Sun Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 11,936 at the 2000 census. Sun Lakes is comprised of five country club communities in three homeowner associations. These include the gated communities of Oakwood, IronWood, and Palo Verde, and the non gated communities of CottonWood, and Sunlakes1 country clubs. Sun Lakes is a masterplanned community developed by a single builder, Robson Communities. Robson Communities was founded by Ed Robson.