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The City of North Oaks is a planned residential community covering approximately 6,500 acres of rolling wooded hills, open fields, lakes and wetlands in northern Ramsey County in the northeast quadrant of the Twin Cities.

Most of the area within the present city limits was at one time known as the North Oaks Farm which was established in 1883 by James J. Hill, financier and railroad builder. In 1950, L. W. Hill, Jr. formed the North Oaks Company and began the development of the community, including a private 18 - hole golf course. See article from Town Life magazine July/August 2004.

The development plan preserves the natural beauty of the area. Wherever possible, roads and homes are built to leave the natural topography, drainage, woodlands, and wetlands undisturbed. Winding roads, cul-de-sacs, and the absence of sidewalks and the limited use of street lights all contribute to the privacy and seclusion of the residents.

The city presently has about 1570 homes including three developments where neighborhood associations look after the maintenance responsibilities for the owners. The 2007 population is approximately 4500.

Electric power, telephone service, cable television, and natural gas are all available. Most of the homes have on site sewage systems, but the homes on Hodgson Road, at Red Maple Marsh, Deer Hills, The Summits, Rapp Farm and The Pines are served by the metropolitan sewage system. With the exception of the southeast area of the city where many homes are on municipal water, most homes have private wells.

The North Oaks Home Owners’ Association is responsible for road maintenance and all recreational facilities. Apart from one short stretch of road entering the city, all of the North Oaks roads are privately owned. Recreational facilities include 25 miles of trails, tennis courts, ball fields, and a beach with canoe access. The trails connect all residential areas and also wend through the 620 acre Conservation Area. For more information on the trail system and the Conservation Area, see the June 1999 newsletter.

Governing responsibilities are shared between the North Oaks City Council and the North Oaks Home Owners’ Association. The North Oaks City Council is responsible for traditional government services, including police and fire protection, traffic control, animal control, planning, recycling, licensing, building code and ordinance enforcement. The city also administers a program to monitor and treat diseased oak and elm trees. You may visit the City of North Oaks website at www.cityofnorth-oaks.com

Deer Hills, Charley Lake, The Summits and The Pines all have subsidiary home owner associations which assume specific responsibilities in their own neighborhoods. Everybody who owns land within a home owners’ association’s boundaries automatically becomes a member of that association. Dues and assessments are set by a vote of members at annual meetings.

The City of North Oaks is designated as a game refuge. This means that fish, deer and other wildlife are protected and controlled in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The city attempts to strike a balance between preserving the environment and satisfying the needs of tax paying residents. Feeding the wild deer is prohibited. Feeding of other wildlife is discouraged.

In 1999, the North Oaks Company dedicated 885 acres of permanent open space to the city and the North Oaks Home Owners’ Association. Of this amount, 620 acres is a natural Conservation Area, a biopreserve. One of the activities that takes place in the Conservation Area is bird banding. To see some of the many species banded at North Oaks, visit our photo gallery.

The North Oaks Company has a small inventory of traditional lots available. You may buy a lot and hire a builder to construct your dream home. Several highly respected builders have large portfolios of homes they have built in North Oaks. Currently there are two traditional lots available. See Lot Maps.

The Pines of North Oaks is a 99 unit villa development. These homes in the southeast area of the city border the Open Spaces of North Oaks and enjoy their own 59 acre conservation area. These homes are in The Pines of North Oaks Home Owners’ Association, a neighborhood association which is responsible for maintenance of all areas outside of the homes - gardens, lawns, driveways and common areas. Three premier builders have been chosen to build homes for purchasers in this development. The builders are experiencing strong interest from both empty nesters and young professionals. For more information, see the May 2002 newsletter.

Rapp Farm along County Road J is the next single family development. Development work is underway and information about lots is available. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for information on this project, please contact us.

The residents of North Oaks love their community and hate to leave it. The empty nesters in the city are creating strong demand for the lesser responsibility lifestyle available in the villas at The Pines. The North Oaks Company is now working on yet another option for people who want to live in this community. It will be in the northeast corner of the city. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for information on this project, please contact us.

North Oaks Farm has been in continuous operation for more than 115 years. It was one of the original experimental farms in the country. Today, a select herd of red deer is farmed within the Agricultural Area of the city. An affiliate of the North Oaks Company is a major North American deer farmer.