In short
- 918 ADU permits since 2018.
- 82 in 2025, down 35% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 75 days from application to permit (median of 97 permits with both dates recorded).
About this data
- Source: California HCD Housing Element Annual Progress Reports. The state data does not say whether an ADU is detached, attached, a garage conversion or a JADU, so most records show as 'unknown'. Permit valuations are not published in this source. Timelines use the application date the city reported to the state, matched to the permit where possible; some cities report their planning application date, so timelines can include planning review. Each project is counted once, in its building-permit year (or completion year when no permit date was reported).
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 55 | — | — |
| 2019 | 132 | — | — |
| 2020 | 170 | — | — |
| 2021 | 124 | — | — |
| 2022 | 124 | — | — |
| 2023 | 105 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 126 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 82 | 0 | 1 |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 79 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Encinitas
State law check: No HCD review letter on file; that is not a finding of compliance.
| Rule | Encinitas' code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 1,200 sq ft or the size of the house, whichever is less; an 800 sq ft ADU (16 ft high, 4 ft side and rear setbacks) is always allowed. Junior ADU 500 sq ft. | At least 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms) must be allowed; an 800 sq ft detached ADU always is. Conversions of existing space have no size cap. Junior ADU: up to 500 sq ft. |
| Height | 16 ft if the ADU uses the reduced setbacks. An ADU meeting the zone's setbacks, or built over a garage, can go to the zone's height limit. | Detached: at least 16 ft (18 ft within ½ mile of transit, plus 2 ft for a matching roof). Attached: 25 ft or the zone's limit, whichever is lower. |
| Setbacks | 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. Other setbacks follow the zone, and coastal bluff, hillside and habitat rules can require more. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space (tandem allowed) unless exempt (transit, historic district, inside existing space, car share). Parking removed for an ADU must be replaced on the lot. | At most 1 space; none within ½ mile of transit and in several other cases. No replacement parking when a garage is converted. |
| Owner living on site | None for ADUs. Junior ADU: the owner lives in the house, the junior ADU or the ADU (covenant). | None for ADUs. A junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the house requires the owner to live in one of them. |
| How many on a single-family lot | One ADU plus one junior ADU on a single-family lot. | One ADU converted from existing space, one junior ADU and one new detached ADU (up to 800 sq ft). From January 1, 2027: two new detached ADUs (a city then needn't allow a junior ADU on that lot). |
| Short-term rentals | More than 30 days, for ADUs and junior ADUs. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Coastal Zone: a coastal development permit is required for ADUs and junior ADUs that add habitable area, convert non-habitable space or are detached.
- Permit-Ready ADU (PRADU) program: free pre-approved plans from two local architects, from a 224 sq ft studio to a 1,199 sq ft three-bedroom; private designers can also get plans pre-approved.
- City plan review and inspection fees for ADUs are waived (state and recording fees still apply).
- The replacement-parking rule goes beyond state law, which bars it when a garage or parking space is converted or demolished for an ADU.
- A recorded covenant is required (no separate sale; rentals over 30 days).
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Encinitas Municipal Code 30.48.040(T) and (U) · City of Encinitas ADU and PRADU page (checked October 5, 2026); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Oct 5, 2026. Rules change and every lot is different: confirm with the city before you design.
How long permits take
| Type | Median days, application to permit | Middle half | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached ADU | too few to say | 2 | |
| Attached ADU | not reported | ||
| Garage conversion | too few to say | 1 | |
| Junior ADU (JADU) | too few to say | 6 | |
| Unclassified | 69 | 32 – 160 | 88 |
Middle half: the range covering the middle 50% of permits (a quarter were lower, a quarter higher).
Read more: How long ADUs take to build
From permit to completion
Of the 466 ADU permits Encinitas reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 360 (77%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 10 months.
The state reports don't record expired or cancelled permits, and a completion the city hasn't reported looks the same as an unfinished project, so the share is a floor. Years with incomplete reports are left out.
What neighbors declared as cost
Cost data (declared permit valuations) is not published for this area in these sources.
Read more: How to choose an ADU builder
An ADU builder serving Encinitas? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Encinitas
How many ADUs have been permitted in Encinitas?
Public records show 918 ADU permits in Encinitas from 2018 through 2025. 82 in 2025, down 35% from 2024. These counts come from the city's reports to the state, which place a project in its completion year when no permit date was reported.
How long does an ADU permit take in Encinitas?
Among the 97 ADU permits in Encinitas with both dates recorded, half were issued within 75 days of the application; the middle half took 32 to 174 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Encinitas?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Encinitas, but what you can build depends on your lot, local rules and utilities. This site shows permits, not eligibility. See California ADU rules.
Where do I apply for an ADU permit in Encinitas?
Apply with the City of Encinitas Development Services Department through its online Customer Self-Service portal; its Permit-Ready ADU (PRADU) program offers free pre-approved plans. Official ADU page.
How current is this?
- State annual progress reports: through 2025 (published once a year)
How our data works · Download the data · Free to reuse with credit to SoCal ADU Tracker (socaladutracker.com), under CC BY 4.0.