55+ Active Adult Homes for Sale in Sun City, AZ

Sun City is the original Del Webb active adult community, opened in 1960 in the northwest Valley between Peoria, Youngtown, El Mirage and Surprise. It is an unincorporated area of Maricopa County with about 28,000 homes, from single-family houses to duplexes, patio homes and condos, plus eight golf courses run by the Recreation Centers of Sun City.

I'm Terry Day with DeLex Realty. Sun City works differently from most Valley neighborhoods: there is no city government, age rules come from recorded deed restrictions and a county zoning overlay, and recreation is run by a homeowner-owned nonprofit. Here is what I verified about how it works and what to check before you buy or sell.

Sun City 55+ homes at a glance
  • Where: Northwest Valley, Maricopa County (unincorporated); Peoria wraps around the north, east and south sides
  • Opened: January 1, 1960, by Del Webb
  • Size: about 14.4 square miles; 39,931 residents in the 2020 Census
  • Homes: about 28,000 housing units: single-family homes, duplexes, patio homes, villas and condos
  • Recreation: Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC): eight recreation centers and eight golf courses listed in 2026
  • Age rules: recorded deed restrictions plus a Maricopa County senior overlay; at least one resident 55 or older per home
  • Water and sewer: EPCOR

See Sun City 55+ homes for sale Call Terry: 602-483-4665

Where Sun City is

Sun City sits in the northwest part of the Phoenix area. Peoria borders it on the north, east and south, Youngtown is to the southwest, El Mirage is to the west and Surprise is to the northwest. Grand Avenue and Bell Road are the main roads most buyers use to get around. Mailing addresses are mostly in the 85351 and 85373 ZIP codes. Because Sun City is unincorporated, county government, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and a local fire district provide the services a city would elsewhere.

Sun City is not the same place as Sun City West or Sun City Grand (now called The Grand, in Surprise). Each has its own recreation association, rules and fees.

A short history

Del Webb opened Sun City on January 1, 1960, with five model homes, a shopping center, a recreation center and a golf course. Published accounts say about 100,000 people came that first weekend, far more than expected. The community grew in phases over the following decades, which is why you will find homes from many eras and in many styles. The 2020 Census counted about 28,000 housing units.

The homes

Sun City has a wider mix of home types than most 55+ communities. You will see detached single-family homes, duplexes and quads, patio homes, villas and garden-style condos. Condo buildings have their own condominium association and rules on top of the Sun City deed restrictions, so read both sets of documents. Home and lot sizes vary by section. If you are comparing condos, my Sun City condos and townhomes page has a separate search.

Recreation Centers of Sun City

The Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC) is a nonprofit that runs the community's amenities. Its May 2026 newsletter lists eight recreation centers: Bell, Fairway, Grand, Lakeview, Marinette, Mountain View, Oakmont and Sundial. Seven of them list pools and open-swim hours. RCSC also lists two bowling centers (Bell Lanes and Lakeview Lanes), two libraries (at Bell and Fairway) and the Sun Bowl amphitheater at 10220 N. 107th Ave. Lakeview Center sits on a lake used for fishing and boating.

RCSC lists eight golf courses: Lakes East, Lakes West, North, Quail Run (nine holes), Riverview, South, Willowbrook and Willowcreek. Two other clubs inside Sun City, Palmbrook Country Club and Union Hills Country Club, are separate from RCSC. See my Sun City golf community homes page for homes near the courses.

How membership works, in general terms: owners of record pay an annual property assessment to RCSC whether or not they use the facilities, and an ownership change triggers one-time fees at closing. Owners can get member cards, and non-owners such as renters can buy privilege cards. I do not publish dollar amounts because they change; ask your title company and RCSC for current figures before you write an offer.

Age rules, in plain words

Sun City is legal age-restricted housing. Two layers apply. First, the recorded deed restrictions (CC&Rs) require at least one resident 55 or older in each home and limit how long anyone under 19 can live there (no more than 90 days in a 12-month period). Second, Maricopa County's Senior Citizen overlay zoning has similar rules, including that at least 80% of homes have a resident 55 or older. Federal fair housing law allows this kind of housing when a community meets these tests.

The Sun City Home Owners Association (SCHOA) enforces the deed restrictions, checks ages through surveys and affidavits and handles variance requests. SCHOA membership itself is voluntary and SCHOA does not own common areas. If you have a specific household situation, ask SCHOA how the rules apply before you buy.

Services and daily life

  • Fire and medical: Sun City Fire and Medical Department (Sun City Fire District), three stations, headquartered on N. 99th Ave.
  • Law enforcement: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, with help from the volunteer Sun City Posse.
  • Hospital: Banner Boswell Medical Center, 10401 W. Thunderbird Blvd.
  • Water and sewer: EPCOR (water from local wells).
  • Electric: APS; confirm by address.
  • Schools: Sun City is outside any school district. In 1974 the county board removed Sun City and Youngtown from the Peoria district.

Things to check before you buy

  • Which documents apply: Sun City deed restrictions, plus any condo or sub-association rules for that building or street.
  • RCSC fees at closing and the annual assessment (get current numbers in writing).
  • Age and occupancy rules for your household, confirmed with SCHOA.
  • Age of roof, HVAC, plumbing and sewer lines, since many homes are decades old.
  • Golf course or lake lots: errant golf balls, views and who owns the nearby course or lake.
  • Rental rules if you plan to rent the home part of the year. My snowbird home buyer's guide covers seasonal ownership.

Some Sun City homes carry FHA or VA loans that a qualified buyer may be able to assume. See my assumable mortgage homes page.

Selling a Sun City home

Buyers here compare homes section by section, so price against recent sales of the same home type nearby, not the whole community. Have your RCSC and SCHOA paperwork ready, and fix obvious age-related items before listing. I can walk you through it.

Questions buyers ask

Is Sun City a 55+ community?
Yes. Sun City is age-restricted housing that requires at least one resident 55 or older in each home, under recorded deed restrictions and a county senior overlay. Limits also apply to how long younger people can live there.

Do I have to pay the Sun City recreation fees?
Yes, RCSC charges owners of record an annual property assessment whether or not they use the facilities. One-time fees also apply when a home changes hands. Get current amounts from RCSC or your title company.

Is Sun City part of Peoria or Phoenix?
No. Sun City is an unincorporated community in Maricopa County, so it has no city government. Peoria borders much of it, and the county, sheriff and fire district provide services.

What is the difference between Sun City and Sun City West?
They are separate Del Webb communities with separate recreation associations. Sun City opened in 1960; Sun City West is farther northwest and has its own centers, courses and fees. See my Sun City West 55+ page.

More to explore

Moving to Sun City guide | Surprise 55+ homes | Peoria 55+ homes | Youngtown | All Sun City listings

Thinking about Sun City?
Call Terry Day at DeLex Realty to compare homes, fees and rules for any Sun City address at 602-483-4665.

Community details come from Recreation Centers of Sun City and Sun City Home Owners Association materials, Maricopa County, the U.S. Census, EPCOR and news reports and can change. Confirm fees, age rules and utilities for a specific property before you buy.

Newest Active Adult Community Homes in Sun City

Start Your Search

Copyright 2026 Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, All rights reserved. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) nor Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless.

How much is your home worth?

Get instant property value now!