Solana Beach is small, entirely coastal, and unusually design-conscious — the Cedros Design District is a couple of blocks from houses that have not been touched since the 1950s. That mix produces a lot of thoughtful remodels, and a fair amount of complicated permitting.
We handle coastal renovations, kitchen and bath remodels, additions, and custom construction in Solana Beach, including bluff-adjacent properties where geotechnical review is part of the process rather than an afterthought.
- Permitting authority
- City of Solana Beach Community Development
- Coastal status
- Entirely within the California Coastal Zone
- ZIP codes
- 92075
- Neighborhoods we work in
- Eden Gardens · Solana Beach bluff-top · Isla Verde · Santa Fe Hills · Cedros Design District
What we find in Solana Beach homes
The city runs from small post-war cottages in Eden Gardens to bluff-top homes with ocean frontage and a growing set of contemporary rebuilds on the streets between the 101 and the freeway. The older stock generally needs foundation, electrical, and window work alongside the remodel; the bluff-top properties carry drainage, corrosion, and geotechnical considerations that inland construction simply does not.
Permitting and planning in Solana Beach
All of Solana Beach lies within the Coastal Zone, and the city administers Coastal Development Permits under its certified Local Coastal Program. The city applies height and view-related standards, and bluff-top and bluff-adjacent parcels face additional geotechnical and setback requirements tied to bluff retreat. Front-end timelines here look more like Del Mar than like Carlsbad.
What we build in Solana Beach
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 Solana Beach: common questions
What is involved in remodeling a bluff-top home in Solana Beach?
Beyond the usual permits, expect a geotechnical report addressing bluff stability and setback, and design that accounts for salt exposure on everything from fasteners to window hardware. It is a well-established process — it just needs to be planned for at the start, not midway through design.
Do interior-only remodels need a Coastal Development Permit here?
Interior work that does not change the building envelope is frequently exempt, but because the whole city is in the Coastal Zone, we verify with the city rather than assume. The check costs nothing; guessing wrong costs months.
Can you match the design standard of the Cedros district?
That is the fun part of working here. Solana Beach has real design literacy, and we are comfortable with detail-driven work — exposed structure, custom millwork, and finish carpentry where the tolerances actually show.
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, CaliforniaWe also build near Solana Beach
Building in Solana Beach?
Tell us about the project and we'll set up a free consultation at the property — no pressure, no obligation.