Sea Ranch Lakes is a unique village of approximately 0.2 square miles located along A1A just north of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and to the south of Pompano Beach. The majority of the village is made up of a gated residential community, while the small remainder outside of the gate includes a shopping plaza open to the public and a private beach club just for residents.

Sea Ranch Lakes was incorporated in 1959 when the early residents of the community feared they could be forcibly annexed by either Pompano Beach or Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and lose their cherished autonomy. The residents realized that, by incorporating themselves as a municipality within Broward County, they would be able to remain independent for as long as they wished. As a result, they created their own self-governed village that oversees the nearly 600 residences behind the gate. They created a governing body made up of 7 village council members and a mayor, all elected to 2-year terms. However, part of what makes this village unique is that there is no public property within its municipal borders. All roads, streets, parks, and lakes are actually considered private, because they are all owned by the Sea Ranch Beach Club. Since the property is private, the Sea Ranch Lakes Police Department is legally allowed to deny non-residents access to the residential areas of the village through use of a guarded gate along its entrance on A1A.

The Beach Club itself has members who are elected to serve on a board of directors, and is responsible for maintaining all of the property throughout the village, including roads, street lights, and street signs. All major issues that affect the Beach Club must be voted upon by its members, and all town residents are allotted one vote for each parcel of property he/she owns. In addition to their property taxes, there are annual membership dues to the Beach Club that all residents are required to pay. Dues are used for capital improvements such as street repairs, painting of the Beach Club, and salaries of Beach Club employees who manage the club, and tend to all of its property. It is the employees of the Sea Ranch Lakes Beach Club who are responsible for maintaining the village’s property.

Law Enforcement services are provided by the Sea Ranch Lakes Police Department. The Department has approximately 30 sworn law enforcement officers, many of whom are retired NYPD, with several former employees of local and state law enforcement agencies. The Department has 3 patrol vehicles, and a minimum of two sworn officers on duty at all times, with a normal weekday staffing of two officers, one service aide, and the police chief. The department prides itself on its low crime rate, with fewer than 15 crimes per year, the majority being burglaries and robberies of businesses and vehicles inside the Sea Ranch Lakes shopping center.

The Department is mostly known, however, for its small-town efforts and assistance that is seldom found with law enforcement in larger cities. The department provides keyholder services for residents, and will assist with matters that are normally classified as non-law enforcement, including escaped animals, resident check-ups, and other service-type calls. It is this “small town” atmosphere encompassing the village that makes residents feel safe and comfortable. Life within the borders of this village can feel bucolic and carefree, with the rest of the world left just outside its gate looking in.

Homes in Sea Ranch Lakes start at $600,000, which is unusually affordable given both its proximity to Fort Lauderdale Beach, as well as the benefit of the additional amenities included with living in the village. In addition, this waterfront community is home to two large lakes (Lake Cayuga and Lake Seneca) and sits along the Intracoastal Waterway, giving this neighborhood some of the most sought-after waterfront real estate in the area. To learn more about Sea Ranch Lakes contact the Gayle Borden Group at 954.525.3355.