01 Nov South Florida’s Gated Islands and Enclaves: 10 to Know

South Florida’s Gated Islands and Enclaves: 10 to Know (2026)

South Florida’s gated islands and enclaves are small islands and towns where a guard gate, a ferry or a town’s own police force provides security, from Indian Creek Village and Star Island in Miami-Dade to Manalapan and Jupiter Island farther north. Here are ten of them, with how access works, how many homes there are and the largest recent sales we could source, as of November 1, 2026.

Facts come from village and town websites, a club website, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County property appraiser records, a Realtor trade association’s luxury sales report, a City of Miami Beach Inspector General memo, Florida statutes, Citizens Property Insurance, news outlets (The Real Deal, Miami New Times, Time Out, FOX Business, Haute Living, PROFILEmiami, TCPalm) and public reference pages. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may change.

How We Chose

We picked enclaves with a staffed gate, a single guarded bridge, a ferry or a town’s own police department, and where homes are few. This is a field guide, not a ranking. Rankings and records belong to the sources we name.

Prices are the largest recent sales we found with a dated source. We checked seven of them against the county deed record on November 1, 2026: 7 and 9 Indian Creek Island Road, 26 Star Island Drive, 2131 Lake Avenue, 88 La Gorce Circle and 8565 Old Cutler Road with the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser and 1370 S. Ocean Blvd, Manalapan, with the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. Every other price is as reported. We do not name buyers, sellers, residents or the companies and trusts they use.

The Enclaves at a Glance

Enclave	County	How access works	Size	Largest recent sale we sourced
Fisher Island	Miami-Dade	Ferry or yacht only; guests need clearance	561 residents (2020 census)	$35M condo, Dec 2025 (reported)
Star Island	Miami-Dade	Single guard-gated bridge	About 30 homes (reported)	$120M, Feb 2025 (county record)
Sunset Islands	Miami-Dade	Four islands, each guard-gated	Four islands	$35M, Jun 2026 (county record)
La Gorce Island	Miami-Dade	Guardhouse; security firm hired by the homeowners association	Not published in our sources	$74.25M, Mar 2025 (county record)
Indian Creek Village	Miami-Dade	Single guarded bridge; village police	About 40 estates; 84 residents (2020 census)	$170M, Mar 2026 (county record)
Golden Beach	Miami-Dade	Town police, including a marine unit	961 residents (2020 census)	None we could confirm; check the deed record
Gables Estates	Miami-Dade	Gated, 24/7 security (reported)	179 lots (reported)	$41.6M, reported Jul 2026
Harborage Isle, Fort Lauderdale	Broward	Guard gate (per a local brokerage)	18 estates (per a local brokerage)	$70M, Sep 2024 (reported)
Manalapan	Palm Beach	Town police	419 residents (2020 census)	$83.2M, Sep 2026 (county record)
Jupiter Island	Martin	Town public safety: police, fire and EMS	About 1,643 acres	$29M, Feb 2026 (reported)

Miami-Dade County

Fisher Island

No road reaches Fisher Island. According to the Fisher Island Club’s transportation page (undated), the island is reached by yacht or by ferry from Terminal Island Road, just off the MacArthur Causeway, and guests “require pre-arranged security clearance.” The same page says the transportation department is “open every day of the year, 24 hours each day,” with resident ferries leaving every 10 to 15 minutes at set times.

Most of the island is in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, though county property records place a few condominium associations within the City of Miami Beach. It had 561 residents in the 2020 census, according to Wikipedia’s entry, which cites the Census Bureau. The club’s membership page (undated) says Equity Membership “is available to Fisher Island property owners” and gives no dues figures.

The Real Deal (April 20, 2026) reported a $35 million sale of a 9,800-square-foot condo in December 2025, “topping the previous $24.2 million price record.” House sales are few: the 2025 single-family median for ZIP 33109 was $7.5 million on just three sales, per the Florida Realtors ZIP report published by Miami Realtors (January 16, 2026).

Our Fisher Island condo guide covers each condominium association on the island with residences listed from $1 million.

Star Island

Star Island is a man-made island in the city of Miami Beach, off the MacArthur Causeway. Haute Living (updated October 6, 2026) describes it as “accessed through a single guard-gated bridge,” and Miami New Times (March 13, 2025) put it at around 30 homes.

The island set a county record in 2025. The Real Deal (December 16, 2025) listed the $120 million sale of 26 Star Island Drive among that year’s top deals (the county deed is dated February 27, 2025), and Miami New Times (March 13, 2025) reported that the 2.5-acre property beat the previous Miami-Dade record of $107 million. That record has since passed to Indian Creek. The 2025 single-family median in ZIP 33139, which covers South Beach as well as Star, Palm and Hibiscus islands, was $8 million, per the same Florida Realtors ZIP report.

Sunset Islands

Sunset Islands is a set of four islands in Miami Beach, across the bay from Sunset Harbour. Haute Living (updated October 6, 2026) calls them “a collection of four gated islands” and says “each island is guard-gated with 24/7 security.”

The Real Deal (June 24, 2026) reported the $35 million sale of 2131 Lake Avenue on Sunset Islands (the county deed is dated June 12, 2026), an off-market deal for a 3,700-square-foot waterfront property that “appears to have been sold as a development site.”

La Gorce Island

La Gorce Island sits off the La Gorce neighborhood of Miami Beach. A City of Miami Beach Office of the Inspector General memo (OIG No. 23-13, July 28, 2023) says the island “is a residential community that is accessed through a guardhouse,” staffed by a private security firm hired by the homeowners association. The same memo notes two points worth knowing: “The streets within LaGorce Island are public ways,” and the island “is not a special taxing district and, therefore, not managed by the City.”

The largest reported sale we found is 88 La Gorce Circle, on 1.1 acres with 260 feet of waterfront. County records list a $74.25 million sale dated March 17, 2025. PROFILEmiami (April 25, 2025) called it “the highest price ever paid for a single-family home in the guard-gated island enclave.”

Indian Creek Village

Indian Creek Village is its own municipality, incorporated by the Florida Legislature in 1939, with 84 residents in the 2020 census, according to Wikipedia’s entry. The Village of Indian Creek runs its own police department, per its official website (page updated June 22, 2026). Haute Living (updated October 6, 2026) counts “roughly 40 waterfront estates” and says the island is “accessed through a single guarded bridge and protected by a dedicated 24/7 police force with land and marine patrol.”

Indian Creek holds the Miami-Dade price record. The Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser lists a $170 million sale of 7 Indian Creek Island Road dated March 2, 2026 (checked November 1, 2026), and The Real Deal (April 20, 2026) reported it “set a price record for Miami-Dade County.” A year earlier, The Real Deal (December 16, 2025) reported a $105 million sale at 9 West Indian Creek Island Road; the county deed is dated June 16, 2025.

Golden Beach

The Town of Golden Beach, incorporated in 1929, is about one mile long on the ocean north of Sunny Isles Beach, with 961 residents in the 2020 census, according to Wikipedia’s entry. The Town of Golden Beach website (checked November 1, 2026) lists its own police department, with patrol, marine patrol, K-9 and motor units, plus ocean rescue.

Gables Estates

Gables Estates is a gated waterfront neighborhood in Coral Gables, off Biscayne Bay. Time Out Miami (August 12, 2025) described it as having “only 179 lots” and “24/7 security.” In a Zillow ranking of the most expensive U.S. neighborhoods, based on home value data over the previous 12 months, Gables Estates ranked first, as reported by FOX 35 Orlando (August 19, 2025).

The Real Deal (July 6, 2026) reported a $41.6 million sale of 8565 Old Cutler Road (the county deed, dated May 26, 2026, shows $41,625,000), a waterfront site of about 4.6 acres in Gables Estates, which had sold in 2022 for $38 million as a teardown. The same report put the property’s taxes at more than $1.7 million over the past three years combined.

Broward County

Harborage Isle, Fort Lauderdale

Harborage Isle is a small private island on the Intracoastal Waterway in southeast Fort Lauderdale, near Harbor Beach. A local brokerage’s neighborhood page (Premier Estate Properties, last modified September 29, 2023) describes “only eighteen opulent estates” behind a “fully staffed guard gate.” We could not confirm the home count with an official source.

As of July 2026, the island held Broward’s house price record. The Miami Realtors and RWorld South Florida Luxury Sales Report for the second quarter of 2026 (July 2026) gives Broward’s all-time high as the $70 million sale of 5 Harborage Isle Drive in September 2024.

Palm Beach County

Manalapan

Manalapan is a small town between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon, south of Palm Beach, with 419 residents in the 2020 census, according to Wikipedia’s entry. Our sources describe no gate at the town line. The Town of Manalapan has its own police department, whose page (undated) lists vacation house checks and construction site checks.

The town’s oceanfront has seen several large recent sales. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser lists an $83.2 million sale of 1370 S. Ocean Blvd dated September 29, 2026 (checked November 1, 2026). The Real Deal (April 20, 2026) reported a $105 million sale of a 3.6-acre oceanfront assemblage in April 2026, “the most expensive land sale ever in the coastal enclave.” Miami Realtors’ second-quarter report (July 2026) describes it as a double vacant lot at 1120 S. Ocean Blvd. The same report gave Manalapan the highest single-family luxury price threshold in Palm Beach County in the first half of 2026, $69.9 million, where the threshold is the price that marks the top 5% of sales. For more, see our Gulf Stream, Ocean Ridge and Manalapan guide.

Martin County

Jupiter Island

The Town of Jupiter Island covers “approximately 1,643 acres of land” at the south end of Martin County, with a permanent population of 820 and a seasonal population of about 2,000, according to the Town of Jupiter Island’s community page (undated). The 2020 census count was 804, per Wikipedia’s entry. The town’s Public Safety page (undated) says the department “provides Police, Fire Rescue and EMS services” around the clock, and that “all sworn officers are required to be certified in all three fields.” The private Jupiter Island Club is also on the island; our sources do not set out its membership terms.

The Miami Realtors second-quarter report (July 2026) named the $29 million sale of 7 S. Beach Road in February 2026 the largest luxury sale in Martin County so far that year. TCPalm, via Yahoo (March 2026), called it “the most expensive home sold on the Treasure Coast in February.” Jupiter Island falls outside the Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach ZIP reports. See our Jupiter Island guide.

What It Takes to Buy In

Ask who pays for the gate. On La Gorce Island, the homeowners association hires the security company that staffs the guardhouse, per the Miami Beach Inspector General memo (July 28, 2023). Ask what security costs and whether a special assessment is planned.

Clubs and associations come with the address. On Fisher Island, club Equity Membership is offered to property owners, per the club (undated), and the community association levies its own assessments. How they are split can be contested: FOX Business (February 3, 2021) reported a proposed class action over the issue; we did not find its outcome. Ask for the governing documents, budget and any pending litigation.

Town rules apply to building. Indian Creek Village, Golden Beach, Manalapan and Jupiter Island are separate municipalities with their own permits, and Jupiter Island lists its own Building Department. Several top sales here were land or teardowns, so the rules on what you may build can matter more than the house.

Flood and insurance are in writing now. Under Florida Statutes section 689.302 (2026), a seller of a home must give the buyer a flood disclosure at or before signing the contract, covering known flood damage, flood claims and federal flood aid. Citizens Property Insurance’s flood page (undated) says most of its personal residential policies that include wind coverage must carry flood coverage if the dwelling value is $400,000 or more from January 1, 2026, and regardless of value from January 1, 2027. Condo unit-owner policies and policies that exclude wind are exempt. Our waterfront buying guide covers docks, seawalls and flood zones.

Check the deed. Press prices can differ, as on La Gorce Island. Look up any sale with the county property appraiser, such as the Broward County Property Appraiser for Harborage Isle.

Questions to Ask

1. Who controls the gate or the ferry, the city, a town police department or an association, and what does that cost me each year?
2. Does buying require association or club approval, an interview or a membership purchase, and how long does it take?
3. What does the deed record show for the comparable sales, and were any of them land or teardown deals?
4. What can be built on this lot under town or city rules, and what is the review process for plans?
5. What is the flood zone and elevation, what does the seller’s flood disclosure say, and what will wind and flood insurance cost?
6. Are the streets public or private, and who maintains the seawall, docks and roads?

To talk through any of these enclaves in confidence, call Mark at 954-839-7406.

The Bottom Line

Security in these ten enclaves comes from a ferry, a guarded bridge, an association guardhouse or a town’s own police department. The largest sales we sourced, as of November 1, 2026, run from $29 million on Jupiter Island to $170 million in Indian Creek Village, a Miami-Dade record per The Real Deal. Several were land or teardowns. Before buying, read the association and club documents, the flood disclosure and the deed record.

More From Everything Luxury

• Real Estate at Everything Luxury
• 10 Most Expensive Neighborhoods in South Florida by ZIP Code
• South Florida’s 10 Most Expensive Home Sales of 2026
• Golden Beach, FL Guide
• Jupiter Island, FL Guide

Sources (31) · all checked November 1, 2026

• Fisher Island Club, island transportation and ferry access (undated): source
• Fisher Island Club, membership (undated): source
• Wikipedia, Fisher Island, Florida, public reference page citing the 2020 census (undated): source
• The Real Deal, South Florida’s record home sales this season, including Fisher Island, Indian Creek and Manalapan (April 20, 2026): source
• Florida Realtors / MIAMI REALTORS, Miami-Dade County single-family homes 2025 ZIP report (January 16, 2026): source
• Haute Living, private and gated island communities in Miami, a column by a Miami real estate agent (May 14, 2026; updated October 6, 2026): source
• Miami New Times, $120 million Star Island sale sets Miami-Dade record (March 13, 2025): source
• The Real Deal, South Florida’s top residential sales of 2025 (December 16, 2025): source
• The Real Deal, South Florida top real estate deals, including the Sunset Islands sale (June 24, 2026): source
• City of Miami Beach Office of the Inspector General, OIG No. 23-13, review of La Gorce Island security gate complaint (July 28, 2023): source
• PROFILEmiami, La Gorce Island estate sale (April 25, 2025): source
• Wikipedia, Indian Creek, Florida, public reference page citing the 2020 census (undated): source
• Village of Indian Creek, official website, police department page (updated June 22, 2026): source
• Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser, official county sales record for 7 Indian Creek Island Rd (checked November 1, 2026): source
• Wikipedia, Golden Beach, Florida, public reference page citing the 2020 census (undated): source
• Town of Golden Beach, official website, departments including police (undated; items dated October 2026): source
• Time Out Miami, Gables Estates named most expensive U.S. neighborhood (August 12, 2025): source
• FOX 35 Orlando, Zillow’s most expensive U.S. neighborhoods (August 19, 2025): source
• The Real Deal, Gables Estates waterfront site sells for $41.6 million (July 6, 2026): source
• Premier Estate Properties, Harborage Island neighborhood page, brokerage marketing (last modified September 29, 2023); brokerage named as a source only, not linked
• MIAMI REALTORS and RWorld, South Florida Luxury Sales Report 2026 Q2, trade association report (July 2026): source
• Wikipedia, Manalapan, Florida, public reference page citing the 2020 census (undated): source
• Town of Manalapan, official website, police department page (undated): source
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, official county sales record for 1370 S. Ocean Blvd, Manalapan (checked November 1, 2026): source
• Town of Jupiter Island, official website, community page (undated): source
• Town of Jupiter Island, official website, public safety page (undated): source
• Wikipedia, Jupiter Island, Florida, public reference page citing the 2020 census (undated): source
• TCPalm (Treasure Coast Newspapers) via Yahoo, $29 million Jupiter Island sale tops February on the Treasure Coast (March 2026, date not shown): source
• FOX Business, class action against the Fisher Island Community Association over assessments (February 3, 2021): source
• Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes section 689.302, disclosure of flood risks to prospective purchaser (2026 statutes): source
• Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, flood insurance requirement schedule (undated): source

Last updated November 1, 2026. Facts come from the sources listed above, checked on that date, and may change. Not legal, financial, tax or investment advice. Full disclaimer