Northridge Real Estate: A Homeowner's Guide to Northridge, CA
Northridge stretches from Roscoe Boulevard up to the 118 Freeway in the northwest San Fernando Valley, with Cal State Northridge near its middle. It's a big place with very different blocks, from 5,000 sq ft tract lots to half-acre RA parcels. Here's what shapes home values across Northridge, and how to get a free, no-obligation estimate for yours.
- City of Los AngelesNorthridge is an LA neighborhood, not a separate city
- ≈15,300single-family parcels*
- ≈10,400 sq ftmedian single-family lot*
- 1960median year built*
*Our analysis of LA County Assessor parcel data and City of LA zoning data for the combined Northridge East, Northridge West and Northridge South Neighborhood Council areas, retrieved October 2026. Figures are approximate.
About Northridge
Northridge is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. The City divides it among three certified neighborhood councils: Northridge East, Northridge West and Northridge South. Together they cover about 12½ square miles. The 118 (Ronald Reagan) Freeway forms the northern edge, Corbin and Winnetka Avenues the western edge, and Roscoe Boulevard most of the southern edge. On the east, the line steps along Devonshire Street, Balboa Boulevard, Lassen Street and Woodley Avenue before turning back toward Nordhoff Street and Roscoe. Mailing addresses here fall mainly in ZIP codes 91324 and 91325, plus parts of 91326 and 91343. Those last two ZIPs are shared with Porter Ranch and North Hills.
From Zelzah to Northridge
The Southern Pacific laid tracks through the area in 1908, and the surrounding ranch was subdivided as the farm town of Zelzah. Residents voted to rename it North Los Angeles in 1929. In 1938 the name changed again to Northridge Village, later shortened to Northridge. Northridge was once nicknamed the "Horse Capital of the West" for its horse shows and ranches, and that history still shows in the RA-zoned blocks where horse-keeping is allowed. After World War II the orchards and farm lots were subdivided into the tracts that make up most of today's housing.
CSUN and Northridge Fashion Center
California State University, Northridge held its first classes on September 24, 1956, as a satellite campus of Cal State LA. It became the independent San Fernando Valley State College on July 1, 1958, and later took the CSUN name. The campus is on Nordhoff Street, inside the Northridge East neighborhood council area. Northridge Fashion Center, the regional mall on Tampa Avenue, opened in 1971. It was badly damaged in the 1994 earthquake and renovated in stages after that.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake
The magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake struck at 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994. It was named for Northridge from early location estimates, but the USGS epicenter is just south of the Northridge boundary, in Reseda. Its legacy is still part of owning property here. Many homes were repaired or rebuilt afterward, and the City later adopted a mandatory retrofit program (Ordinance 183893, 2015) for pre-1978 wood-frame buildings with "soft" ground floors, such as apartments over tuck-under parking. Residential buildings with three or fewer units are exempt. Northridge has about 288 apartment parcels with five or more units, so the program is relevant to many local apartment owners and buyers. For a single-family home, buyers' inspectors will often ask about foundation bolting and past earthquake repairs, so it helps to have your permits and paperwork together.
Northridge Homes and Lots
Northridge is mostly single-family. Based on LA County Assessor parcel records for about 15,300 single-family parcels:
- The median lot is about 10,400 sq ft. About 53% of lots are 10,000 sq ft or larger, about 5% are 20,000 sq ft or larger, and only about 9% are under 6,500 sq ft.
- The median recorded year built is 1960. About 46% of homes date from the 1950s and 34% from the 1960s. Fewer than 3% were built in 1990 or later.
- The median recorded living area is about 2,060 sq ft, and most homes have 3 (41%) or 4 (39%) bedrooms.
- About half of single-family parcels carry an Assessor use code that indicates a pool.
- There are also about 2,160 condominium units and about 9,100 units in apartment buildings of five or more units.
The three neighborhood-council areas are quite different from each other:
| Area (neighborhood council) | Single-family parcels | Median lot | Median year built | Median living area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northridge West (west of Reseda Blvd, north of Nordhoff St) | ≈5,260 | ≈11,100 sq ft | 1964 | ≈2,360 sq ft |
| Northridge East (east of Reseda Blvd, north of Nordhoff St) | ≈4,820 | ≈11,000 sq ft | 1959 | ≈2,070 sq ft |
| Northridge South (Nordhoff St to Roscoe Blvd) | ≈5,230 | ≈7,900 sq ft | 1954 | ≈1,710 sq ft |
Northridge South includes Sherwood Forest, the officially named neighborhood between Nordhoff, Balboa, Lindley and the railroad tracks. Its lots, at a median of about 17,600 sq ft, are among the largest in the area.
Northridge Zoning
Matching each single-family parcel to the City's zoning map shows four main zones. Each has a different minimum lot size for new lots:
| Zone | Share of single-family parcels | Minimum lot area for new lots |
|---|---|---|
| RS (Suburban) | ≈35% | 7,500 sq ft |
| RA (Suburban, larger lots) | ≈30% | 17,500 sq ft |
| RE11 (Residential Estate) | ≈20% | 11,000 sq ft |
| R1 (One-Family) | ≈14% | 5,000 sq ft |
The RA zone allows non-commercial keeping of horses and other domestic animals on qualifying lots of at least 17,500 sq ft. Many older RA lots are smaller than that, though, so horse-keeping isn't automatic. A few dozen parcels also sit in a "K" equinekeeping district. Zoning, lot area and permit history vary parcel by parcel, so check any address on the City's ZIMAS system.
Getting Around Northridge
- Rail: The Northridge Metrolink station (8775 Wilbur Ave.) is on the Ventura County Line. The Chatsworth station (10046 Old Depot Plaza Rd.), just west of Northridge, adds Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service and is the northern end of Metro's G Line busway.
- Freeways: The 118 runs along the northern edge, with interchanges at Reseda Blvd, Tampa Ave and other north–south streets. Nordhoff Street and Roscoe Boulevard both lead east to I-405 interchanges, and Metro local buses run on the main boulevards.
- Parks and recreation: Northridge Recreation Center (18300 Lemarsh St.), Northridge Pool (10088 Reseda Blvd.), Dearborn Park (17141 Nordhoff St.), Vanalden Park (8956 Vanalden Ave.) and Devonshire House (18850 Devonshire St.).
- Shopping and campus: Northridge Fashion Center (9301 Tampa Ave.) and CSUN, including The Soraya performing arts center, are both near the middle of the community.
Schools in Northridge
Northridge is in the Los Angeles Unified School District. LAUSD's school-location data shows these campuses inside the Northridge neighborhood-council boundaries:
- Elementary: Andasol Avenue, Calahan Street, Darby Avenue, Lorne Street and Napa Street Elementary; Parthenia Academy of Arts and Technology; Balboa Gifted/High Ability Magnet; and the affiliated charters Beckford Charter for Enriched Studies, Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy and Topeka Charter School for Advanced Studies.
- Middle: Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School, Northridge Middle School and Alfred Bernhard Nobel Charter Middle School.
- High: Northridge Academy High School (9601 Zelzah Ave.), plus independent charters Valley International Preparatory High and Magnolia Science Academy 7.
A school being nearby doesn't mean it's your assigned school. Attendance boundaries change, so confirm any address with LAUSD's Resident School Identifier.
Northridge Housing Market
Most online "Northridge" price figures are really ZIP-code numbers. Northridge's ZIPs don't line up with the neighborhood: 91326 is mostly Porter Ranch, 91343 is mostly North Hills, and 91324 and 91325 both mix 1950s tract homes, condos near CSUN and large RA properties. A median that blends all of those doesn't say much about your street.
David can send you a free report of recent closed sales of homes like yours (similar lot size, zoning and era) in your part of Northridge, including sold prices and days on market.
Get a Custom Sold Report for Your StreetNorthridge Homes for Sale
See every current Northridge listing on David's live search. It updates automatically, and you can save homes and set alerts.
See Northridge Homes for SaleLooking at large-lot homes only? Ask David to set up an alert for RA-zoned or 15,000+ sq ft lots.
What's Your Northridge Home Worth?
Northridge values can swing a lot within a mile, mostly because of land and what's been done to the house since the 1950s or '60s. These are the things David looks at first:
- Lot size and zoning. An RA or RE11 lot of 15,000+ sq ft is a different product from a 7,000 sq ft R1 lot a few blocks away, even if the houses are similar.
- Earthquake-era work and permits. Finaled permits for post-1994 repairs, foundation work, additions and garage conversions help buyers and appraisers. Unpermitted work can become a disclosure and pricing issue.
- Systems and updates. With a median build year of 1960, the condition of the electrical, plumbing, roof, HVAC and windows often matters as much as cosmetic updates.
- Pool and yard. About half of single-family parcels have a pool, so its condition and equipment get compared directly with nearby sales.
- ADU potential. State law requires cities to approve qualifying ADUs on single-family lots, including a detached ADU of up to 800 sq ft with 4-ft side and rear setbacks (see HCD's ADU Handbook). Northridge's larger lots often have room for one, but feasibility depends on the parcel.
- Street and location. An interior street and one facing a busy corridor like Reseda, Tampa or Nordhoff can sell differently.
Free and no obligation. Your information is used only to prepare your valuation; see our Privacy Policy.
Selling a Northridge Home, Step by Step
- Start with a number. Request a valuation online or by phone. David pulls sales that match your lot size and zoning, not just your ZIP code.
- Pull the paperwork. Permits, earthquake-repair records, pool and roof details. Having them ready heads off inspection surprises.
- Decide what to fix. A short, prioritized list. Some repairs pay for themselves, and many cosmetic projects don't.
- Launch the listing. Professional photos, MLS exposure and outreach to buyers already looking in Northridge.
- Compare offers. Price is one piece. Loan type, appraisal gap, contingencies and timing matter too.
- Close. David coordinates inspections, appraisal, disclosures and escrow through to closing day.
Related: How to Price and Sell a House in Northridge in 2026 · Seller Closing Costs in Northridge
Meet David Petikyan
David Petikyan leads Property Provider Group with eXp Realty. He works with San Fernando Valley sellers and buyers from his office at 15545 Devonshire St #103 in Mission Hills, a few miles east of Northridge on the same Devonshire corridor. He also holds the California Association of REALTORS® Certified Probate & Trust Specialist certification for inherited and trust sales.
David Petikyan · Property Provider Group | eXp Realty · DRE# 02089725
15545 Devonshire St #103, Mission Hills, CA 91345 · (818) 394-0012
eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. #02188471
Northridge FAQ
Is Northridge its own city?
No. Northridge is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County. City services, zoning and permits come from the City of LA, and the area is represented by three neighborhood councils: Northridge East, Northridge West and Northridge South.
What ZIP codes cover Northridge?
Most Northridge addresses are in ZIP codes 91324 and 91325. Parts of Northridge also use 91326, which mostly covers Porter Ranch, and 91343, which mostly covers North Hills. CSUN has its own ZIP code, 91330.
What was the magnitude of the 1994 Northridge earthquake?
The USGS lists it as magnitude 6.7. It struck at 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994. The epicenter was just south of Northridge, in Reseda, but the quake kept the Northridge name from early location estimates.
Does Northridge have a neighborhood council?
Yes, three. The Northridge East, Northridge West and Northridge South Neighborhood Councils are certified by the City of Los Angeles. Roughly, Nordhoff Street divides South from East and West, and Reseda Boulevard divides East from West.
Where can I find a Northridge zoning map?
Use the City of Los Angeles ZIMAS website (zimas.lacity.org) to look up the zoning for any parcel. Northridge single-family lots are mostly RS, RA, RE11 or R1, and each zone has its own minimum lot size and rules.
What are Northridge home prices right now?
It depends on which part of Northridge, the lot size and the zoning. ZIP-wide medians mix very different neighborhoods. Request a free valuation or call David at (818) 394-0012 for recent sales that match your home.
Explore Nearby Communities
- Sherwood Forest (Northridge) real estate: the large-lot RA neighborhood inside Northridge South, east of CSUN.
- Porter Ranch real estate: directly north of Northridge across the 118 Freeway.
- Granada Hills real estate: to the northeast, from Devonshire Street up into the Santa Susana foothills.
- Mission Hills real estate: farther east along Devonshire Street, near the I-405/I-5 junction.
Related Articles for Northridge Sellers
- How to Price and Sell My House in Northridge in 2026
- What Happens During a Home Appraisal in Northridge
- Seller Closing Costs in Northridge, CA
- Best Time of Year to Sell a Home in Northridge
- How to Negotiate Offers on Your Northridge Home
- How to Sell a Northridge Home in a Slow Market
- How to Sell an Inherited Property in Northridge
- How a CMA Helps Price a Home Correctly
Sources
- City of Los Angeles, Neighborhood Council Boundaries (LA GeoHub), Northridge East, West and South; used to define the analysis area.
- LA County Assessor parcel data (2026 roll) and City of LA ZIMAS zoning layer, analyzed October 2026. Method: single-family parcels (Assessor use codes 0100, 0101, 0103, 0104, 0108) whose center point falls inside the three Northridge neighborhood councils; lot size is the GIS parcel area; pools inferred from use codes 0101/0103. Figures are approximate.
- Wikipedia, Northridge, Los Angeles (Zelzah, 1929 and 1938 name changes, "Horse Capital of the West").
- California State University, Northridge, CSUN History.
- Wikipedia, Northridge Fashion Center.
- U.S. Geological Survey, M 6.7 Northridge earthquake, January 17, 1994; Wikipedia, 1994 Northridge earthquake.
- LA Department of Building and Safety, Soft-Story Retrofit Program (Ordinance 183893).
- LA City Planning, Zoning Code Summary (minimum lot areas by zone).
- California HCD, ADU Handbook.
- Metrolink, Northridge Station and Chatsworth Station; LA Recreation & Parks facility list (City of LA open data) and Dearborn Park.
- LAUSD school locations layer (LAUSD GIS), retrieved October 2026; LAUSD Resident School Identifier.
Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Verify zoning, lot size, permits, taxes, HOA terms and school assignments independently. David Petikyan, DRE# 02089725, eXp Realty. eXp Realty of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. #02188471. Equal Housing Opportunity.