Encinitas is really five communities under one city — Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain — and they do not remodel the same way. A beach bungalow west of the 101 has almost nothing in common with a half-acre Olivenhain property, and the permitting path is different too.
We work across all of them: kitchen and bath remodels, room additions, whole-home renovations, accessory dwelling units, and custom construction. Where a project sits west of the coastal boundary, we scope coastal review in from the beginning.
- Permitting authority
- City of Encinitas Development Services
- Coastal status
- Partially within the California Coastal Zone
- ZIP codes
- 92007, 92023, 92024
- Neighborhoods we work in
- Old Encinitas · New Encinitas · Leucadia · Cardiff-by-the-Sea · Olivenhain · Village Park
What we find in Encinitas homes
Old Encinitas and Leucadia hold small 1920s–1950s beach cottages and bungalows on narrow lots, many with additions layered on over the years and foundations that deserve a look before anything else gets designed. New Encinitas is largely 1970s–1990s tract housing that responds very well to kitchen opening-up and primary-suite work. Olivenhain runs to larger custom homes on semi-rural parcels where additions, shops, and detached structures are the common ask.
Permitting and planning in Encinitas
The City of Encinitas handles its own planning and building. The western portion of the city lies within the Coastal Zone and is administered under the city’s certified Local Coastal Program, so a Coastal Development Permit is generally required there for exterior work. Encinitas also applies height limits that shape second stories, and its ADU rules are used heavily on the older, deeper lots in Leucadia and Old Encinitas.
What we build in Encinitas
Home Remodeling & Renovation
From a single-room addition to a full interior and exterior renovation, we guide the project from concept to completion.
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Kitchen Remodeling
A well-designed kitchen is the social center of your home. We handle design, cabinets, counters, lighting and flooring.
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Bathroom Remodeling
Thoughtful planning and attention to detail are the keys to any bathroom remodel — more light, more storage, more usable space.
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Custom New Home Construction
From the first planning conversation to the day you move in — a custom home built to your site, your preferences, and your budget.
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Design-Build
One entity, one contract, one continuous flow of work from first concept through final completion.
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Commercial Remodel & Tenant Improvements
Complete build-outs for office, retail, and industrial space — partition walls, custom millwork, and precision trim carpentry.
Learn moreRemodeling in Encinitas: common questions
Can I add an ADU to my Encinitas property?
Often yes. State law has substantially expanded ADU rights, and the deep lots common in Leucadia and Old Encinitas suit detached units well. Setbacks, height, parking, and utility connections are the practical constraints, and coastal parcels have an additional review layer. We look at the lot and tell you what actually fits.
Do Encinitas height limits affect a second story?
They can. Encinitas applies height limits that in practice push second stories toward lower roof pitches, stepped-back massing, or partial second floors. It is a design constraint worth resolving on paper before you get attached to an elevation.
Is a Coastal Development Permit required in Encinitas?
For properties in the western, coastal portion of the city, generally yes for exterior work — issued by the city under its Local Coastal Program. Properties east of the coastal boundary follow the standard building permit path. Which side of the line you are on is the first thing we check.
What our clients say about Surfside Developers
We specialize in helping our customers receive the biggest return on their investment — and we’d welcome the chance to give you a custom evaluation of your home.
“The quality of the finished work was great, delivered on time, and within our overall budget. What more can you say than that?”
Our experience with Surfside Developers has been outstanding. They came highly recommended to us by our trusted real estate agent assisting us in a remodel of our recently purchased home. With past contractors our experience has always been a hit or miss proposition, and so we were very nervous about committing to a major renovation on the order of $70K plus. Nevertheless, we were very confident of the plan upon our very first meeting with the owner, Derek Wattenbarger. Derek listened intently to our vision of what we wanted the remodel to accomplish and faithfully carried out the plan. And just as important, Derek provided great insight and advice to improve the execution of our plan when he saw opportunities to do so, as well as cautioning us when some of our original ideas were not economically feasible or may have contained an unforeseen downside. All through the process, Derek was completely straightforward, transparent, and respectful. Communication was terrific. All calls, emails, texts, etc. were returned promptly. He even introduced us to all of the various sub-contractors so that we had an opportunity to establish a relationship with them and communicate the details to the next level. Finally, and probably most importantly, the quality of the finished work was great, delivered on time, and within our overall budget. What more can you say than that? Highly recommended!
Jack and Sue SerrinoDel Mar, California“Derek has done over 25 jobs for my clients over the years and I hope to continue to do business with him in the future.”
Derek has been by far the best contractor I have ever worked with and his ability to listen to my clients and react to their needs is above what I had ever expected. Derek being classically trained and professionally educated shows. Derek’s knowledge of both the practical and the possible allow him to do both small and large scale jobs and for that there is nothing I will not refer his way. Derek has done over 25 jobs for my clients over the years and I hope to continue to do business with him in the future!
Seth O’ByrneSan Diego, CaliforniaBuilding in Encinitas?
Tell us about the project and we'll set up a free consultation at the property — no pressure, no obligation.