4S Ranch is located about 25 miles north of downtown San Diego and 13 miles east of the Pacific Ocean in the North County Inland area of San Diego. To the east of 4S Ranch is the San Diego community of Rancho Bernardo. To the west is the Santa Fe Valley, which includes Rancho Santa Fe. Lake Hodges forms the northern border of the community while Black Mountain Ranch, which includes Del Sur and Santaluz, and Rancho Peñasquitos are both situated to the south.

Development began in 1987 that was primarily a business park. Housing development began in the early 2000s and was completed in 2014. At least 4,700 homes spread over 2,900 acres make up the community. Of the remaining 1,184 acres owned by the Ralphs family in the most northerly area of 4S Ranch, approximately 90 percent is designated natural open space.

Community events:

* Fall Festival includes merchants with food, rides, and games
* Annual Easter Egg Hunt
* Thank You Run/Walk 5K/10K Thanksgiving Day
* Summer Movie Nights
*4S Ranch Fourth of July Carnival and Street Faire Activities
* 4S Ranch Fourth of July Fireworks Fireworks at Del Norte High School
* 4S Ranch Pumpkin Festival* Concerts in the Park

Parks and recreation
There are several county parks including:

* 4S Ranch Sports Park
* Heritage Park
* 4S Ranch Community Park
* Patriot Park
* Liberty Park
* Homestead Park

4S Ranch is served by numerous schools within the Poway Unified School District that opened beginning in 2004 when Stone Ranch Elementary opened and culminated with the opening of Design 39 Campus in August 2014.

High school
* Del Norte High School
Middle school
* Oak Valley Middle School
Elementary schools
* Stone Ranch Elementary School
* Monterey Ridge Elementary School
* Del Sur Elementary School
K-8 school
* Design 39 Campus
Private schools
* Maranatha Christian Schools