For multifamily property owners and managers, selecting the right automatic gate entry system is crucial for both security and convenience. This is especially important given that parking experience plays a critical role in resident satisfaction. In fact, a recent National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) report reveals that 92% of renters have at least one vehicle, underscoring the significance of well-managed parking areas. If your property features gated parking, this guide will help you understand gate entry systems, including electric gate openers and residential gate intercom systems, enabling you to make an informed decision for your community.
How gate entry systems work
Gate entry systems are critical for controlling access to your parking areas and enhancing overall community security. While security is paramount, these gate entry systems should also be fast and easy to use, ensuring that only authorized individuals gain access with minimal inconvenience.
A typical entry process through the gate follows these steps:
A driver arrives at the gate and shows their credential (key fob, card, smartphone)
The system verifies the credential.
If the credential is valid, the control panel signals the gate to open.
The driver proceeds through the gate.
Once the vehicle clears the sensor, the gate closes automatically.
For guests or vendors without credentials, the system may include an intercom or keypad to contact the resident or staff member for remote entry approval.
Components of a gate entry system
A gate entry system includes a gate, safety sensor, reader, power supply and control panel. Some also include a resident app (or the ability to integrate with your resident app) for easy remote entry.
Gate
There are several kinds of gates. Which type is best for you depends on the space available at your entrance.
Swinging arm gates open like doors: by swinging in or out. Motors push or pull the gate open, and you’ll need enough space for the gate’s arc, which can be challenging in some communities. The wider the gate, the larger its arc.
Sliding gates move left or right along a track like a train. They can save more driveway space than swinging arm gates, but you’ll need plenty of clear, level ground next to your driveway.
Folding gates accordion together to move out of the way. Bi-folding gates (which fold in half) are the most common. These gates are ideal for tight spaces because they don’t move the gate in an arc or pull it to the left or right of a driveway.
Safety sensor and readers
Safety sensors and readers interact with vehicles to open or close the gate at the appropriate time. Readers detect the driver’s credentials (a key fob, key card or windshield sticker) to admit only authorized vehicles. Sensors detect when a vehicle or person is in the way, stopping the motor to prevent damage or injury.
Power supply and control panel
Once the reader detects valid credentials, it sends a signal to the control panel, which tells the gate to open. The power supply manages power to the gate so it’s ready to go whenever a car arrives. Both are typically located in a weatherproof electrical box inside the community near the gate itself.
Resident app (optional)
You can provide residents with a physical credential they can carry in or on their vehicle. But for guests and vendors who need only brief access, it’s more practical to let residents control entry. The best way to empower residents to do that is through a resident app.
With the app, residents can quickly send someone a PIN code that expires after a short time. Some apps also connect to the gate’s intercom system so guests can call a resident to be let in. Some apps even turn a resident’s smartphone into their credential so they don’t have to carry a key card or fob with them.
Types of Gate Entry Systems
The best gate entry systems combine several ways to enter, so passing through remains secure and convenient for different groups of people.
1. Vehicle reader and stickers
Ideal for: residents, staff, high-traffic parking areas
Not ideal for: guests, vendors
An entry system with readers and stickers is the most convenient system. Using a special sticker that contains an RFID, readers can check a credential in seconds without the driver so much as rolling down their window.
How it works:
A staff member places a special sticker in a visible area on the car.
When the driver pulls up, a reader automatically senses the sticker and approves entry.
The driver doesn’t have to interact with the system at all.
2. Video or telephone intercom
Ideal for: guests, vendors, daytime use
Not ideal for: high-traffic parking areas
Gates with an intercom system allow drivers to communicate with a resident or staff member to gain access to the parking area. This system may prevent cars from moving quickly through the gate, especially if the resident or staff member doesn’t answer immediately.
How it works:
A driver pulls up to a camera or speaker system and dials a resident or staff member.
When someone answers, they can confirm the driver’s identity and approve entry.
3. Keypad
Ideal for: guests, vendors, after-hours use, low-traffic parking areas
Not ideal for: high-traffic parking areas
Keypads allow drivers to input a PIN code to gain entry. Drivers may move slowly through this type of entry system, especially if they have to dig around to find their PIN or can’t remember it.
How it works:
Staff members give entry codes to drivers ahead of time or, if you’re using a compatible resident app, on the fly.
The driver pulls up and punches the code into a keypad.
The gate opens when a correct code is entered.
4. Card or fob reader
Ideal for: residents, staff
Not ideal for: guests, vendors
This gate entry system requires the driver to carry a key card or fob to access the parking area. It can be the same credential they use for access to other areas of your community, which minimizes the number of items residents must carry with them. However, it’s impractical to give them to guests and vendors.
How it works:
Staff give a key card or key fob to each resident and staff member.
The driver pulls up and places the card or fob near the reader.
The reader confirms the credential, and then opens the gate.
Benefits of gate access control
Gated entry systems extend your community’s access control to your parking areas—and with it, the security benefits of controlled access. But you, your staff and your residents will also see other perks.
Asset protection: Protect your community by limiting access to your parking areas—and by extension, your community.
Peace of mind: Residents will rest easier knowing their vehicles are behind a gate.
Convenience: Automatic and electronic gates allow residents to pass without leaving their cars to first open a gate.
How to choose the right automatic gate entry system for your community
The right gate entry system for your community will depend on its unique needs. Some of the greatest differences come from where your community is located and how much vehicle traffic it has.
Urban high-rises
Tightly packed apartments in densely populated areas require close attention to efficiency when it comes to parking. Parking garages may be several floors high or deep in the ground. And there may be just one or two entrances to handle hundreds or thousands of cars. Minimizing the time drivers spend waiting is critical for avoiding lines and traffic jams.
Stickers are ideal because readers can detect them without the driver having to dig around for their fob, phone or key card. PIN codes are ideal for guests and vendors since they take minimal time to punch in. Residential gate intercom systems can also be a good option, but drivers may slow things down if they have to await a response from a resident or staff member.
Smart parking management can also help you get the most out of small parking areas. You can employ hot seat parking assignments on the fly instead of reserving a specific space for each resident. Digital signs that point to open spaces can also minimize the number of vehicles driving around looking for parking.
Garden-style communities in suburban areas
Communities that are more spread out are less likely to have garages and more likely to have multiple parking areas. Multiple gates can limit access to each parking area to certain residents and guests. If you have smart parking management, too, you can use some lots as overflow parking when needed.
Efficiency is less critical for these communities, but residents will still appreciate being able to get through the gate quickly. A key card or key fob is a good option, especially if you already use these as part of your access control system.
Rural communities
Rural communities often have different needs and challenges when it comes to gate entry systems. While access-controlled parking may not be as common in these areas, gated parking can still provide value by offering a more exclusive and refined feel to your community—especially when incorporating smart technology.
One of the main challenges in rural locations is the potential for unreliable internet connectivity. Poor cellular service and slow WiFi are common outside urban areas, which may necessitate running wired signals to your electric gate opener. Depending on the available internet services, Community WiFi could help maximize your bandwidth. However, if only satellite, 5G, or DSL options are available, residents might experience difficulties with wireless connections. To mitigate these issues, it's advisable to include a keypad system. This allows residents to enter a PIN code for access in case of WiFi disruptions, ensuring smooth entry even when wireless systems are unreliable.
Tips for choosing a gate entry system
Now that you have a general idea of the kind of gate system that will work for your community, here are some details to consider before you make your purchase.
Power source
All gates will need power. You can choose a solar-powered gate, but there’s a risk that you’ll run out of juice during long stretches of poor weather. The other option is to run cables to your gate. It’s more invasive and expensive because you’ll likely need to dig into the ground or repave your driveway, but you’ll only lose power if there’s an outage. If you want the best reliability, choose an automatic gate opener that can run on wired or solar power.
Wired vs wireless
You can connect your electric gate opener to the internet so staff and residents can monitor and control it remotely. Without this ability, residents may not be able to let guests in remotely, staff will have to be on-premises to handle lockouts, and you won’t know if there’s a problem unless someone calls you about it.
Choosing a wired signal typically means running intercoms to each apartment and your office, which can get expensive quickly. This was popular in the past, but physical intercoms are now outdated and unnecessary. On the other hand, wireless signals allow your gate to communicate over WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular signal, allowing for remote entry using a smartphone or other device.
Customer service
Entry gates need to work 24/7/365, whether staff is on the premises or not. To avoid staffing around the clock, choose a provider with 24/7 tech support so you know you’re covered day or night, and staff can focus on more important duties.
Make sure the company also provides easy, professional installation. It’ll lessen the burden on your maintenance team so they can stay on task. Plus, the installers can walk you and your maintenance team through the proper operation and care of the automatic gate opener.
Integrations
Any gate system can keep your parking areas more secure, but if it’s truly built for multifamily, it’ll integrate well with your other technology too. Powerful integrations turn the expense of a residential gate intercom system into an investment in efficiency.
Integrate with your PMS to automatically create credentials for new residentials and remove them at move-out.
Integrate with smart access control to allow residents and staff to use the same credentials anywhere in your community.
Integrate with your maintenance platform to easily give technicians and vendors access without them needing to stop by the leasing office.
Integrate with smart parking management to ensure efficient use of parking spaces.
Resident experience
A great resident experience with your electric gate opener means two things: speed and convenience.
Minimize the line at your gate by providing residents with permanent credentials like a sticker, fob, or keycard—and making it easy for guests and vendors to obtain instant, temporary access.
Keep things convenient with a resident app. With the right app, residents can use their phones as credentials. They can also answer calls from your residential gate intercom system from anywhere and manage PIN codes for expected guests.
Deliver an excellent parking experience
Gated parking can help residents feel more secure, but if you choose the wrong gate system, you could wind up with long lines and frustrated residents and staff. You’ll need to select the right type of gate and other components. The right electric gate opener varies, especially based on your location and the traffic in your community.
Ensure your automatic gate opener and residential gate intercom system work with your resident app, PMS, maintenance platform and smart parking management system. Finally, consider adding Smart Parking Management to your tech stack to further improve the parking experience in your community.