South Orange County Unincorporated Communities

There are several large unincorporated communities located in the southern region of Orange County. Located within the Fifth Supervisorial District, these areas include the inhabited communities of Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Stonecliffe, Wagon Wheel and the developing Rancho Mission Viejo area.

Opportunities for Efficient Service Delivery

The South Orange County unincorporated region includes approximately 44,000 residents living within the developed communities of Coto de Caza (includes Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel), Ladera Ranch and Las Flores. The region also includes the unincorporated Rancho Mission Viejo development, which will bring an additional 38,000 residents to the County.

OC LAFCO continues to monitor the development of unincorporated South Orange County as timely discussions involving future governance within the region are paramount. To learn more about these communities and to access the latest resource document developed by the Commission for the South Orange County communities.

Shaping the Future

To learn more about the governance options, you can access the South Orange County report below.

Discussions on future governance involving this region began in 2013 and resulted in a multi-year effort led by OC LAFCO that concluded in 2016. This effort named “South Orange County Governance Visioning Process” created a building block for future discussions regarding municipal governance for the region. Most Recently, in early-2022, OC LAFCO prepared a comprehensive report of the governance options under OC LAFCO purview and is intended to inform interested parties in South Orange County. Today, South Orange County governance continues as a key priority for the Commission.

To learn more about the governance options, you can access the South Orange County report below.

Governance Options