Ranch Style ADU in Encinitas
Manchester Avenue, Encinitas, CA
Homeowner Story: Downsize to ADU
Other Features: Covered porch
Special Circumstance: Septic, Coastal Zone
Video TourSpacious Ranch Style ADU in Encinitas
This Encinitas homeowner’s vision for a large one bedroom ADU came to life in this thoughtfully designed ranch style ADU. With 750 square feet of living space, the layout offers both comfort and flexibility perfect for extended stays or as a secondary residence.
Large sliding glass doors open onto a generous covered porch, expanding the usable space and offering a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. The homeowners plan to use this ADU as their primary residence during frequent visits, while other family members stay in the main house. Read more about building an ADU for family.
To support the new unit, they also designed and installed a brand new septic system tailored to accommodate both the main home and the ADU.
Covered Entry Enhances Outdoor Living
The covered entry is a key design element that elevates the curb appeal and functionality of this ranch style ADU. More than just a visual feature, it provides protection from the elements and a welcoming space for guests.
Covered porches and patios are especially popular in ADU designs across Greater San Diego. They offer shaded areas perfect for outdoor seating, relaxation, or entertaining and extending the livable footprint of the home. See our Exterior ADU Guide and our Exterior ADU Gallery for more exterior ADU design inspiration.
Floor Plan:
1BR/1BA 31×30 L-Shape
Community:
The Encinitas ADU Guide
We have many projects in Encinitas and we know the city’s regulations and processes very well. Encinitas has some of the lowest permitting fees in the area, averaging just $2-4 per square foot of space for ADUs. We are also seeing fewer requirements for minor use permits in the coastal zone. Encinitas has also put out “permit ready” plans (PRADU), which some homeowners have found helpful as a starting place for their ADU designs.
The greatest attribute of Encinitas is that nearly all plan check and building permit fees have been waived for ADUs. Also, while much of Encinitas is located in the coastal zone, ADUs do not require extensive coastal permit requirements, meaning there is little to no added time or cost for coastal.
What about Encinitas Permit Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit (PRADU) Program?
You may have heard about the City of Encinitas having a permit ready ADU program (PRADU). Under the program, the city offers a handful of floor plans that may be used by the public.
However, these plans require property-specific modifications and additional documentation to meet full permitting requirements. While initially seeming cost-effective, pre-approved plans may not offer significant savings due to construction costs and potential design adjustments needed for your specific site. Based on our experience building several PRADU plans, the permitting time for these plans is also not any different than other ADU plans.
For a detailed exploration of using pre-approved ADU plans and their implications, read more about the considerations for using pre-approved ADU plans from cities.
