Sacramento gated communities at a glance
We list only communities whose association or the City of Sacramento describes them as gated or as having gated villages. Fees are shown only where the association publishes them.
| Community | Area | Homes | Gating | Amenities | HOA dues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverlake | Pocket, 95831 | 1,010 to 1,187 homes in 11 villages (association figures) | About 75% of lots gated, private streets | 32-acre lake, 7 small marinas, 24-hour patrol | Ask the association |
| Westlake | North Natomas, 95835 | Eight villages | Five gated villages, three not gated | Lake, gatehouse pool, clubhouse, cabanas, trails | Ask the association |
| Park River Oak Estates | Pocket, 95831 | 81 | Gated | Pool, spa, clubhouse | $320 a month (2026 budget) |
| River Grove | Pocket, 95831 | Not published | Gated | Not published | Ask the association |
| Gold River (outside the city) | Unincorporated county, 95670 | 2,735 in 25 villages | Security patrol; ask which villages are gated | Not listed here | Ask the association |
For prices around these communities, Redfin's median single-family sale price over the three months to September 2026 was $664,832 in 95831 and $589,351 in 95835, against $508,258 for the whole city. Zillow's September 2026 typical value was $624,454 for the Pocket neighborhood and $572,856 for Westlake.
Gated communities inside Sacramento city limits
Riverlake, the Pocket
Riverlake is the largest gated community we found in the city. The Riverlake Community Association says development began in 1987 under Parker Development Company, and the community now has 11 villages with about 1,010 home lots, 150 of them on the lake (its home page gives 1,187 homes), plus four apartment complexes with 770 units, a small shopping center and a Montessori school. About 75% of the lots are gated with private streets. The association runs a 24-hour vehicle patrol through Allied Universal and maintains seven small marinas on the 32-acre man-made lake. Its area runs from Rush River Drive south to the Sacramento River, between Greenhaven Drive and Bridgeview Drive and Oak Bay Circle. Homes listed on the association's site in October 2026 ranged from $594,000 for a 1,762 square foot house to $1,300,000 for a 3,812 square foot lake-area home. There are two boards, one for the community and one for the lake, and any exterior change needs architectural review approval.
Westlake, North Natomas
Westlake is a master-planned community of five gated and three non-gated villages in North Natomas, just off the Del Paso Road exit of Interstate 5. The Westlake Master Association says the community surrounds a lake and a gatehouse with a swimming pool, clubhouse and cabanas, with private lake access and walking trails. Its boundaries run from Bayou Way south to Del Paso Road and west from El Centro Road. Westlake is in the Natomas Unified School District; check any address with the district before you rely on a school. Zillow's typical value for the Westlake neighborhood fell 2.8% in the year to September 2026, to $572,856. Ask which village a home is in, because gated and non-gated villages can carry different sub-association dues.
Park River Oak Estates, the Pocket
Park River Oak Estates is a small gated planned development off Pocket Road with direct access to Garcia Bend Park and the Sacramento River trail. Its 2026 budget covers 81 homes at $320 a month each. The largest lines are garbage collection ($50,800 a year), security ($44,400), hazard insurance ($40,500) and landscaping ($33,600), with separate lines for gate maintenance and gate telephones, a pool and spa contract and a clubhouse. Reserve contributions are $42,675 a year. The rules list restricts rentals by amendment to the CC&Rs and says all outdoor parking is illegal for residents and outdoor cars will be towed.
River Grove, the Pocket
The City of Sacramento's neighborhood directory lists the River Grove Homeowners Association on River Grove Circle in the Pocket and limits membership to residents within the gated community. It is a small enclave and publishes little online, so ask the listing agent for the HOA budget, the gate system and any special assessments.
Gated and patrolled communities near Sacramento
Gold River, east of the city
Gold River is an unincorporated community of 2,735 homes in 25 villages, bordered by the American River, Highway 50, Hazel Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard. The Gold River Community Association runs a community security patrol. Its home page does not say which villages have gates, so ask before you assume a gate. Being outside the city, it has county services and a different tax rate area.
The Hamptons, North Natomas
The Hamptons is a planned community of nearly 1,300 homes in eight villages, built from 2005. Its association site lists security services and security cameras. We could not confirm gates, so treat it as an HOA community with added security rather than a gated one.
Natomas Park, North Natomas
The Natomas Park Master Association covers about 3,940 homes and roughly 13,000 residents and meets at The Club on Club Center Drive. It is not described as gated, but it offers the shared amenities many buyers look for in a gated community. For suburban options, see our Folsom and Roseville guides and the best suburbs of Sacramento.
Gated vs guard-gated in Sacramento
A gated community controls vehicle access with a gate opened by a code, remote or call box. A guard-gated community has staff at the entrance who check visitors. None of the city communities above describes a staffed guard gate on its own site. Riverlake pairs its gates with a 24-hour roving vehicle patrol, and Park River Oak Estates budgets for security alongside its gate.
A gate is not a police service. Riverlake's own security page points residents to the Sacramento Police Department for emergencies and to its daily activity reports. For official crime data by area, see Sacramento crime rates.
HOA dues, special taxes and other costs
In a gated community the HOA pays for things the city pays for elsewhere: private streets, gates, patrols and sometimes garbage. That is why dues are higher than in an ordinary subdivision. Park River Oak Estates' 2026 budget shows how it adds up, with security alone at about $46 a month per home. Before you buy, get the budget, reserve study and any special assessment history; our California HOA laws guide lists the documents the seller must provide.
Property tax in the city's main Sacramento City Unified tax rate area is 1.138746% for 2026-27. Flood control assessments from the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency and other direct levies may also appear on the bill, and newer subdivisions can carry Mello-Roos taxes. See the Sacramento County property tax guide and the Mello-Roos guide. Lake communities near the rivers should also price flood insurance early.
Downsides of gated living in Sacramento
Higher monthly costs
Private streets, gates and patrols are paid by owners. Over time, gate systems and private roads need replacing, and an underfunded reserve leads to special assessments.
More rules
Expect architectural review for paint, fencing, solar and landscaping. Riverlake requires approval before any exterior change, and Park River Oak Estates' rules say cars parked outdoors will be towed. Read the CC&Rs and rules before you make an offer.
Rental limits
Some gated HOAs limit rentals. Park River Oak Estates has amended its CC&Rs twice to restrict them. If you might rent the home later, confirm the current rule in writing.
Guests, deliveries and resale
Gates slow visitors and deliveries, and call boxes need upkeep. The pool of buyers who want gated living is smaller, so resale can take longer in a slow market: single-family homes in 95835 took a median of 43 days to sell in the three months to September 2026.
If you are weighing several of these communities, a local agent can pull HOA documents and recent sales for each. California Housing Prices's featured Sacramento agent is one option, and you are free to compare agents. See also Sacramento neighborhoods and 55+ communities near Sacramento.