The community of Black Mountain Ranch is located in an area of the City previously referred to as the North City Future Urbanizing Area. Black Mountain Ranch encompasses 5,100 acres and is located west of 4-S Ranch and Rancho Peñasquitos, south of the Santa Fe Valley, east of Fairbanks Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe Farms, and north of Torrey Highlands. Camino Ruiz and Camino del Norte provide the primary access for the community.

Black Mountain Ranch is a relatively new community that is currently being developed. It was approved for development in two stages. The first stage was the 3,690-acre development known as Santaluz, which was approved for development at a low residential density of one dwelling unit per four acres of land.

The second stage is the remaining 1,410 acres of Black Mountain Ranch that is subject to the policies of the Black Mountain Ranch Subarea Plan. The Subarea Plan was approved by the City Council and the voters of the City of San Diego in 1998. As part of the approval, the number of residential units for the entire Black Mountain Ranch (including the Santaluz development) was limited to no more 5,400 dwelling units.

The Black Mountain Ranch Subarea Plan designates approximately 29 percent of the community for residential development, 67 percent for parks, and open space, 2 percent for schools, and 2 percent for commercial and employment uses.