Gated Communities and HOAs in Lake Havasu City
Most of Havasu's newer upper-end homes sit behind a gate with an HOA. Here's what the dues run, what the rules cover, and what to read before you offer.
By Jovian Moran, Associate Broker, Infinitude Realty · Updated October 2026
In Lake Havasu City, HOA dues in the gated Foothills communities run from about $100 a year to $250 a month, and Havasu Riviera dues run $140 to $180 a month, based on recent MLS listings. The dues are usually the smaller question. The bigger one is what the CC&Rs say about rentals, RV parking, and what you can build.
What the Dues Run
HOA dues reported on homes that sold in the last 12 months, from the Lake Havasu Association MLS:
| Community | Dues reported |
|---|---|
| Havasu Foothills Estates | Mostly $100 to $200 a year |
| The Arroyos at Havasu Foothills Estates | $100 to $150 a year |
| The Villas at the Foothills | Mostly $150 a year |
| Trinity at Havasu Foothills Estates | $225 a quarter |
| Ladera South at Havasu Foothills | $75 a month |
| The Enclaves at Havasu Foothills | $250 a month |
| Havasu Riviera | $140 to $180 a month |
As reported on MLS listings that closed between October 2025 and October 2026. Listings within the same community don't always agree, and dues change. Get the current amount from the HOA in writing.
Low dues and high dues can both be a good deal. What matters is what they pay for: the gate, common landscaping, private roads, a park or trails, a reserve fund for repairs. Ask for the budget and the reserve numbers along with the dues.
Read the CC&Rs Before You Offer
The CC&Rs are the recorded rules for the community. These are the sections I'd read first:
- Rentals. Whether short-term rentals are allowed, any minimum stay, and any registration the HOA requires. The city has its own permit on top of this. See Owning a Lake Havasu Second Home From Out of State.
- RV, boat, and trailer parking. Many communities want them in the garage, not the driveway.
- Building and exterior changes. Walls, pools, colors, solar, casitas, and garage additions usually need design review approval first.
- Landscaping and upkeep rules, which matter if you're gone half the year.
Design Review
If you're building on a lot or changing the outside of a house, the HOA's design review committee has to approve the plans before you start. We've taken every home we've built through design review, and the submittals that go smoothly come in complete the first time, with the site plan, elevations, colors, and materials all there.
If you're buying a lot, ask whether any plans have already been through design review. It can save months. Our lot at 2991 Plaza Enclave (Owner/Agent) is sold with plans that already have HOA and city approval for that reason.
Can an HOA Change the Rental Rules After You Buy?
Sometimes, and Arizona courts have put limits on it. In 2022 the Arizona Supreme Court held that amendments to CC&Rs made without every owner's consent have to be reasonable and foreseeable from the original documents. A later Court of Appeals decision applied that reasoning to short-term rental restrictions. Whether a specific amendment holds up depends on the community's documents, so if rental income is part of your plan, read the amendment section of the CC&Rs and talk to an Arizona real estate attorney about anything unclear.
The HOA Documents You Get at Resale
When you buy a resale home in an Arizona planned community, state law (A.R.S. 33-1806) requires the buyer to get a set of HOA documents within 10 days of the HOA being notified of the sale. That includes the CC&Rs, bylaws and rules, the current operating budget, the most recent annual financial report, and a statement covering things like dues and any pending litigation. In communities with 50 or more units the HOA sends it. In smaller communities the seller does.
As of this writing, the statute caps what the HOA can charge for the resale disclosure and related transfer work at $400 total, plus up to $100 for a rush and up to $50 for an update after 30 days, collected at close of escrow. Read the package when it arrives. It's the best look you'll get at how the HOA runs before you're a member.
Common Questions
How much are HOA dues in Lake Havasu City gated communities?
It depends on the community. Recent MLS listings show about $100 to $200 a year in Havasu Foothills Estates, $75 a month in Ladera South, $225 a quarter in Trinity, $250 a month in The Enclaves, and $140 to $180 a month in the Havasu Riviera. Confirm current dues with the HOA.
Can an HOA in Lake Havasu ban short-term rentals?
An HOA's recorded CC&Rs can restrict short-term rentals even though Arizona limits what cities can do. Arizona courts have limited amendments made without every owner's consent, so the answer depends on the community's documents.
What HOA documents does an Arizona buyer get?
Under A.R.S. 33-1806, the buyer gets the CC&Rs, bylaws and rules, the operating budget, the latest annual financial report, and a statement on dues and other items within 10 days of the HOA being notified of the sale.
How much can an Arizona HOA charge for resale documents?
As of this writing, A.R.S. 33-1806 caps the resale disclosure and related transfer fees at $400 total, plus up to $100 for a rush and $50 for an update, collected at close of escrow. Check the current statute.
Do I need HOA approval to build in a Havasu gated community?
Usually, yes. New homes and most exterior changes need the HOA's design review approval before work starts, on top of city permits.
Looking at a Specific Community?
Tell me which one, and I'll pull the current dues, the rental rules, and recent sales, so you know what you're buying into before you write an offer.
General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything that matters with the city, the HOA, or a licensed professional before you rely on it.
Header photo: aerial of Ladera South at Havasu Foothills, from our listing at 6295 Avienda De Las Colinas.