Quick answer: what is Sterling Ranch?
Sterling Ranch is a planned community in unincorporated Douglas County, Colorado. Its public improvements and many community services are organized through seven Sterling Ranch Colorado Metropolitan Districts and a Sterling Ranch Community Authority Board (CAB). The CAB's own pages use the address Sterling Ranch, CO 80125.
A City of Littleton ZIP Code map shows that ZIP 80125 has none of its area inside Littleton city limits; it is listed under Douglas County, with Roxborough as another USPS city name for that ZIP. The same City page states that a "Littleton" mailing address does not mean the property is inside Littleton city limits. For the wider service-area guide, see our Littleton guide.
Name collision: El Paso County's Assessor metro-district list also names Sterling Ranch Metro District Nos. 1-5. That is a different community in the Colorado Springs area. This page covers only the Douglas County Sterling Ranch.
Geography: unincorporated Douglas County, not City of Littleton
The Sterling Ranch Colorado Metropolitan Districts are quasi-municipal corporations and political subdivisions of the State of Colorado organized in Douglas County. CAB meeting notices list The Overlook at 7853 Piney River Avenue, Sterling Ranch, CO 80125, and the CAB Info Center at 8155 Piney River Avenue Suite 110, Sterling Ranch, CO 80125.
A Littleton mailing label can appear because the U.S. Postal Service assigns city names to ZIP Codes that can cover areas outside any one city's limits. ZIP 80125 is one of those: the City of Littleton's map lists it as Douglas County with no area inside Littleton city limits. Confirm jurisdiction for a specific parcel with the Douglas County Assessor property search.
Who handles what: CAB and the seven metro districts
Sterling Ranch Colorado Metropolitan District Nos. 1-7 operate under Service Plans approved by Douglas County on August 27, 2013. Under those plans, District No. 1 is the Management District and Districts Nos. 2-7 are Financing Districts. The Districts entered into a Community Authority Board Establishment Agreement that created the CAB as a unifying operating entity; the Districts fund the CAB.
Under the Service Plans and that agreement, the CAB is intended to own, operate, maintain, finance and construct the public improvements that benefit the community. The CAB's metropolitan-district information page says the districts design, construct, finance, install, own and operate public improvements such as streets, sidewalks, alleys, water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, park, recreation, landscape and open-space improvements, with the CAB managing that work in a unified way.
All property in the community is subject to the Master Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Sterling Ranch Planned Development recorded September 28, 2015. The CAB implements and enforces those covenants, including design-review approval, and may impose, collect and spend fees for those services.
Verify before you buy: identify which Sterling Ranch Colorado Metropolitan District covers the address on the CAB community maps, then request the current CAB rules, fee schedule and transparency notices, plus the Douglas County tax bill for the parcel. We do not state dues, fees or mill levies.
Looking at a Sterling Ranch Address?
Bring the address and we will help you sort which metro district applies, what CAB documents to request and how the Douglas County tax bill fits together. Mahalo for reaching out.
Metro districts, the CAB and how they are funded
Each district has a five-member board elected by eligible electors in that district. The CAB board has eleven members: District No. 1 appoints five, and Districts Nos. 2-7 each appoint one.
The districts' primary revenue is property tax imposed inside their boundaries. The CAB also imposes fees related to services it provides, including water and sewer charges and fees for services that benefit specific areas such as alleys and shared driveways; the current fee schedule is published on the CAB site. We do not quote mill levies, fee amounts or debt figures; read the current October 2023 disclosure (and any later updates), the CAB fee schedule and the Douglas County tax bill for the parcel.
Amenities named by the CAB
The CAB amenities page describes The Overlook Clubhouse in Providence Village as a 4,900-square-foot clubhouse. The same page lists a pool, amenity rentals (including park shelters and indoor spaces at The Overlook), parks and trails, and eight pickleball courts at Burns Regional Park. It also links to non-resident memberships.
Access rules, rental rates and who may use each amenity can change. Confirm current access with the CAB before you rely on any amenity in a purchase decision.
Browse current listings
Sterling Ranch is unincorporated Douglas County. This search uses the Littleton city filter citywide and may not include every Sterling Ranch property. Listings in Sterling Ranch may appear under a Littleton mailing label or another city name, so treat results as a starting point, not a neighborhood-only list.
Search Littleton Homes for SaleSchools: check by address
The CAB site lists Douglas County School District among its helpful links (general community resource links, not a verified school assignment). That does not replace an address-level school assignment. Douglas County School District publishes student-enrollment information for people registering in the district. Verify the district and any school for the exact address with DCSD. We do not rate schools or state assignments.
Property taxes and due diligence
The Douglas County Treasurer bills and collects property taxes and distributes them to taxing authorities; the Treasurer's page states there are over 300 taxing authorities in the county that certify a mill levy. The Assessor provides property search and explains that residential property tax is calculated from actual value, the assessment rate and the mill levy.
Sterling Ranch parcels may show metro-district and other special-district lines on the tax bill in addition to county and school charges. We state no mill levy or tax amount; pull the Assessor record and tax information for the specific parcel.
What to request before you offer
Confirm the parcel is in Douglas County Sterling Ranch (not the El Paso County community with a similar name) using the Assessor record and the CAB community maps. Note which of Districts Nos. 1-7 applies.
Request the current CAB rules and regulations, fee schedule, transparency notices and the Master Declaration of Covenants. Read the district disclosure for buyers. Pull Douglas County property and tax information. Check school enrollment by address with DCSD.
Buying in Colorado for the first time? Our home buyer guide walks through the steps. Comparing other Littleton-area neighborhoods? See the Littleton neighborhood guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sterling Ranch inside the City of Littleton?
No. The City of Littleton's ZIP Code map lists 80125 as Douglas County with no area inside Littleton city limits. The Sterling Ranch metro districts are organized in Douglas County. A Littleton mailing label can still appear because the Postal Service assigns city names to ZIPs that cross city limits.
Is this the same Sterling Ranch as near Colorado Springs?
No. El Paso County's Assessor metro-district list names Sterling Ranch Metro District Nos. 1-5. That is a separate community. This guide covers only Douglas County Sterling Ranch.
What is the Sterling Ranch Community Authority Board?
The CAB is the unifying operating entity created by the seven Sterling Ranch Colorado Metropolitan Districts to own, operate, maintain, finance and construct public improvements that benefit the community. It also enforces the community covenants, including design review.
Is there a separate HOA?
The October 2023 disclosure describes covenant enforcement by the CAB under the Master Declaration of Covenants, not a separate homeowners association name. Confirm the current governing documents for the address with the CAB.
What are the HOA dues and mill levies?
We do not state them. The CAB publishes a fee schedule, and mill levies appear on the Douglas County tax bill; both can change. Read the current disclosure, fee schedule and tax bill for the parcel.
Which metro district is my home in?
Use the CAB community maps and the Douglas County Assessor record for the address. District No. 1 is the Management District; Districts Nos. 2-7 are Financing Districts under the Service Plans.
What amenities does Sterling Ranch list?
The CAB amenities page names The Overlook Clubhouse (4,900 square feet) in Providence Village, a pool, parks and trails, amenity rentals and eight pickleball courts at Burns Regional Park. Confirm access rules with the CAB.
Which schools serve Sterling Ranch?
The CAB site lists Douglas County School District among its helpful links (a community resource link, not a verified school assignment). Verify the district and schools for the exact address with DCSD; we do not state assignments or ratings.
Ready to talk through an address?
Bring the address and we will help you sort which metro district applies, what CAB documents to request and how the Douglas County tax bill fits together. Mahalo for reaching out.
Sterling Ranch is unincorporated Douglas County. A Littleton city-filtered search is citywide and may not include every Sterling Ranch property.
Related guides
Sources and editorial notes
This guide draws on public sources, facts checked November 5, 2026. Confirm details for any address before you buy.
- Sterling Ranch CAB: Community Authority Board page
- Sterling Ranch CAB / MD Nos. 1-7: General Disclosure and Common Questions (October 2023 PDF)
- El Paso County Assessor: Metropolitan Districts list
- Douglas County Assessor
- Douglas County Treasurer
- Douglas County Assessor: residential property tax calculations
- Douglas County School District: student enrollment
- City of Littleton: Littleton ZIP Codes
- Sterling Ranch CAB: Metropolitan District Information
- Sterling Ranch CAB: Our Amenities
Prepared by Ohana Style Realty. Ohana Style Realty, Littleton, Colorado. 720-706-1411. Neighborhood information is general, gathered from the public sources listed above, and is not legal, tax or insurance advice. Verify details for any address before you buy.