Everything new residents need before, during, and after moving into one of Broward County's most sought-after communities.
Moving to Parkland isn't like moving anywhere else in South Florida. This is a city with guard gates, large estate lots, strict HOA covenants, active school enrollment windows, and a road construction project currently reshaping Loxahatchee Road. If you show up on move-in day without doing your homework, you'll find out the hard way.
This guide was built specifically for people buying or renting in Parkland — not a generic Florida relocation overview. You'll find the actual HOA management contacts, utility providers, school enrollment steps, the best seasons to move, and practical advice for getting through a gated community with a 26-foot truck.
Consider this your local insider brief — from a moving company that works these neighborhoods every week.
Parkland is consistently ranked among Florida's best cities to raise a family, and the data backs that up. The city has one of the lowest crime rates in Broward County, an A-rated school district feeding into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and a zoning philosophy that has deliberately preserved green space over commercial sprawl.
With a population of about 34,000 spread across 12.5 square miles, Parkland maintains a genuinely suburban density — wide roads, no strip malls on every corner, equestrian trails, and nine city parks. It sits at the northern edge of Broward County, bordered by Boca Raton to the north, the Everglades to the west, and the Sawgrass Expressway providing access to the rest of South Florida.
Unlike Coral Springs or Boca Raton, Parkland has very few commercial areas. There are five commercial centers total in the entire city. This means deliveries, movers, and contractors have fewer reference points for navigation — and gated community access is more strictly enforced. Plan accordingly.
Timing your Parkland move isn't just about price — it's about heat, school calendars, snowbird traffic, and road construction. Here's how the year breaks down:
2026 Road Alert: Loxahatchee Road from Parkside Drive to U.S. 441/SR 7 is currently closed for roundabout and roadway improvements through Fall 2026. If your new home is west of Nob Hill Road, confirm your mover knows the active detour routes before move day. Phase 2 runs through Fall 2026.
For families with school-age children, the ideal move targets an August arrival (before the BCPS school year starts in mid-August) or a December/January arrival to start fresh in the spring semester. Avoid mid-semester moves when possible — school transfers mid-quarter create more administrative friction.
Parkland has over 30 distinct communities. Most fall into one of three profiles: resort-style clubhouse communities, large-lot estate neighborhoods, and newer construction developments. Each carries different move-in logistics.
| Community | Profile | Approx. HOA/Mo | Gate Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heron Bay | Large master-planned, multiple sub-HOAs | $300–$400 | Guard-gated |
| Parkland Golf & Country Club | Luxury resort, Greg Norman golf course | ~$1,200 all-in | Guard-gated |
| Watercrest | Newer, lakefront, 150-acre lakes | $400–$500 | Guard-gated |
| Cascata at MiraLago | Luxury estates, resort pool/water park | Varies | Guard-gated |
| Parkland Bay | Mediterranean estates, 178 lakes, 24/7 gate | Varies | 24/7 manned gate |
| Cypress Head | Large lots (½–1 acre), waterfront views | ~$200 | Manned gate |
| Meadow Run | Gated, $700K–$1.5M homes, private park | ~$300 | Guard-gated |
| Parkland Isles | Family-friendly, mid-range pricing | Varies | Gated entry |
| Four Seasons at Parkland | 55+ active adult community | Varies | Gated |
| MiraLago Estates | Upscale, lakefront, private | Varies | Guard-gated |
| Country Point / Country Place | Waterfront canal homes | Varies | Varies |
| Cypress Cay | Gated, southern Parkland | Varies | Gated |
Pro tip: Before booking movers, confirm with your HOA which entry gate accommodates commercial trucks. In several Parkland communities, the resident/visitor gate is separate from the service/commercial gate — and your moving truck may be required to use a different entrance entirely.
Nearly every Parkland community is gated — and most are guard-gated with staffed 24/7 or daytime security. This changes your move-in logistics in ways most people don't anticipate until the morning of the move.
The five things that almost always apply in Parkland gated communities:
Call your HOA management company (see directory below). Tell them your move-in date, the moving company's name, the truck count, and the approximate arrival window. Ask for written confirmation and the guard gate phone number to give your movers. This one call prevents 90% of move day delays in Parkland.
Large estate homes also carry unique logistics: long private driveways can limit truck positioning, mature landscaping means maneuvering constraints, and some community roads have turning radius limits that affect 26-foot trucks. A good mover will ask about these in the estimate phase — if they don't, that's a red flag.
Ask your HOA these three questions: (1) What hours can movers access the community? (2) Does the moving truck use the main gate or a service entrance? (3) Is a move-in deposit or COI from the mover required?
The following directory is sourced from the City of Parkland's official HOA contact list, updated April 2026. Contact your community's management company to confirm move-in rules, required documentation, and gate access procedures before your move date.
Can't find your community above? The City of Parkland maintains a full HOA directory at cityofparkland.org under "Homeowners Associations." The list is updated periodically and covers all 30+ communities. City Hall can be reached at (954) 753-5040.
Parkland is unique in that utilities are not managed by the city — they're handled by several independent providers depending on your specific neighborhood. Don't assume — look up your address first.
| Service | Provider | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Florida Power & Light (FPL) | fpl.com | Serves all of Parkland. Set up service before move-in. |
| Water / Sewer | Parkland Utilities, Inc. OR City of Coconut Creek | (888) 233-9105 | Provider depends on your community. Confirm via cityofparkland.org/904 |
| Trash / Recycling | Waste Management | (954) 974-7500 | Twice-weekly trash, once-weekly recycling. Cart provided. |
| Internet | Xfinity / AT&T / local ISPs | Varies | Schedule installation before move day to avoid delays. |
Trash rules to know: Garbage may be placed curbside no more than 12 hours before your scheduled collection day. Containers must be covered and not exceed 32 gallons. Grass clippings and branches are collected the same day as trash but must be separated. There are 12 bulk trash pickup dates annually — schedule varies by area.
Water service in Parkland is split: communities in the 33076 zip code (including Heron Bay, Parkland Bay, Cascata, Watercrest, MiraLago, and others) are generally served by Parkland Utilities, Inc. Communities in the 33067 zip code (including Cypress Head, Cypress Cay, and others near Parkside Drive) may be served by the City of Coconut Creek's water system. When in doubt, call the city at (954) 753-5040.
Parkland schools are the main reason many families choose this city over neighboring communities. All public schools feed into Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) and carry A ratings from the Florida Department of Education.
| School | Level | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Heron Heights Elementary | K–5 | |
| Riverglades Elementary | K–5 | |
| Park Trails Elementary | K–5 | |
| Westglades Middle School | 6–8 | |
| Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School | 9–12 | |
| Somerset Academy Parkland (Charter) | K–12 | — |
| Mary Help of Christians (Private) | PK–8 | — |
| Kol Tikvah (Private) | PK–8 | — |
Enrollment steps for new Parkland residents:
Timing matters: BCPS typically starts in mid-August. If you're moving in July or August, begin enrollment paperwork as early as possible — schools fill placement queues quickly. Gifted programs at all three Parkland elementary schools require separate screening through BCPS.
Save these contacts before your move. You'll need them in the first 30 days.
Stay connected with the city: Text "ParklandInfo" to 888-777 to receive safety alerts. Sign up for Parkland on Tap, the city's weekly email newsletter, at cityofparkland.org. Follow @CityParklandFL on social media for real-time updates including road closures and construction alerts.
Use this timeline to stay ahead of the details that trip up most moves in Parkland.
4–6 Weeks Before
1–2 Weeks Before
Move Day
First 30 Days
Parkland has a significant amount of new construction — communities like Cascata, Parkland Bay, and Watercrest still have active builds — and many buyers run into a gap between when they sell their current home and when their new Parkland build is ready.
This closing gap — sometimes weeks, sometimes months — is one of the most common situations we handle. The solution is a two-phase move: your belongings go into climate-controlled storage first, then get delivered to your new Parkland home when you're ready.
Phase 1: Your current home is packed and loaded on move-out day. Everything goes into secure, climate-controlled storage. Phase 2: When your new Parkland home is ready — whether that's two weeks or three months later — we deliver everything directly. One mover, one price, zero double-handling stress.
South Florida's heat and humidity make climate-controlled storage non-negotiable for Parkland moves. Wood furniture, electronics, artwork, wine collections, and leather pieces will all be affected by non-climate-controlled storage in summer months. If you're doing a staging gap, ask specifically about climate control — not all storage facilities in the area offer it.
New build buyers: Always build a 2–4 week buffer into your move plan. New construction closing dates in South Florida shift regularly. A mover with storage capacity means you can close on your old home on schedule without being stuck waiting on the builder.
All Things Moving is a South Florida moving company built for exactly this — gated communities, large estates, new builds, and everything in between. We know Parkland.