Contemporary ADU Rental in Cardiff
Starlight Drive, Encinitas, CA 92007
Homeowner Story: Generate rental income
Other Features: Deck
Special Circumstance: Septic, Coastal Zone
Homeowner InterviewContemporary ADU Built Alongside Main Home Renovation
This family purchased a property with a vision for multigenerational living and to generate rental income. While renovating the main residence, they partnered with SnapADU to design and permit a contemporary ADU that would complement their updated home.
The ADU project was located in the coastal zone and required coordination not only with the local jurisdiction but also with the County of San Diego due to a shared septic system. With careful planning, the family moved back into the main house just in time to watch their ADU come to life.
“SnapADU was really good on the communication and just keeping you on track with the project. They were on budget, on time… I think they even came in ahead of time of what they originally projected. You can just tell everyone is trained really well. Every single team member along the way had a great attitude, was all over it, great on communication. I don’t know if I got the special treatment or what, but it felt like it, so it was awesome. I talked to SnapADU maybe 30 times throughout the process… and then there was this beautiful home in my yard.” – Zach Adamson, Homeowner in Cardiff
Functional, Contemporary ADU Layout with Modern Comfort
This 1,000 square foot contemporary ADU offers a practical yet stylish layout. The L-shaped floor plan was designed to maximize flow and functionality.
Key Features of the Floor Plan:
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Three Bedrooms & Two Bathrooms: One bedroom includes an ensuite bath, while the other two bedrooms share a full bath located in the hallway.
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Open Living & Kitchen Area: The central great room features a seamless connection between the living area and kitchen, making the space feel bright and open.
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Kitchen Island: A large island adds both prep space and seating, ideal for meals and entertaining.
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In-Unit Laundry: A dedicated laundry area adds convenience without compromising living space.
This floor plan delivers the ideal balance of space and livability whether used as a family home, flex space, or rental unit. The property owners are currently renting out the unit furnished for periods of more than 30 days to comply with ADU rules.
“I actually cannot say enough amazing things about SnapADU. Not only did they build an incredible ADU, on-time and on budget where they went above and beyond on to help overcome unique site conditions, but now they continue exceed expectations 2 years later. I reached out and let them know that our water heater had rusted out and needed to be replaced. We had just passed our warranty period so it felt like we were going to have to pay for an entirely new water heater. Enter SnapADU stage left. The called and fought the water heater company, showing how their product was faulty. They got a free replacement water heater AND THEY COVERED THE FEES FOR INSTALL!! Honestly, if the world work more like SnapADU, it would be a better place. High integrity, always going above and beyond. Thank you SNAP FAM!” – Zach Adamson, Homeowner in Cardiff
Floor Plan:
3BR/2BA 36×31 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.
