Berkeley Lake Real Estate

Berkeley Lake, Georgia

Berkeley Lake is a small, wooded city in western Gwinnett County, built around the private lake that gives it its name. It borders Duluth, Peachtree Corners, and Johns Creek, and sits near the Chattahoochee River corridor, roughly 25 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta by way of Interstate 85. From SRA Signature Realty's office in Tucker, Berkeley Lake is reachable in well under an hour, making it an option for buyers who want a lower density, wooded setting still close to the rest of Gwinnett.

A Fishing Retreat That Became a City

The community began in the late 1940s, when developer Frank Coggins built an earthen dam, one of the largest of its kind in the state at the time, to create the 88 acre lake at the center of the property. He named it after his Berkeley Blue Granite Quarries in Elberton, Georgia. What started as a seasonal retreat of fishing cottages gradually filled in with year round homes, and in 1953 about 25 property owners formed a civic association to manage shared community needs. The Georgia General Assembly approved the city's charter on March 6, 1956, officially establishing Berkeley Lake as a municipality within Gwinnett County. As of the 2020 census, Berkeley Lake was home to just over 2,000 residents, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in Gwinnett County by both population and land area.

Life Centered on the Lake

The 88 acre lake remains the heart of the community, with recreation there, including boating, fishing, and swimming, arranged through the Berkeley Lake Homeowners Association rather than open to the general public. Members can use docks, a boat ramp, swim platforms, and picnic areas along the shoreline. Beyond the lake, the city has set aside additional greenspace over the years, including a wooded tract residents voted to acquire in the 1990s for conservation and buffer protection, and it connects to the Western Gwinnett Bikeway for walking and cycling. Berkeley Lake has also carried a Tree City USA designation for many years running, reflecting a long standing focus on preserving its tree canopy. City zoning and planning have consistently favored keeping new development in step with that wooded, low density character rather than allowing the kind of denser commercial growth found in neighboring cities.

A Low Density Setting Near Bigger Neighbors

Because Berkeley Lake covers less than two square miles, daily errands, dining, and larger shopping trips typically mean a short drive into neighboring Peachtree Corners or Duluth, both of which sit just outside the city line. That arrangement lets Berkeley Lake keep a wooded, low density character while still putting the amenities of its larger neighbors within easy reach.

Homes Among the Trees

Housing in Berkeley Lake ranges from smaller homes that trace back to the community's early days as a lake cottage retreat to larger houses built on wooded lots in the decades since incorporation. Many properties back up to the lake itself or to the city's protected greenspace, and mature tree cover is a consistent thread throughout the city's residential streets. Lots tend to run larger than in more densely developed parts of Gwinnett County, giving many homes room for mature landscaping and, in some cases, direct lake frontage. The overall pace of new construction has stayed modest compared with larger neighboring cities, in keeping with the community's long standing preference for gradual, low density growth.

• The 88 acre Berkeley Lake, with recreation arranged through the homeowners association


• Protected greenspace and wooded buffer land set aside by the city


• Access to the Western Gwinnett Bikeway


• A long running Tree City USA designation


• Close proximity to shopping and dining in Peachtree Corners and Duluth

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Berkeley Lake, Georgia in?

Berkeley Lake is located in Gwinnett County, in the western part of the county near Duluth, Peachtree Corners, and Johns Creek.

Is the lake in Berkeley Lake open to the public?

No. The 88 acre lake is managed by the Berkeley Lake Homeowners Association, and boating, fishing, and swimming there are arranged through that association rather than open to the general public.

How far is Berkeley Lake from Atlanta?

Berkeley Lake is approximately 25 miles from downtown Atlanta, primarily by way of Interstate 85.

What cities border Berkeley Lake?

Berkeley Lake borders Duluth, Peachtree Corners, and Johns Creek, all within western Gwinnett County.

What is the housing like in Berkeley Lake?

Homes range from smaller cottages dating to the community's early years as a lake retreat to larger houses built on wooded lots in later decades, with mature trees found throughout the city's residential streets.