Nestled against the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, the city has a population of approximately 49,898 and covers approximately 15 square miles. Rancho Santa Margarita has more than 1,700 acres of dedicated open space, including a 13-acre community lake and nine community parks. Located between Mission Viejo and Coto de Caza, the city is master planned to offer employment, schools, shopping, recreational amenities and a wide variety of housing.

More than 50% of Rancho Santa Margarita is planned as open space and recreational facilities including the picturesque lake and beach club with a swim lagoon, miles of pedestrian and bicycle paths and the popular Tijeras Creek Golf Club. The city also offers several schools, including Santa Margarita Catholic High School, day care centers, a long list of places of worship and a neighborhood shopping center.

Rancho Santa Margarita contracts with the Orange County Sheriff s Department for all its law enforcement needs. Lieutenant Ron White, a twenty-five year veteran of the Sheriff s Department, serves as Chief of Police Services. He oversees a staff of five sergeants, two investigators, fifteen deputies, one motorcycle deputy, three traffic enforcement deputies, one admin/school resource deputy, one deputy assigned to the Directed Enforcement Team, two community services officers, one investigative assistant, one crime prevention specialist and one administrative assistant.

The Sheriff s Department is responsible for public safety and general law enforcement within the city, including patrol services, traffic enforcement and criminal investigations. Police Services also provides a variety of community policing programs for the public including crime prevention, Business Watch/Neighborhood Watch and community awareness programs.
 

Children's Hospital at Mission (CHM)
27700 Medical Center Drive
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949-347-8400
Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center
27700 Medical Center Drive
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949-364-1400

Rancho Santa Margarita Shopping:
- The Shops at Mission Viejo - Showcase mall with Nordstrom's, Sak's and more. (15 minutes away)
- Laguna Hills Mall - Laguna Hills - Easy to get to, easy to shop (10 minutes away)

O'Neill Regional Park
Situated in beautiful Trabuco and Live Oak Canyons. The park is heavily wooded with coast live oak and sycamore trees. Offers an overnight camping facility, playground, nature walks and has day/picnic use. The picnic area provides for single and group uses and contains picnic tables, barbecues, a large turf area, horseshoe pits and playground equipment.