Living in Parkland, Florida

What Is It Like to Live in Parkland?

Parkland was chartered in 1963, and for its first few decades horses outnumbered residents. Large planned communities like Heron Bay and Parkland Isles arrived in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the city has since grown to nearly 38,000 residents across more than 8,000 acres.

Parkland is served by ZIP codes 33067, 33073 and 33076, which it shares with Coral Springs and other neighbors, so confirm a property’s actual city before you assume. The Sawgrass Expressway runs along much of the city’s southern edge, with interchanges at Coral Ridge Drive, University Drive and State Road 7.

I live in Parkland and have been helping people buy and sell in this part of Broward since 2007. Most of the decision comes down to which community fits your budget, your commute and how you want to live day to day.

Why Buyers Consider Parkland

Parkland is more spread out and less commercial than most of Broward, and that is the point for many buyers. Most neighborhoods are gated or planned communities with lakes, clubhouses, pools and sports courts, while estate-lot areas offer acre-plus lots and room for horses. The tradeoff is fewer restaurants and shops inside city limits, plus HOA rules and fees in most communities.

Parkland communities, up close

Each community has its own age, amenities, rules and fees, so the experience varies a lot from one gate to the next. Build years are approximate, and HOA details change, so always check the specific property.

• Parkland Isles (33076): 24-hour guard-gated, built mostly from 1999 to 2001, with many lakefront lots and smaller enclaves such as Crystal Key, Mystic Key and Sunset Harbour. The clubhouse has a heated pool and spa, fitness center, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, playgrounds, a billiard room and a library. Recent listings show HOA dues that include cable and internet.
• MiraLago (33076): a Lennar guard-gated community built around Lake Majesty starting in the mid-2010s. Its two-story clubhouse of roughly 24,000 square feet includes a resort pool, fitness center with sauna and tennis. Town Parc at MiraLago adds townhomes.
• Cascata (33076): MiraLago’s sister community, also built by Lennar, mostly from about 2017 to 2022. Homes are larger two-story designs, including the Presidential Collection, and residents share the MiraLago clubhouse amenities.
• Parkland Golf & Country Club (33076): a gated community of about 720 acres around a Greg Norman-designed 18-hole course. Homes date from about 2006, with some sections finished as recently as 2021, in sub-communities like Bella Flor, Caseras and Gables Estates. Golf and social club membership is separate from the HOA.
• Heron Bay (33076): a guard-gated master community of about 34 neighborhoods that straddles the Coral Springs line, with townhomes, villas and single-family homes and two clubhouses. Part of Heron Bay carries a Coral Springs address, so check the city and the school assignment for the specific home.
• Pine Tree Estates (33067): estate lots of an acre or more with no lakes, where horses and fruit groves are allowed. Much of the recent activity here is new custom construction.

Other Parkland communities

Parkland Bay, Watercrest, Cypress Head, Grand Cypress Estates, BBB Ranches, Parkland Reserve, Parkland Estates, Fox Ridge, Whittier Oaks, Country Point Estates, Falls at Parkland, Ternbridge, Mill Run, The Landings, Four Seasons, Waters Edge, Parkwood, Mayfair, Meadow Run, Parkside Estates, Sable Pass, Tall Pines, Country Place, Riverside Acres, Parkland Terraces and The Mews.

Every one of these has its own HOA structure, rules and price range. Call me and I will walk you through the differences that matter for your search.

Youth Programs, Camps and Activities

The city’s youth and camp programs cover aftercare, arts, dance and gymnastics, early childhood classes, fitness, specialty camps, sports and STEM enrichment, along with recreational soccer. Many gated communities add their own clubhouse programming on top of that.

If fields, camps and practice schedules will shape your week, look at where a home sits relative to Pine Trails Park, Terramar Park and P-REC. Parkland is spread out, and a few miles adds up on weeknights.

Schools in Parkland

Public schools in Parkland are run by Broward County Public Schools, and the district sets attendance boundaries by address, not by city or ZIP code. Part of Heron Bay has a Coral Springs address, and some Coral Springs homes are zoned to Parkland schools, so check the exact address with the district’s Find My School tool before you make an offer, not after.

The public schools located in Parkland are Heron Heights, Park Trails and Riverglades elementary schools, Westglades Middle School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Other options include Somerset Parkland Academy, a K-8 charter school, and Mary Help of Christians Catholic School, a private K-8 school.

Restaurants and Dining In and Around Parkland

Parkland has a smaller dining scene than Coral Springs or Boca Raton, and that is part of its character. Most local spots sit in the shopping centers along University Drive, State Road 7 and Parkside Drive, and residents mix those with nearby options in Coral Springs, Coconut Creek and Boca Raton.

Local favorites in Parkland include:

• Dear Olivia Bar & Kitchen on North University Drive, which opened in August 2025 in the former Déjà Blue space
• Malbec Grill, an Argentinian steakhouse on State Road 7
• Bluefin Sushi Thai Grill on Parkside Drive
• Pizza Time Caffe on Parkside Drive
• All Star Pizza on North University Drive
• Carmela Coffee Company on North University Drive

Just over the line, Ember & Vine opened in August 2026 at Sawgrass Center on Coral Ridge Drive near Heron Bay, from the same group behind Dear Olivia. Restaurants open and close often, so if you know a spot that has changed, tell me and I will update this list.

Housing Styles and What to Look For

Parkland is mostly single-family homes, from 1990s and early-2000s planned communities to 2010s and 2020s construction in MiraLago, Cascata and Parkland Golf & Country Club, plus custom homes on acre-plus estate lots. Townhomes and villas exist, mainly in Heron Bay and Town Parc at MiraLago, but they are a small share of the market.

Because many Parkland communities are now 20 to 25 years old, the age of a home’s major systems often matters as much as the floor plan. Before you fall for a kitchen, find out:

• How old the roof is, and what type it is
• Whether the windows and doors are impact-rated, or the home has shutters
• How old the AC and water heater are
• Whether past renovations, pools and additions were permitted
• What the HOA covers, and whether a separate club membership is required or optional

From living here

I live in Parkland, so I see the tradeoffs every day: the quiet and the parks are real, and so are the drive times for errands and the HOA rules that come with most communities. The right community depends on which of those matters most to you.

What It Really Costs to Own in Parkland

The list price is only part of the number. These are the costs I walk every buyer through before they make an offer.

Property taxes reset when you buy

In Florida, a home’s assessed value resets to market value when it sells, so the seller’s current tax bill is not a guide to yours. If the home will be your primary residence, apply for the homestead exemption with the Broward County Property Appraiser by March 1. You must own and live in the home as of January 1, and the exemption is worth up to $50,000 off its taxable value. Homestead also unlocks the Save Our Homes cap, which limits yearly increases in assessed value to 3% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.

Selling a Florida homestead to buy another? Portability may let you carry up to $500,000 of your Save Our Homes savings to the new home if you establish the new homestead within three tax years. You file with the Property Appraiser in the county where the new home is.

HOA, club and district fees

Most Parkland communities have a mandatory homeowners association, and some have a master association plus a sub-association for your section. Golf and social club memberships, like Parkland Golf & Country Club’s, are separate costs. In some newer Florida communities, a Community Development District (CDD) assessment also appears on the property tax bill, so ask whether the home you are considering has one.

Florida law requires the seller of a home in a homeowners association to give you a disclosure summary before you sign. If you don’t get it, you can cancel within 3 days of receiving it or before closing, whichever comes first. Read the association’s rules and budget early.

Insurance and flood

Insurers approve and price homes based on condition. On older homes, many carriers require a 4-point inspection of the roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC, and the age cutoff is set by each carrier, not by state law. A wind mitigation inspection documents things like roof shape, roof attachment and window and door protection, and it can lower your premium. Order both during your inspection period, and get firm insurance quotes before that period ends.

Sellers must give you a written flood disclosure before you sign, covering flood damage they know of during their ownership, flood insurance claims and flood assistance received. Flood zones are set lot by lot, so check the specific address on FEMA’s flood maps.

This section is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm tax figures with the Broward County Property Appraiser and coverage with a licensed insurance agent.

Parkland vs. Coral Springs

Parkland and Coral Springs are often compared because they sit next to each other in Northwest Broward. The better choice depends on what the buyer values most.

Parkland generally offers a quieter residential feel, many gated and planned communities, larger homes in several neighborhoods, parks, trails, and a less commercial layout.

Coral Springs generally offers more housing variety, more established neighborhoods, more shopping and dining options, and more everyday commercial convenience.

A buyer who wants more restaurants, shopping, and housing variety may want to compare Coral Springs closely. A buyer who wants a more residential setting, larger planned communities, and access to Parkland’s parks and trails may want to focus more heavily on Parkland.

The smartest approach is to compare both cities by property type, budget, commute, school verification, HOA structure, lifestyle needs, and long-term resale considerations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Parkland

What ZIP codes are in Parkland, FL?

Parkland is served by ZIP codes 33067, 33073 and 33076. Those ZIP codes also cover parts of Coral Springs, Coconut Creek and other neighbors, and part of Heron Bay carries a Coral Springs address. To confirm a property’s actual city, look it up on the Broward County Property Appraiser’s website.

What types of homes are in Parkland?

Mostly single-family homes, from late-1990s and early-2000s planned communities like Parkland Isles and Heron Bay to 2010s and 2020s construction in MiraLago, Cascata and Parkland Golf & Country Club, plus custom homes on acre-plus estate lots in areas like Pine Tree Estates. Townhomes and villas are a small share of the market.

Are most Parkland communities gated?

Many are, including Parkland Isles, MiraLago, Cascata, Parkland Golf & Country Club and Heron Bay, but not every neighborhood is. Most communities have a mandatory HOA, and some have both a master and a sub-association. Compare fees, rules and amenities, not just the gate.

Will my property taxes be the same as the seller’s?

Usually not. In Florida, a home’s assessed value resets to market value when it sells. If it will be your primary residence, file for the homestead exemption with the Broward County Property Appraiser by March 1. If you are selling a Florida homestead, portability may let you carry up to $500,000 of your Save Our Homes savings to the new home. Also ask whether the home has a CDD assessment.

When does Wedge Preserve Park open?

Wedge Preserve Park, a new 36-acre city park at Hillsboro Boulevard and Nob Hill Road, is scheduled to open in December 2026. Planned amenities include ball fields, covered pickleball, a ninja course, a splash pad and an all-ages playground.

How do I verify school zones in Parkland?

Use Broward County Public Schools’ Find My School tool with the exact property address and grade level. Boundaries can change, and some homes with a Coral Springs address are zoned to Parkland schools while others are not, so confirm before you make an offer.

Does Parkland have restaurants and shopping?

Yes, but on a smaller scale than neighboring cities. Local spots like Dear Olivia, Malbec Grill and Bluefin Sushi Thai Grill sit in Parkland’s five business centers, and residents head to Coral Springs, Coconut Creek or Boca Raton for bigger shopping and more dining.

Is Parkland more expensive to own in than Coral Springs?

It often is, because Parkland is mostly newer single-family homes in HOA communities. Compare specific homes on total cost to own, including taxes, insurance, HOA and club fees, rather than city-wide averages.

Fair Housing and Information Notice: The Duval Collective provides community information for general educational purposes only and follows fair housing laws. We do not steer buyers toward or away from any neighborhood, school or community based on protected characteristics. Information on this page was checked against official and published sources in November 2026. School boundaries, programs, HOA details, laws and community details change, so verify them directly with Broward County Public Schools, the Broward County Property Appraiser, the City of Parkland, community associations and other official sources. This page is not legal, tax or insurance advice.