Zip code 91326, Mar 2026 to May 2026, from the Redfin Data Center. 91326 covers Porter Ranch plus part of northern Northridge, so medians blend older ranch-home tracts with newer gated communities. Zip codes don't line up neatly with neighborhood borders, and medians hide a wide range of homes, so treat these as a rough feel for the area.
In 1874 tanner Benjamin F. Porter joined Charles Maclay in buying much of the northern San Fernando Valley, taking roughly 19,000 acres on the west side. About 4,150 acres in the Santa Susana foothills stayed with his grandchildren, the Sesnon family, until they sold it to developers in 1962. The first tracts went up in the 1960s, the City of LA annexed the area in 1965, and the ranch name stayed with the hillside streets.
The homes
Porter Ranch climbs the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains at the top of the Valley, and the homes get newer as the streets go up. The lower blocks hold 1960s and 1970s ranch and split-level tract homes on flat or gently sloped lots, many updated and expanded. Shapell Industries, led by Nathan Shapell, built much of the area's master-planned housing in the decades that followed.
Higher up, the streets turn into master-planned communities, many of them gated, with traditional, Mediterranean and contemporary homes from the 1980s through recent years, often with views across the Valley. Renaissance Summit sits at the highest point of Porter Ranch. Next door, Granada Hills has a similar mix of postwar ranch homes and foothill lots. Townhome and condo communities with shared pools are mixed throughout, and most of the newer neighborhoods come with one or more HOAs.
The feel
- The Vineyards at Porter Ranch, opened in 2019, is the newer shopping and dining center near the 118, with Porter Ranch Town Center, opened in 1999, close by.
- Limekiln Canyon and Aliso Canyon parks follow natural canyons, with trails and open space close to the neighborhood.
- Porter Ridge Park, on Sesnon Boulevard, is where Steven Spielberg filmed the closing park scene of E.T., and it's widely known as E.T. Park.
- The Santa Susana Mountains form the backdrop to the north, with open hillsides above the highest streets.
Eat, drink, shop
- Brent's Deli (Parthenia St, Northridge). A big Jewish deli running since the 1960s, famous for its black pastrami Reuben and a menu of hundreds of dishes. The Infatuation
- Baja Subs Market & Deli (Reseda Blvd, Northridge). A counter at the back of a corner market cooking some of the region's best Sri Lankan food, like kottu roti and lamprais. The Infatuation
- Lum-Ka-Naad (Reseda Blvd, Northridge). A Thai restaurant with a menu split between northern and southern regional cooking. The Infatuation
- Myungin Dumplings (Northridge Fashion Center). An outpost of a Koreatown favorite, known for its big pork and kimchi steamed dumplings. The Infatuation
Getting around
The Ronald Reagan Freeway (118) runs along the south side of Porter Ranch, connecting east to the 405 and the 5 and west to Simi Valley. The Westside usually means the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass, often 35 to 45 minutes off-peak to Westwood, and much longer at rush hour. Metrolink stations at Northridge and Chatsworth, a short drive away, run trains to Burbank and Union Station, and the Chatsworth station also connects to the Metro G Line.
What's new
- East San Fernando Valley light rail. Metro is building a 6.7-mile, 11-station light rail line along Van Nuys Boulevard from the G Line north to San Fernando Road, with completion estimated in early 2032. (Metro)
- LA28 in the Sepulveda Basin. The 2028 Olympic plan puts 3x3 basketball, BMX, skateboarding and modern pentathlon at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, about 20 minutes south by the 405. (LA28)
Good to know
- City of LA rules apply, along with the Porter Ranch specific plan for commercial areas and hillside building limits on sloped lots.
- HOAs and gates. Many communities have one or more HOAs, with dues, architectural review and gate rules. Read the CC&Rs, budgets and any special assessments early in escrow.
- Fire zones. Homes near the hills often fall in very high fire hazard severity zones. Check CAL FIRE's map for the address and get insurance quotes early.
- Wind and slopes. The foothills get strong seasonal winds. For hillside lots, add a look at retaining walls, drainage and the roof.
Questions people ask
Is Porter Ranch part of Los Angeles?
Yes. Porter Ranch is a neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, at the northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley. The City annexed it in 1965. City of LA rules apply, and the Porter Ranch specific plan, adopted in 1989, shapes its commercial centers.
What kind of homes are in Porter Ranch?
The lower streets have 1960s and 1970s ranch and split-level tract homes. Higher up, master-planned and often gated communities from the 1980s onward hold larger traditional and Mediterranean homes, with newer construction near the top. Townhome and condo communities are mixed in, many with HOAs.
How far is Porter Ranch from Downtown LA?
Off-peak, Downtown is often 35 to 45 minutes by the 118 to the 5 or the 405 to the 101, and much longer at rush hour. Metrolink's Ventura County Line stops at Northridge and Chatsworth, a short drive south and west, with trains to Union Station.
What is Porter Ranch known for?
Porter Ranch is known for its master-planned hillside neighborhoods, newer homes and canyon parks at the base of the Santa Susana Mountains. Porter Ridge Park was a filming location for the closing park scene in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
