roos applies. |
| Ladera Ranch card-gated enclaves (Amberly Lane / Whispering Hills / Terramor gated tracts) detached/attached | gated, unmanned | $1.5M–$3M (verify) | ≈$235/mo master + $100–$250/mo sub-HOA (verify) | A handful of keypad-gated streets inside the otherwise open villages; buyers get the Ladera trail/pool/clubhouse network with a gated address at a tract price. |
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach market guide →
| Community | Gate | Price range | HOA | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Cay detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $4M–$7.5M+ | Verify with association (guard + private beach/tennis/docks; among HB's highest) (verify) | Huntington Harbour 1970s Lusk custom waterfront estates; private beach, tennis, docks to 85 ft. |
| Faire Marin detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2.3M–$7M+ | Low — verify with association (no pool) (verify) | Harbour-view customs off Saybrook Ln; thin turnover, big view premiums. |
| The Bluffs (Edwards Hill) detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2.9M–$5.1M | ≈$300–$500/mo | 2000 Lennar/Manning estates, 3,900–6,200 sq ft with ocean views — the only gated Edwards Hill tract. |
| Ocean Colony detached | guard-gated at entry | $2.2M–$3.5M | ≈$350–$450/mo | 53 Italian-villa homes (1999–2001) off Seapoint — the closest gated tract to the sand; verify guard hours. |
| The Peninsula (SeaCliff) detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $1.8M–$5M | ≈$200/mo | Four late-1990s tracts (incl. Turnberry) wrapping the Huntington Club fairways; lowest dues in SeaCliff. |
| The Estates at Seacliff Country Club detached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2.5M–$3.5M | Verify with association (verify) | Early-1990s New Urban West homes behind their own gate — golf views, one block to the beach. |
| Seacliff on the Greens detached/attached | 24-hr guard-gated | $2.4M–$3.35M detached (attached Club Series from ≈$1M) | ≈$250–$400/mo | 1983+ resort enclave — waterfalls, greenbelts, golf frontage; mixed detached and attached. |
| The Boardwalk detached/attached | 24-hr guard-gated | $1.5M–$4.3M | ≈$400/mo | 2001–03 Christopher/Lennar tracts off Palm & Goldenwest; Mystic Pointe section is attached. |
| St. Augustine I & II detached | gated, unmanned | $1.8M–$3M | ≈$200–$300/mo | Cape Cod-style Christopher tracts (1998–2000), ~140 homes, community pool; some single-story plans. |
| Peninsula Park detached | gated, unmanned | $1.8M–$2.8M (verify current) (verify) | Verify with association (verify) | 91 Christopher homes, 2,900–3,250 sq ft, across from Discovery Well Park; pedestrian gate to Seacliff Elementary. |
| The Tides detached/attached | gated, unmanned | ≈$1.1M–$1.6M (older range $835K–$1.3M dated) (verify) | Verify with association (verify) | 77 small-lot Shea contemporaries (2002–03) with pool/spa; mixed townhomes and detached on tiny lots. |
| Bel Air (Seagate) detached/attached | gated, unmanned | ≈$1.6M–$2.2M (thin turnover) (verify) | ≈$250/mo + Seagate master | 2005–06 Christopher enclave, 102 homes; dual HOA (Seagate master); some attached product; verify card gate. |
| Pacific Shores detached/attached | gated, unmanned | ≈$1.3M–$2.4M | ≈$389/mo | 2011–14 Christopher coastal cluster off Newland, three blocks to the beach; no Mello-Roos; mixed products. |
Sources: per-community listings on Zillow/Redfin/Movoto, HOA and management references, and local broker community guides, 2026; Huntington Beach list verified July 2026. HOA dues and price ranges change — confirm with the association and current MLS data before relying on them. Community names are used descriptively; no affiliation is implied.
Related: Coastal communities · Family neighborhoods · All OC cities by tier
Gated communities: FAQ
What are the most exclusive gated communities in Orange County?
By price: Crystal Cove, Pelican Hill, Pelican Crest and Pelican Point in Newport Coast, Shady Canyon in Irvine, Emerald Bay and Three Arch Bay in Laguna Beach, and Monarch Bay in Dana Point — medians from roughly $5M to over $10M. Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, and Nellie Gail Ranch offer guard-gated or equestrian living from the low $1Ms.
What does "guard-gated" vs. "gated" mean?
Guard-gated communities staff the gate 24 hours (visitors are checked in); unmanned or card-gated communities use a transponder or code. Guard gates cost more to run, which shows up in HOA dues — typically several hundred dollars a month more.
How much are HOA dues in Orange County gated communities?
Roughly $250–$750/month in master-planned guard-gated communities like Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch enclaves, $600–$3,000+/month in Newport Coast and Shady Canyon. Dues are listed per community below and marked "verify" where we could not confirm a 2026 figure — budgets change every year, so confirm with the association in escrow.
Are there gated communities in Huntington Beach?
Yes — 13 verified detached-home gated communities, mostly in SeaCliff and Huntington Harbour (e.g., Ocean Colony, Seacliff on the Greens, Humboldt Island, Admiralty Island). Trinidad Island is often listed as gated but is not.
Do gated communities hold value better?
They tend to trade at a premium and have lower turnover, but that is a function of location, HOA health, and home quality more than the gate itself. Review HOA reserves and any pending special assessments carefully; a weak HOA can erase the premium.