Ventana Lakes Homes with a Casita

A Ventana Lakes casita gives visiting family their own space in this Peoria 55+ community, but only some homes have one. The association's public website does not address casitas, guest stays or leasing, so get the CC&Rs for the exact lot and ask the association in writing before you buy for a specific use.

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What "casita" means in a Ventana Lakes listing

Listing agents use the word loosely. When I pull Ventana Lakes homes that mention a casita or guest quarters, I sort them into three groups before we tour anything:

• Detached casita. A separate small building on the lot, usually with its own bath. Look for it on the plat or aerial, not just in photos.
• Attached guest quarters. A room or suite that shares a wall or roofline with the house but has its own exterior door. It may be original to the home or a later conversion, which changes what paperwork you need.
• Interior guest suite. A bedroom with a private bath at the far end of a split floor plan. Comfortable for visitors, but it is not a separate unit.

Those three are priced, insured and inspected differently, so I do not compare one against the other as if they were the same feature. If a listing says "casita," I ask the listing agent which type it is and whether it was original to the home before we write an offer.

Guest stays and leasing: what the association has published

I went through the VLPOA website looking for anything on casitas, guest houses, overnight guests or rentals. The site's pages on the office, clubhouses, pools, lakes and contacts do not cover those topics. The association does post a public Governing Documents folder on its FrontSteps portal, which holds the CC&Rs (a 2020 version), the Bylaws, a collection policy and an approved rule from September 2024. Those documents, not a listing description, are what control how a casita can be used.

Because Ventana Lakes is age-restricted, the CC&Rs also set the occupancy rules, including how long guests who do not meet the age requirement may stay. If you plan regular long visits from family, or a caregiver living in the casita, read those sections before you buy. Here is what I ask the association to answer in writing for the specific address:

1. Do the CC&Rs or Rules mention casitas, guest houses or second living units at all?
2. How long may guests who do not meet the age requirement stay, and is there a registration step?
3. Is leasing allowed, is there a minimum lease term, and can a casita be rented separately from the main house?
4. Has the existing casita or guest quarters been approved by the association, and is there a record on file?

Arizona's accessory dwelling unit law (A.R.S. 9-461.18) requires larger cities to allow an attached and a detached ADU on single-family lots and limits how cities can restrict long-term rental of them. The same statute says it does not prohibit private restrictive covenants. In plain terms, the city rule does not override the Ventana Lakes CC&Rs. This is general information, not legal advice.

Guests and the community amenities

Visiting family will want to use the lakes, pools and clubhouses. The association lists four clubhouses: the Yacht Club (open for association events), plus Landings, Lakeside and Edgewater, which are open around the clock with a community ID and access key. The outdoor pools and spas also require the ID and key, and children under four are not allowed in pool or spa areas. Nine lakes cover about 30 acres, with walking paths, catch-and-release fishing with barbless hooks, and non-motorized boats such as kayaks and paddle boats. The website does not post a guest pass policy, so ask the office at (623) 566-6001 how guests get access before your first visitors arrive.

Ventana Lakes prices right now

Ventana Lakes (ZIPs 85373 and 85382) had 20 closed sales from Aug 14 to Oct 23, 2026, with a median sold price of $351,250 and a median of $244 per square foot. On Nov 7, 2026 there were 43 active listings, priced from $249,900 to $539,900.

No closed sale in the last six months and no active listing on Nov 7, 2026 mentioned a casita or guest quarters, so the button shows all current Ventana Lakes listings. Ask me and I will watch new listings for guest space.

Source: ARMLS data compiled by Terry Day, DeLex Realty. ARMLS® COPYRIGHT 2026. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Adding a casita after closing

Some buyers find a Ventana Lakes home they love without guest quarters and plan to add them. That takes two separate approvals, and one does not replace the other.

• Association review. The VLPOA contact page lists a Community Standards Coordinator through the onsite office. It does not post a separate architectural committee or an application form, so ask the office for the current submittal process, required drawings and review timeline before you hire a contractor.
• City of Peoria permit. The City of Peoria's code compliance page says additions to existing buildings, and sheds or detached structures over 200 square feet or taller than 8 feet, need a building permit and must follow design review rules before construction. Questions go to Planning and Zoning at (623) 773-7200 or Development and Engineering at (623) 773-7212.
• Utilities and setbacks. State law bars building an ADU over a public utility easement without consent, and the city's setback rules still apply. Have your contractor check the plat before you sketch anything.

A neighbor's casita is not proof that your lot can add one the same way. Lot size, easements, lake frontage and when the neighbor's addition was approved all matter.

What I check before you buy a home with a casita

1. Which of the three casita types it is, confirmed on the floor plan and in person.
2. Whether it was original to the home or added later. If added, I ask the seller for association approval and the City of Peoria permit and final inspection.
3. Separate heating and cooling, water heater and electrical service for the casita, so your inspector knows what to test.
4. The written association answers on guests and leasing for that address, received during your inspection period.
5. How the casita is described for insurance, since a detached structure is often covered differently from the main house.

Questions buyers ask

Do many Ventana Lakes homes have a casita?
No. Only some homes have a detached casita, attached guest quarters or a guest suite. On Nov 7, 2026 no active Ventana Lakes listing mentioned one, so ask me to watch for new listings with guest space and confirm each in person.

Where do I find the guest and leasing rules?
In the CC&Rs and Rules posted in the association's public Governing Documents folder, linked from vlpoa.org. The website pages do not summarize them, so ask the office in writing for answers tied to your address.

Can I rent out the casita?
Do not assume so. State ADU law limits what cities can restrict, but it does not override private CC&Rs. Get the association's written answer before you buy for rental use.

Is Ventana Lakes age-restricted?
Yes. The association describes Ventana Lakes as an active adult (55+) community. The occupancy rules are in the CC&Rs.

Do I need approval to build a casita?
Plan on both. The association reviews exterior changes through its office, and the City of Peoria requires a building permit for additions and for detached structures over 200 square feet or 8 feet tall.

More 55+ pages

• Ventana Lakes homes for sale in Peoria
• Ventana Lakes new listings
• Ventana Lakes homes with a pool
• Westbrook Village homes with a casita
• Active adult 55+ homes in Peoria

Sources: Ventana Lakes Property Owners Association, VLPOA Reference and Contact Information, VLPOA Clubhouses, VLPOA Pools and Spas, VLPOA Lakes, VLPOA public documents, City of Peoria Code Compliance, A.R.S. 9-461.18