Five Coastal Communities

ADUs, Remodels &
Outdoor Living in Encinitas

Encinitas makes building an ADU easier than most cities, the weather turns the backyard into another room, and the coast keeps the repair crews busy. We do all three.

Talk About My Project

Leucadia to Olivenhain

One city,
five communities

Encinitas is really five places under one name: Leucadia, Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Olivenhain. A beach cottage off Neptune Avenue and a ranch property in Olivenhain have almost nothing in common as building projects, so we start every Encinitas job by looking at the lot, the house and the neighborhood rather than offering a standard package.

The projects we're asked about most here are accessory dwelling units, for rental income, aging parents or grown kids, followed by outdoor living spaces and repairs to wood that has been taking coastal moisture for decades. Many homeowners combine them: an ADU out back, a refreshed kitchen in the main house, and the rotted deck replaced while the crew is on site.

The City of Encinitas issues permits for all five communities and has been one of the more ADU-friendly cities in the region, including a program of pre-reviewed ADU plans. We'll tell you whether those plans suit your lot or whether a custom design will serve you better.

Most Requested

Four things
Encinitas asks for

ADUs & Guest Houses

Detached ADUs, garage conversions and junior ADUs, built from the city's pre-reviewed plans or designed around your lot.

Read about our ADUs →

Outdoor Kitchens & Patios

Outdoor kitchens, covered patios, decks and fire features for a climate where you can use them most of the year.

Outdoor kitchens and patios →

Dry Rot Repair

Rotted siding, decks, window sills and fascia replaced properly, and the leak or splash behind it stopped for good.

Dry rot repair →

Kitchen, Bath & Whole-Home Remodels

From 1970s tract homes in New Encinitas to older cottages near the beach: kitchens, baths, layouts and finishes.

Kitchen and bath remodels →

Neighborhood Notes

What each part of
Encinitas tends to need

Leucadia and Old Encinitas

Older cottages, deep lots and plenty of character close to the coast. These are natural ADU lots, and the homes often need moisture and rot repair alongside any remodel. Properties near the water may also be in the Coastal Zone, which can add a review step.

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Hillside lots and ocean views. Remodels and additions here are shaped by slope, sightlines and drainage, and decks and outdoor rooms are often where the best of the house happens.

New Encinitas

Mostly 1970s and '80s houses with solid bones and dated interiors. Kitchen and bath remodels, opened-up floor plans and garage conversions to ADUs are the common projects.

Olivenhain

Large rural lots, equestrian properties and a quieter pace. There is room for guest houses, larger detached ADUs and custom outdoor spaces, with more attention to grading, access and fire safety than a coastal lot needs.

Drywall finishing inside an Encinitas home — Encinitas Job Site

An Encinitas remodel at the finish stage

One of our Encinitas remodels during drywall and finish work. This is where a project starts to look like a home again, and where careful taping, texture and trim make the difference you notice every day.

View our project gallery →

Straight Answers

ADUs, patios
and permits

What is the Encinitas Permit Ready ADU program?

The City of Encinitas offers a set of pre-designed ADU plans that have already been through plan review, which can make permitting faster and more predictable. You still need site-specific items such as a site plan and utility connections. We can build from one of the city's plans or design a custom ADU if your lot or goals call for something different.

Will an ADU fit on my Encinitas lot?

Most single-family lots qualify under California's ADU laws. What varies is how big and where: setbacks, utilities, slope and, near the coast, whether the property falls inside the Coastal Zone. On rural Olivenhain lots, access and site conditions matter more. A site visit usually settles it.

Do you build outdoor kitchens and covered patios in Encinitas?

Yes. Outdoor kitchens, covered patios, decks, pergolas and fire features are some of our most requested Encinitas projects. We handle the gas, electrical and plumbing runs, the permits and the construction.

Our deck and siding are soft in places. Can you fix that?

Yes. Coastal moisture is hard on wood siding, decks, window sills and fascia. We remove rotted wood back to sound material, fix the flashing or drainage problem that caused it, and rebuild with materials that resist moisture.

Are permits handled the same way in all five communities?

Yes. The City of Encinitas issues permits for Leucadia, Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Olivenhain alike. Our team handles the submittal, answers plan-check comments and books the inspections.

Start a Conversation

What Are You
Planning?

Tell us whether you're thinking ADU, remodel, outdoor living or repair. Chris will phone you within 24 hours on weekdays so you can talk it through.

Phone

(619) 971‑1354

info@chrismejiabuilder.com

Service Area

Leucadia, Old & New Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea & Olivenhain

Project Inquiry

No obligation, no pressure.

Thanks for Reaching Out

Chris will reach out to talk through your plans.