Gated communities in Tampa: prices, HOA fees, gate access and what to check

Gated communities in and around Tampa

HOA fee ranges for the 55+ communities are as listed by 55places.com in September 2026. Hunters Green, Cory Lake Isles, Avila and Cheval do not publish dues on their main websites, so ask the seller for current figures. In large master-planned communities such as Tampa Palms (28 villages) and Westchase, entry arrangements can differ by village, so ask about the specific village rather than the community name.

Gated communities in and around Tampa, one by one

These are the gated communities with published details we could verify. Each profile gives what the gate covers, the size and what you will pay beyond the price.

Hunters Green

Hunters Green is inside Tampa city limits in New Tampa, bounded by Cross Creek Boulevard, Highland Oak Drive and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The Hunter's Green Community Association describes 24/7 manned gates, 23 enclaves, 43 lakes and 65 acres of protected wetlands, with courts, fields, a jogging trail with a 15-station exercise circuit and a dog park. Hunter's Green Country Club, with an 18-hole Tom Fazio course, requires a separate membership. Zillow's typical home value was $531,010 in August 2026, down 0.8%.

Cory Lake Isles

Cory Lake Isles, also in New Tampa, has nearly 1,000 homes around a 165-acre lake used for boating and skiing, with 24-hour staffed gates, a Beach Club, pool, courts and playgrounds. The Cory Lakes Community Development District handles stormwater, water and sewer infrastructure and street lights, and its assessments appear on the property tax bill. Zillow's typical home value was $721,224 in August 2026, up 0.2%.

Avila

Avila, begun in 1978, is a walled community of about 395 homes on 700 acres between US 41 and Lake Magdalene Boulevard, north of central Tampa. It has two entrances, on Lake Magdalene Boulevard and North Florida Avenue, and is guarded 24 hours a day. The centerpiece is the private Avila Golf and Country Club, with an 18-hole course redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1988; club membership is separate from the HOA. Most homes were built in the 1980s, so ask about roof ages and recent renovation permits.

Cheval

Cheval is a large gated subdivision in Lutz that gives its name to the Cheval census-designated place, which had 12,522 people in 2020. It sits in unincorporated Hillsborough County, so county rather than city services apply. See the Lutz guide for the wider area, and ask the association for its budget and gate arrangements.

Kings Point (55+)

Kings Point in Sun City Center is gated, with 5,277 homes and more than 100 separate associations. Its listed fees are higher partly because they include exterior maintenance, landscaping, water, sewer, garbage, cable, internet, security and pest control.

Valencia Lakes and Valencia del Sol (55+)

These two GL Homes communities in Wimauma are both gated. Valencia Lakes, built 2005 to 2019, has 1,631 homes and is resale only; Valencia del Sol, built from 2017, has 565 homes and was selling new homes in September 2026.

Encore at FishHawk Ranch (55+)

A gated enclave of 240 homes inside FishHawk Ranch. The master plan's CDD assessments apply on top of HOA fees.

Del Webb Bexley and Timber Pines (55+)

Del Webb Bexley in Land O' Lakes (850 homes) and Timber Pines in Spring Hill (3,452 homes) are both gated and resale only. They are in Pasco and Hernando counties, which have their own tax rates. See the Tampa 55+ communities guide for a full comparison.

Gated vs guard-gated: what the difference means

Listings use "gated" for everything from an unstaffed gate with a keypad to a staffed gatehouse that checks every visitor. Ask which one you are buying into.

Guard-gated (staffed)

A staffed gatehouse, such as those at Hunters Green, Cory Lake Isles and Avila, checks guests and deliveries in person, often around the clock. It costs the most to run, because wages are an ongoing expense in the budget.

Gated with remote or electronic access

Gates opened by residents' transponders, codes or a call box cost less to run, but guest access depends on the system working. Ask how guests, ride shares and contractors are let in and who maintains the equipment.

Village gates inside a larger community

In large master-planned communities, some villages are gated and others are not, and the gated villages often have their own sub-association fee. Ask about the specific village.

HOA and CDD costs in gated communities

Staffed gates, cameras and access systems are paid for by owners. Depending on the community, the cost can sit in the master HOA budget, a sub-association budget, a community development district budget, or a mix.

Master and sub-association budgets

Ask for both budgets and find the line items for gate staffing and security. Compare them with last year's budget to see how fast they are rising.

CDD assessments

Look up the parcel's tax bill for any CDD assessment, and ask whether the CDD or the HOA owns the roads and gates. In Cory Lake Isles, the Cory Lakes CDD handles stormwater, water and sewer infrastructure and street lights.

Special assessments and estoppel

Ask about any approved or planned special assessments, for example to replace gate equipment or resurface private roads. Before closing, get an estoppel certificate: Florida law requires the association to deliver it within 10 business days of a request, and caps the standard fee at $250 when the account is current.

Downsides of living in a gated community

A gate suits some buyers and frustrates others. Weigh these before you pay for one.

Higher monthly costs

Gate staff and private roads are paid for by owners every month, and private roads must eventually be resurfaced at owners' cost rather than by the city or county.

Slower access for guests and services

Visitors, deliveries and contractors must be let in, which can mean waits at the gate and missed deliveries. Ask how emergency services get access.

More rules

Gated communities usually come with detailed covenants on rentals, exterior changes, parking and pets. Read them before you sign, not after.

A gate is not a crime statistic

A gate controls traffic; it does not tell you about crime in the area. If that is a priority, use official data for the address as described in the Tampa safety data guide.

Your HOA disclosure rights

In a Florida community with a mandatory homeowners association, the seller must give you a disclosure summary before you sign. It states that membership is mandatory, that covenants restrict use and occupancy, the current regular assessments, and that special assessments can be imposed. If you do not get it before signing, you can cancel in writing within 3 days of receiving it or before closing, whichever comes first, and that right cannot be waived.

Other checks on a gated home

• Access in practice: how guests, deliveries, ride shares and contractors get in, and any fees or rules for them.
• Rules: rental restrictions, parking, exterior changes and pets.
• Flood and evacuation zone: gates do not change risk. Check both for the address in our Tampa flood zone guide.
• Tax: estimate from your price. See Hillsborough County property tax.

Common questions

Sources

• Tampa Palms Owners Association
• Hunter's Green Community Association
• Wikipedia: Hunters Green
• Cory Lake Isles Community
• Cory Lakes CDD: CDD information
• 55places.com: Kings Point
• 55places.com: Valencia del Sol
• 55places.com: Encore at FishHawk Ranch
• 55places.com: Del Webb Bexley
• Florida Senate: Section 720.401, Florida Statutes (HOA disclosure summary)
• Florida Senate: Section 720.30851, Florida Statutes (estoppel certificates)
• Zillow Research: Zillow Home Value Index (August 2026 data)
• Wikipedia: Avila (Tampa)
• Wikipedia: Cheval, Florida
• 55places.com: Valencia Lakes
• 55places.com: Timber Pines