Santa Clarita neighborhoods: a guide for anyone moving to Santa Clarita

"Santa Clarita" is used for the whole Santa Clarita Valley, but the City itself is the four communities that incorporated together in 1987: Valencia, Saugus, Newhall and Canyon Country. Valencia is not a separate city, even though many addresses read Valencia.

Outside the city limits, Los Angeles County is the local government for Stevenson Ranch and Westridge, Castaic, Val Verde, Agua Dulce, Tesoro del Valle and FivePoint Valencia. For a buyer that mostly changes who levies special taxes and who provides local services. Either way the county transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000, and the City of Los Angeles's Measure ULA does not apply anywhere in the valley.

Valencia was planned by the Newhall Land and Farming Company in the 1960s; its first subdivision, Old Orchard I, opened in 1967. It is known for its paseos — paved paths that pass over or under the streets, so most of Valencia can be crossed on foot or by bicycle without crossing a street at grade — and for McBean Parkway, which runs past Bridgeport Lake and Westfield Valencia Town Center. The city portions of Valencia are east of Interstate 5; Tesoro del Valle, its northernmost subdivision, is outside the city limits.

Guides: Tesoro del Valle and Tesoro Highlands · FivePoint Valencia.

Saugus covers the north-central part of the valley (ZIP 91350, with parts of 91390). Central Park (27150 Bouquet Canyon Road), the Santa Clarita Sports Complex and the Aquatic Center on Centre Pointe Parkway are here. New and planned homes include the approved 375-unit Bouquet Canyon Project and Riverview, a proposed 318-unit community at the former Saugus Speedway next to the Saugus Metrolink station.

Canyon Country is the east side of the city (ZIPs 91351 and 91387). Its oldest neighborhood is Whites Canyon; among its newest are Skyline Ranch and Vista Canyon, a 1,100-unit development whose Metrolink station opened in 2023. Canyon Country Park is its largest park, and the Via Princessa Metrolink station serves the area.

Guides: Sand Canyon · Skyline Ranch.

Stevenson Ranch is an unincorporated, master-planned community west of Interstate 5, developed from the 1980s. It has two main subdivisions: Westridge in the north, home to The Oaks Club at Valencia golf course, and Stevenson Ranch proper. Part of it is in Los Angeles County's CFD No. 3, so check the tax bill. Its ZIP code is 91381.

Guide: Westridge and Stevenson Ranch.

The valley's largest new community is FivePoint Valencia, formerly Newhall Ranch, in unincorporated Los Angeles County next to the city; inside the city, Tesoro Highlands, Vista Canyon, Sand Canyon Village and MetroWalk are under construction. New homes in master-planned developments are the most likely to carry a Mello-Roos special tax, and the builder must give you the notice of special tax before you sign.

Every project with its status and builders: new homes in Santa Clarita.