Direct AnswerVan Nuys is a central San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles commonly associated with the ZIP codes 91401, 91405, 91406, and 91411. ZIP boundaries and the USPS 'Van Nuys' post-office name don't match neighborhood lines exactly - 91406, in particular, straddles the Van Nuys / Lake Balboa line (USPS labels parts of 91406 as Lake Balboa). Van Nuys is bounded roughly by Sherman Oaks (south, at Ventura Blvd), Reseda (west), North Hollywood/Valley Glen (east), and Northridge/Lake Balboa (north). Market figures vary by source and are time-sensitive - I pull a live, dated comp set per ZIP.
"Van Nuys" covers a lot of ground across four main ZIP codes - and one of them, 91406, is really shared with Lake Balboa. Here's how to read them.
The four ZIPs
- 91401 - southern Van Nuys, toward the Sherman Oaks line (Ventura Blvd).
- 91405 - central Van Nuys.
- 91406 - western Van Nuys; straddles the Van Nuys / Lake Balboa line (USPS labels parts as Lake Balboa).
- 91411 - the smaller eastern/Van Nuys core area.
Two honest caveats: (1) ZIP polygons don't match neighborhood-council boundaries, and the USPS "Van Nuys" name covers a broader area than the neighborhood. (2) Per-ZIP price and "best area" claims that circulate online aren't primary-sourced - I pull live, dated Redfin figures per ZIP rather than repeat them.
Van Nuys vs Lake Balboa
In 2007, the LA City Council renamed a large portion of Van Nuys to Lake Balboa - so the two are no longer the same place. If a home's character (near the lake/park) matters, see my Lake Balboa guide.
Choosing
Areas closer to Ventura Boulevard and Sherman Oaks (91401) generally command higher prices; the central and eastern ZIPs offer more value. School attendance is by address (LAUSD), not ZIP - confirm per address. See also: Van Nuys real estate · Van Nuys Airport disclosure.
