Black Mountain Ranch primarily consists of two separate housing developments known as Santaluz and Del Sur. Santa Luz is the area in the southern half of Black Mountain Ranch while Del Sur comprises the northern half.
There is currently no public transportation serving this area.
Primary access to the community is via Camino Del Sur (from State Highway 56 via Interstate 5), Carmel Valley Road, and Camino Del Norte (from Interstate 15).
Currently one city park is on the planning boards near the newly opened elementary school off Paseo Del Sur. There is also the Black Mountain Ranch Community Park off Carmel Valley Road east of Camino Del Sur which is currently open.
The area is served by the newly-opened (2008) Del Sur Elementary (Poway Unified School District). A new high school on the 4S/Black Mountain Ranch Border, Del Norte High (Poway Unified School District) is scheduled to open for the 2009 School Year and is currently under construction. There is currently one private school, Maranathia, a Christian school, serving the area.
The nearest shopping areas are 4S Ranch (Ralph's Fresh Fair) and Carmel Mountain Ranch (Von's) to the east and Torrey Highlands (Albertson's) to the south. Scheduled for the area is a town center with smaller shops and employment centers but a date for building has not been announced.
The area is under the jurisdiction of San Diego City Council District 1.